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How to Ripen Tomatoes on the Vine

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September 11, 2023 by Jonathan Leave a Comment

As the summer draws to a close, it’s essential to make the most out of your tomato harvest. Tomatoes are a quintessential summer crop, and ensuring that all remaining fruits ripen before the season ends is crucial. In this article, we will explore effective techniques for how to ripen tomatoes on the vine. By following these methods, you can ensure a bountiful and flavourful harvest.

ripen tomatoes on the vine

The summer season is coming to an end, meaning we need to make the most of our summer crops before the frost kills them!

Table of Contents

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  • How to Ripen Tomatoes on the Vine
    • Removing Tomato Suckers
    • Removing Underdeveloped Tomatoes
    • Pruning the Tops of Tomatoes
    • Ensuring Adequate Moisture and Sunlight
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Products:
    • Conclusion
      • How to Grow Broccoli the RIGHT Way (What People Get Wrong)
      • 20 Fast Growing Vegetables to Harvest in Under 60 Days!
      • How to Make Fine Leaf Mold Compost for Your Vegetable Garden
      • The Best Cover Crops for Raised Beds
      • How to Protect Plants from Frost in Your Winter Garden
      • What is Cold Stratification? Here’s Why you Need to Know it
      • 100% Success Method for Propagating Grape Vines from Cuttings

How to Ripen Tomatoes on the Vine

You will learn about various methods to expedite the ripening of tomatoes on the vine as the summer season ends. The techniques include removing tomato suckers to focus the plant’s energy on the fruit, taking off underdeveloped tomatoes to boost the ripening of the larger fruits, and pruning the upper branches of the plant to encourage energy redistribution toward ripening the existing tomatoes.

Proper watering and ensuring sufficient sunlight are also highlighted as critical components for the optimal ripening of tomatoes. Overall, this post aims to guide gardeners in maximizing your tomato harvest by speeding up the natural ripening process before the cold weather sets in.

Removing Tomato Suckers

tomato sucker growing in between stem and leaf node
Tomato Sucker

One effective method to promote fruit ripening is by removing suckers from the tomato plants. Suckers are small shoots that emerge from the junction between the main stem and the leaf nodes. Sometimes, suckers appear on the leaves and fruit clusters themselves.

These suckers divert energy away from the production of ripe tomatoes, slowing down the ripening process. By carefully identifying and removing these suckers, you allow the plant to redirect its energy towards the existing fruit, encouraging faster ripening.

On the other hand, I do recommend leaving a few tomato suckers on at the beginning of their growth, but not this late in the season.

Removing Underdeveloped Tomatoes

underdeveloped green tomatoes on the vine
Underdeveloped Tomatoes

Another technique to facilitate quicker ripening is by removing smaller, underdeveloped fruit from the tomato plants. While it may seem counterintuitive, removing these smaller fruits actually helps redirect the plant’s energy to the larger tomatoes.

By eliminating the underdeveloped fruits, the plant can focus its resources on the remaining bigger ones, accelerating their maturation. This practice ensures that the tomatoes reaching maturity are plump, juicy, and full of flavour.

Pruning the Tops of Tomatoes

Pruning the tops of tomato plants is a well-known method for boosting fruit ripening. By trimming off the upper branches, you encourage the plant to direct its energy towards existing fruit. This technique is especially beneficial towards the end of the season when there are still unripe fruits on the vine.

Removing the upper growth allows the plant to channel its resources into ripening those tomatoes before the colder weather arrives. Remember to use these sterile pruning tools and make clean cuts to minimize the risk of disease transmission.

the main growing stem of a tomato plant
Prune the Main Growing Stem of Tomato Plants

Ensuring Adequate Moisture and Sunlight

Proper moisture and sunlight are essential for the ripening of tomatoes. Irregular watering can lead to blossom end rot, inconsistent growth, and slow down the ripening process. Ensure that the soil is consistently moist but not waterlogged.

Regularly monitor soil moisture levels and adjust watering accordingly. Additionally, tomatoes require abundant sunlight to ripen properly. Choose a location for your plants (I know, the location is probably already set in stone) that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight per day.

If necessary, consider pruning surrounding plants or removing obstacles that may block the sunlight from reaching your tomatoes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I tell if my tomatoes are ripe?

Ripe tomatoes will have a bright red (or other mature color depending on the variety) and should yield slightly to gentle pressure. You can also sniff the blossom end for a fragrant, tomatoey aroma.

Should I pick tomatoes when they are green and let them ripen off the vine?

Tomatoes continue to develop some flavor and sweetness as they ripen, even if picked slightly underripe. However, they won’t reach their full peak of flavor if picked completely green. If you have a late frost approaching, it’s okay to pick some tomatoes early so they don’t spoil on the vine.

What are some things that can prevent tomatoes from ripening on the vine?

Cool temperatures, lack of sunlight, and insufficient watering can all slow down ripening. Also, some tomato varieties may not ripen fully if planted too late in the season.

Products:

For all-purpose organic fertilizers, check out Arber.

For organic, non-GMO garden seeds, check out SeedsNow.

For a wide selection of garden plants, check out Nature Hills Nursery.

For gardening equipment, check out Bootstrap Farmer.

For gardening tools and supplies, check out VIVOSUN.

Conclusion

As the summer season comes to a close, taking the necessary steps to ripen tomatoes faster on the vine becomes crucial. By following the techniques mentioned above, such as removing suckers, redirecting energy by eliminating underdeveloped fruit, and pruning the tops of tomato plants, you can accelerate the ripening process and maximize your harvest.

Furthermore, remember to ensure adequate moisture and sunlight for optimal ripening conditions. By employing these methods, your tomatoes will reach their full potential, offering incomparable taste and satisfying sweetness on your plate. Happy gardening!

If you want to learn more about gardening, foraging, nature, and sustainability, check out The Real Gardener on Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest. 


How to Grow Broccoli the RIGHT Way (What People Get Wrong)

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20 Fast Growing Vegetables to Harvest in Under 60 Days!

how to make leaf mold compost

How to Make Fine Leaf Mold Compost for Your Vegetable Garden

The Best Cover Crops for Raised Beds

How to Protect Plants from Frost in Your Winter Garden

What is Cold Stratification? Here’s Why you Need to Know it

100% success rate method for propagating grape vines from cuttings

100% Success Method for Propagating Grape Vines from Cuttings

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Filed Under: Fall Gardening Tagged With: how to ripen tomatoes on the vine, ripe tomatoes, ripen tomatoes, ripen tomatoes on the vine, tomato, tomato harvest

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Hey! I’m Jonathan. I’m a no-nonsense gardener in Canada. I know that nobody reads the manual, because I don’t either. Here you’ll find no-nonsense, straight-to-the-point tips about vegetable gardening. Learn more about my story here

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