The Natural Trick Gardeners Use to Ripen Tomatoes Faster

Cool nights and limited sunshine can slow tomato ripening, leaving gardeners with green fruit long after the growing season should be in full swing. When the weather refuses to cooperate, adjusting your fertilizing routine may encourage tomatoes to mature more quickly without relying on harsh chemicals. Why Tomatoes Ripen Slowly Tomato plants react quickly to falling temperatures. When nighttime temperatures drop below 15°C (59°F), they shift their energy away from fruit production and focus instead on maintaining healthy stems and foliage. Cloudy weather further slows the process by reducing the sunlight needed to produce the pigments that give tomatoes their rich red color. "When a tomato plant experiences cold conditions, it switches into an energy-saving mode. To encourage fruit development, gardeners should restore the proper mineral balance in the soil," soil scientist Igor Lytkin told Pravda.Ru.