Are you staring at a vine of stubbornly green tomatoes as the season ends? Fear not, green-fingered friends. A gardening expert has revealed a remarkably simple and cheap trick using a common fruit to speed up the ripening process almost overnight.
As the British summer begins to wane, many gardeners face the same annual dilemma: what to do with tomatoes that refuse to turn red. While many resign themselves to making chutney, there's a far easier solution that requires just one thing you probably already have in your fruit bowl.
The Magic Fruit: How a Banana Saves Your Harvest
The secret weapon is none other than the humble banana. Gardening guru Simon Akeroyd, formerly of the National Trust and RHS Garden Wisley, advocates for this incredibly effective method.
"All you need to do is pop a banana in a bag or container with your green tomatoes," explains Akeroyd. "The ethylene gas that bananas naturally emit acts as a ripening agent, encouraging the tomatoes to turn from green to a glorious red."
Your Step-by-Step Guide to Perfectly Ripened Tomatoes
This method couldn't be simpler. Just follow these easy steps:
- Select your tomatoes: Choose healthy, unblemished green tomatoes, either still on the vine or picked.
- Grab a banana: A ripe banana is best, as it emits more ethylene gas.
- Contain them together: Place the tomatoes and the banana inside a paper bag, a cardboard box, or any container that can be loosely closed.
- Store in a warm place: A warm windowsill or a dark airing cupboard provides the ideal conditions.
- Wait and check: In just a matter of days, you should see your tomatoes beginning to blush and ripen.
Why This Genius Hack Works
The science behind this is fascinating. Ethylene is a natural plant hormone that triggers the ripening process in many fruits, including tomatoes and bananas themselves. By placing a high-ethylene-producing banana next to the tomatoes, you're essentially creating a mini ripening chamber, accelerating nature's process.
This method is not only effective but also completely natural and avoids any need for artificial chemicals or complicated equipment.
More Top Tips for a Bumper Tomato Crop
If your plants are still laden with fruit as the weather cools, Akeroyd suggests another proactive approach: the hanging method.
"Lift the entire plant, roots and all, and hang it upside down in a greenhouse, garage, or shed," he advises. "The tomatoes will continue to draw energy from the plant and ripen gradually."
For those with limited space, simply picking the individual green tomatoes and placing them in a drawer with a banana works just as well. The key is always the warmth and the presence of that ethylene gas.
So before you give up on this year's crop, try this 10p trick. It could save your harvest and deliver delicious, home-grown tomatoes for weeks to come.
