Monty Don has shared a simple expert tip to help gardeners ripen green tomatoes this month, after an unusually hot summer left many crops unripe. The advice, posted on his personal blog, suggests placing picked tomatoes in a drawer with a banana to speed up the ripening process.
Why tomatoes stayed green this summer
In the UK, tomatoes typically ripen from July through September, but this year's record-breaking heat meant many did not ripen properly. According to Monty Don, “Tomatoes ripen best when the temperature is between 26 & 30 degrees.” With Britain experiencing an extraordinarily hot summer, the conditions were often too extreme for the fruit to develop fully.
The horticulturist notes that tomatoes, “especially if grown under glass,” may have stayed “green much longer than in a cooler summer.” He adds, “By September, the heat is running out and inevitably we are all left with green tomatoes that are never going to ripen.”
The banana drawer trick
Monty's top tip is to pick the green tomatoes—either individually or on the vine—and place them in a drawer with a banana. He explains, “However if you pick them [tomatoes] — either individually or on the bine, then put them in a drawer with a banana, they will ripen and turn red.”
In addition to the banana method, Monty recommends stripping off the bottom half of the leaves on each tomato plant to allow more light and air to reach the fruits, which also reduces disease risk. He advises doing this weekly until no leaves remain.
Other tips for maximising tomato production
Monty also suggests reducing watering unless it is very hot, to prevent fruit splitting. He recommends a weekly feed of liquid seaweed or homemade comfrey feed, saying, “Both are ideal for maximising flower and fruit production.”
These steps can help gardeners extend their harvest and enjoy ripe, red tomatoes even after an unusual summer.
