As the British summer draws to a close, gardeners across the UK are facing a common dilemma: what to do with a glut of stubbornly green tomatoes still clinging to the vine. Fear not, for national treasure and horticultural expert Monty Don has shared his incredibly simple yet genius method to rescue your harvest.
In his latest advice, the 'Gardeners' World' star advises against the old wives' tale of placing unripe tomatoes on a sunny windowsill. Instead, he champions a more effective, natural approach that harnesses the power of a commonplace fruit.
The Banana Box Method: Monty's Secret Weapon
Monty's fail-proof technique involves a cardboard box, some newspaper, and a single banana. The secret lies in the ethylene gas that bananas naturally emit—a key plant hormone that triggers the ripening process in other fruits.
Here’s how to do it in four easy steps:
- Harvest your green tomatoes, ensuring they are free from any cuts, bruises, or signs of blight.
- Line a cardboard box with a sheet of newspaper to create a dark, contained environment.
- Place your clean, dry tomatoes inside the box alongside a ripe banana. The banana acts as a natural ripening agent.
- Close the box loosely and store it in a cool, dark place like a garage or pantry. Check on them every few days.
Why This Method Beats a Sunny Windowsill
Many gardeners instinctively place green tomatoes on a sunny windowsill, but Monty warns this is a mistake. While the sun can eventually redden the skin, it often does so at the expense of flavour and texture, leaving you with a mealy, tasteless fruit.
The box method, however, allows the tomato to ripen from the inside out. The concentrated ethylene gas from the banana encourages a full and even ripening process, resulting in a tomato that is not only red but also juicy and flavourful—as if it had been sun-ripened on the vine.
This clever hack is the perfect way to reduce waste and enjoy the fruits of your labour well into autumn. So before you resign those green orbs to the compost bin, try Monty Don's expert trick and savour your homegrown tomatoes for weeks to come.
