Well it is early June and tomato season is in full swing in most parts of the country. Tomatoes are one of the most popular things to grow for most home gardeners. Whether it is fresh off the vine or in a sauce, tomatoes seem to make any dish taste better. However there is a problem that most gardeners have to deal with and that is getting to eat your tomatoes before something else does.
That’s right, birds, bugs, squirrels, your own back yard chickens and many other little critters are sitting back just waiting for your tomatoes to ripen so they can have a fest. I didn’t know this little nugget of vital gardening information my first year growing tomatoes and I paid for it dearly. After several seasons under my belt now, I have figured out what works for me to keep my tomatoes on my dinner plate and not in a bird’s belly.
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How to Ripen Tomatoes Indoors
Many new gardeners don’t know that tomatoes will ripen indoors even if you pick them very green. There are a few ways to do it. If you have planted determinate tomato plants, most of the fruit will be growing at the same time. (Find out the difference between determinate and indeterminate tomato plants here) Some people will pull the whole tomato plant and hang it upside-down indoors or in a screen porch. This way the tomato stays on the vine. This is especially effective when you are close to the end of your tomato season and the first frost is quickly approaching.
Another way is to individually wrap each tomato in newspaper and place on a flat surface. With this method, make sure to space them a few inches apart and store them in a location between 50-72 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything warmer than that can cause mold and attract fruit flies. This method also requires checking on them every day to see if they have ripened or not and re-wrap them if they are not ready. I say, hey! If you have time for all that, it is probably your best bet.
There’s an Easier Way
As for me, well I am a busy and quite lazy homesteader! I do not have time to be checking each tomato all of the time to see if it is ripe. So I came up with my own way. It involves two steps: leave them on the counter and watch them ripen. That’s it! I place the tomatoes in a basket and put a towel over them to keep out as much light as possible. When they have ripened enough, I use them. It’s that simple.
Will ripening tomatoes indoors give you tomatoes that are just as good as picking them ripe off the vine? Probably not. However any homegrown tomato will still be 100 times better than a store bought tomato. Growing your own food is one of the most rewarding feelings. No matter what gardening problem you are running into, there is always a solution. Even if it’s other animals eating your home grown food.
Do you have another way of combating animals from eating your tomatoes off the vine? If so I would love to hear it! Be sure to comment below!
Until Next Time!
Eva
Nice post.