1. Use Ripening Hormones
Ripening hormones like ethylene or propylene can help stimulate the ripening process of tomatoes. These hormones are found naturally in fruits like apples, bananas, and kiwis. You can place some of these fruits in a bag with your unripe tomatoes to help speed up the ripening process.
2. Increase Temperature
Tomatoes ripen faster in warm environments. So if you have unripe tomatoes, try to put them in a warm area like an oven or a sunny windowsill. A temperature of around 20-25°C is ideal for ripening tomatoes. However, avoid putting the tomatoes in direct sunlight as it can cause them to spoil.
3. Add Newspaper or Brown Bag
Another method to speed up tomato ripening is by placing them in a newspaper or brown bag. This method works because the newspaper or brown bag will trap the ethylene gas that the tomato produces, accelerating the ripening process. Just place your tomatoes in the bag with some apples as mentioned before, and keep checking their ripeness.
4. Prune branches and leaves
Pruning a few branches and leaves of a tomato plant actually helps speed up the ripening process. This is because pruning directs the plant’s energy towards the remaining fruit. By removing unripe tomatoes, you are allowing the plant to focus on the remaining ones and directing its energy there. This will make your remaining tomatoes ripen quicker.
5. Use Red Light
Red light actually helps stimulate the ripening process of tomatoes. Using a red light bulb or sticking red cellophane to a lamp and placing it near the tomatoes can help speed up the ripening process. Just make sure that the light is not too close to the tomatoes and that it is not too intense as that could cause damage to the tomatoes.
6. Use Fertilizers
Fertilizers like phosphorus and potassium can aid in the ripening process of tomatoes. This is because they help the plant produce more energy for the growth and ripening of the tomatoes. Be careful with the use of fertilizers however, as too much of it can actually harm the plant and cause the tomatoes to spoil.
In conclusion, there are several ways to speed up tomato ripening. Using ripening hormones, increasing temperature, using a newspaper or brown bag, pruning branches and leaves, using red lights, and using fertilizers are all effective techniques. You can choose one or combine several of these methods to get the best results. Don’t want to wait for your tomatoes to ripen? Try these simple tips and enjoy your delicious ripe tomatoes in no time!