We have about a dozen tomato plants (Cherokee Purple, Better Boy, Super
Marmandes, Brandy Boy). Lots of good-sized tomatoes ... all GREEN.
It's been a wet summer, which I suspect it will continue to be. And,
we're losing sun anyway.

Is there a way to push to ripen faster? In particular, would pruning
help? I heard once that you should cut back new growth that won't have
time to mature. OTOH, my past experiments with pruning have just
produced very low yields. Maybe cut the small fruits and new flowers?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks,
George
Zone 5+, CNY

In article ,
George wrote:

We have about a dozen tomato plants (Cherokee Purple, Better Boy, Super
Marmandes, Brandy Boy). Lots of good-sized tomatoes ... all GREEN.
It's been a wet summer, which I suspect it will continue to be. And,
we're losing sun anyway.

Is there a way to push to ripen faster? In particular, would pruning
help? I heard once that you should cut back new growth that won't have
time to mature. OTOH, my past experiments with pruning have just
produced very low yields. Maybe cut the small fruits and new flowers?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks,
George
Zone 5+, CNY

I suspect that any major trimming/pruning would be a shock to your
tomatoes and delay ripening. I would pinch off any flowers and
meristems, and maybe some very small fruit. Some organic 0-10-10
may help as well. Clear or black plastic mulch (sheets) around the
tomatoes would help to warm the ground.
--

Billy
Bush and Pelosi Behind Bars
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KVTf...ef=patrick.net
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0aEo...eature=related

Insert your spade along the root line and that will speed the ripening up.
Learned that tip from Joy Of Gardening by Dick Raymond

"George" wrote in message
...
We have about a dozen tomato plants (Cherokee Purple, Better Boy, Super
Marmandes, Brandy Boy). Lots of good-sized tomatoes ... all GREEN.
It's been a wet summer, which I suspect it will continue to be. And,
we're losing sun anyway.

Is there a way to push to ripen faster? In particular, would pruning
help? I heard once that you should cut back new growth that won't have
time to mature. OTOH, my past experiments with pruning have just
produced very low yields. Maybe cut the small fruits and new flowers?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks,
George
Zone 5+, CNY

On Aug 8, 7:45*am, George wrote:
We have about a dozen tomato plants (Cherokee Purple, Better Boy, Super
Marmandes, Brandy Boy). *Lots of good-sized tomatoes ... all GREEN.
It's been a wet summer, which I suspect it will continue to be. *And,
we're losing sun anyway.

Is there a way to push to ripen faster? *In particular, would pruning
help? *I heard once that you should cut back new growth that won't have
time to mature. *OTOH, my past experiments with pruning have just
produced very low yields. *Maybe cut the small fruits and new flowers?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks,
George
Zone 5+, CNY

If you can still find them, get red plastic mulch. This will really
speed up ripening. Check out this website for great gardening tips
and lots of pictures
www.littlegardenpatch.com they have some tomato tips on there too.