In a previous post (How to Ripen Your Tomatoes Part 1), I mentioned my success at ripening my home-grown tomatoes by picking them when they’re green and placing them in a box covered with bubble wrap, in which I also placed a ripe banana.

Bananas release ethylene gas as they ripen, and it is this ethylene gas which encourages the tomatoes to ripen more quickly. It’s a trick used by tomato growers, only they spray their tomatoes with ethylene gas immediately before shipment in order that they will ripen during transportation.

Two weeks later and I’m already on my 4th box of tomatoes this season, all from just four tomato plants grown in a Bosmere Reusable Vegetable Patio Planter/Vegetable Bag on our front drive. Amazing!

I can’t believe how quickly the tomatoes are now ripening. I’ve just removed the latest ripe tomatoes from the box and they weighed in at just over 3lbs.

I will pick some more green tomatoes later today to replace them.

I have to say my home grown tomatoes taste wonderful, and I’m absolutely delighted with this year’s fruit and veg growing trials.

In fact I’ve produced so many tomatoes this year from just four plants, I think I will look at cooking and freezing some of the them so that I can use them at a later date for sauces.

Ann-marie Morgan for Third Age.

(Image © Third Age).