Where and how to store green tomatoes so that they turn red as quickly as possible and how to preserve ripe fruits for a long time

Summer residents often have situations when they urgently have to harvest crops from the bushes. And it doesn’t matter whether the vegetables have time to ripen. Many people are upset about this because they think that green vegetables are no longer suitable for consumption. In the article, this myth will be completely dispelled; we will tell you how to properly store the harvest so that the tomatoes picked green turn red.

There are several ways to store unripe tomatoes - we will talk about each of them in detail.

Why is it necessary to remove unripe tomatoes?

Since premature harvesting of tomatoes is a necessary measure, it is necessary to understand why summer residents resort to it. There are several reasons for picking tomatoes early.

Reasons why tomatoes do not have time to ripen

The reason may be an incorrect selection of varieties. Quite often, summer residents, especially beginners, choose late-ripening varieties for growing in open ground. In this case, ripening occurs in the fall, when the cold weather begins. Until this time, the bush grows slowly, slowly forms ovaries and becomes overgrown with greenery. And only after all these stages the slow ripening of the fruit begins.

Such tomatoes begin to ripen only in the fall, when the air temperature no longer allows them to ripen on the bushes. If they are not harvested green, there is a risk of losing the harvest completely.Remember: late varieties are optimal for growing in greenhouses.

Attention! To ensure that vegetables ripen before frosts in open ground, choose early and mid-ripening varieties.

Another reason is improper care of bushes. If you want to get the harvest in a timely manner, it is necessary to pinch and shape the plant during the intensive growth of the bush. Regular feeding is needed, but during the ripening of the fruits, do not overdo it. Choose fertilizers that are high in potassium.

Late planting may also be the cause. As a result, the harvest will have to be harvested prematurely so that the cold does not destroy the standing crop.

Types of varieties for storage

Not all tomatoes can be stored. But don't be upset about this. There are many varieties that will last until maturity.

Crops with long shelf life:

• almost all varieties of yellow tomatoes;
• Giraffe;
• Vasilisa;
• Zhanna;
• Gift of autumn;
• Orange ball;
• Snowfall F1;
• Long keeper;
• New Year;
• Khrustik F1;
• Lounger F1;
• Rio;
• all winter tomatoes.

This is not a complete list of varieties and hybrids that can ripen green.

But such varieties as Oak or Japanese can be stored for no more than two months.

Conditions necessary for long-term storage and ripening of green tomatoes

To keep your tomatoes as long as possible, follow a few simple recommendations. Compliance with them will allow the fruits to maintain freshness and aroma. When properly stored, the taste remains the same as that of those fruits that you were able to pick ripe.

At what temperature should it be stored and for how long?

Temperature is the most important indicator for proper storage. The warmer it is in the room where the green fruits are located, the sooner they will ripen. Accordingly, the lower the temperature, the slower the fruit will ripen. Summer residents recommend storing unripe tomatoes at an air temperature of at least 20°C.

It is necessary to place all the tomatoes in boxes and cover with paper. This will protect the tomatoes from direct sunlight. It is best to place the container in the kitchen. It is there that it is always warm and there is no dampness. Store the tomatoes until they are fully ripe and acquire their characteristic red color. How quickly this will happen depends only on what conditions are created and whether the care of the tomatoes is carried out correctly.

When to pick tomatoes for ripening

Harvest time for ripening is largely determined by the characteristics of the variety. Depending on the degree of ripeness, tomatoes can be divided:

• to green – usually used exclusively for culinary processing, they are eaten quite rarely;
• blanzhevye – it is necessary to collect at the moment when the fruits begin to acquire a greenish or orange color;
• ripe – you need to watch how the tomatoes turn red; pink ones can already be collected for storage.

The blanzhes ripen quite quickly after harvesting, but the green ones do the opposite. They will need to be stored from several weeks to several months. Experts advise not to take small tomatoes or those that are damaged for long-term storage. You should not store those that have already been exposed to even slight frosts.

Choosing the optimal storage location

When choosing a storage location, there are several important factors to consider:

• optimal temperature +20–23°C;
• low humidity;
• the room should be dry;
• There should not be bright sun where the fruits will be stored.

Artificial light

To ensure that tomatoes ripen as quickly as possible, artificial lighting is used. An ordinary lamp can become such a light source. It must be placed above the boxes of tomatoes and turned on periodically. Under artificial light, tomatoes ripen quite quickly and intensively.

How to properly store green tomatoes so they turn red and ripen at home

There are certain rules that should be followed for ripening tomatoes at home. Let's take a closer look at ways to accelerate ripening on branches, in stacks, etc.

How to speed up maturation

These tricks will speed up the ripening of picked tomatoes:

• place the tomatoes in paper bags and put a banana between them, it will release a special enzyme that will speed up the growth process;
• fill the box with fruits with sawdust;
• To prevent the fungus from infecting the fruits during storage, they are treated with alcohol;
• Place the boxes of tomatoes in a dark cellar for several hours, then take them out and put them in a warm room, so they will turn red faster;
• some summer residents put tomatoes in felt boots;
• Place several already ripe ones in a box with unripe tomatoes.

Ways to accelerate the ripening of tomatoes on branches

For this storage method, it is necessary to dig up all the bushes that have unripe tomatoes. This must be done as carefully as possible without damaging the root system. After this, hang the bushes in a dark, dry room with the roots facing up. The air temperature in the room should be no lower than +20...+23°C, otherwise the vegetables will wither.

Ripening in stacks

This method is suitable if there are a lot of unripe tomatoes left on the bushes.The bushes are cut off at the very base and stacked in a warm, dark room so that the tops are in the middle. Then the stacks are insulated with fabric or bundles of straw.

How to Preserve Red Tomatoes

Not only unripe tomatoes can be stored for a long time. There are several original methods for ripe tomatoes:

• put the vegetables in jars and sprinkle them with mustard powder;
• place in a jar and fill it with a small amount of alcohol, then set it on fire and close the lid. This will create a vacuum, which will allow you to store tomatoes for a long time;
• can be stored in the freezer: either whole or cut into pieces.

Tips and tricks

It is not recommended to eat unripe tomatoes, as they contain specific enzymes. These substances, once in the human body, can cause poisoning. However, there are many preservation recipes, which use green tomatoes. In pickles, toxic compounds are neutralized.

If you want to have ripe tomatoes all year round, you can start growing tomatoes at home. Hybrids that do not require intensive care are suitable for this. They can be grown in small pots.

Conclusion

It is not difficult to create optimal conditions for ripening tomatoes. Proper care and timely harvesting will help preserve the taste and aroma of your vegetables.

In order not to have to pick tomatoes before they have time to ripen, it is necessary to engage in regular care and create all the necessary conditions for the plants.

If you really had to collect unripe tomatoes – don’t be upset. Under the right conditions, they will ripen quickly at home.