Will tomatoes turn red if they are not in the sun?

Question

I have tomatoes on four plants. Some of the tomatoes are in the sun, some are covered by leaves. I have had tomatoes on all for several weeks--some for more than a month--but I am yet to see a ripe tomato. Two plants are Cherokee and two are a dwarf variety (medium size tomatoes).

Can it take two months for tomatoes to turn red? I assume that a tomato will still turn red if leaves cover the specific tomato, but if that's not the case, I should probably pick a couple now.

Thanks for your knowledge. I'm not very patient at times.

Answer 1

If you still have the label for your tomatoes, it usually tells you an approximate due time for the first ripening tomatoes from seeding. Most Tomatoes start around 70 days. Some early varieties start as early as 45 days.  In your case it is not necessarily sun vs shade.

And i would remove the leaves covering them. You are inviting rot, and insects.

Also, Tomatoes do ripen faster in the dark, once they are ready for picking. If too green they will still sit there,

When I worked for a truck farmer, we would put the ones just turning in the trunk of a car and park it in the garage overnight so we would have red ones for sale the next day.  You can also put it in a cupboard if you have room.  But I usually wait until they begin to turn before i pick them.

Unless you want to cook fried green tomatoes. Its kind of like eggplant.

TopCatt

Answer 2

They don't need sun to ripen. Just wait. And in October, when you think they're done, pick a few good sized ones and take them inside when they're green, they'll ripen. I was picking and eating tomatoes last November!!!

Answer 3

Patients is a virtue! Yes they will ripen and yes Sunshine will help the process as Tomatoes do not grow very well in the shade! I live in Ky,and I have had many years of growing them! Don"t water your plants in the heat of the day,either early morning or late evening is best! If your area is dry with little Rain,you need to water them every other day! Before you know it you will be munching on a B-L-T, Good-Luck!

Answer 4

just give it some time they will ripen

Answer 5

the tomatos will almost always turn red in or out of sun.my grandmother has picked green tomatos before wrapped them in a newspaper and put them under her bed for a few days to turn them faster.it works i've seen her to that for as long as i can remember.good luck and dont forget about them

Answer 6

Artist your tomatoes will turn red if they are not left in the sun. When they are left in the on plant to ripen, this is  called vine ripen,  after they finish growing in a  couple weeks and they will start turning red.  Tomatoes love warm nights to ripen faster.  My tomatoes just started getting ripe about 2 weeks ago.     I thought they were never going to ripen.

Good Luck

Answer 7

It is actually best to pick the tomatoes as soon as you see some red color coming in.  The tomato does not benefit from being on the plant when it is turning red.  The plant, however, has to keep giving it nutrients if it is on the vine.  So really you are wasting your plant's energy by leaving them ripen on the vine.  You can pick them when they start turning, and leave them on the counter in the kitchen and they will continue to ripen.  I do it all the time.