Can we speed up the ripening of tomatoes?

We may have covered this subject before.
I am putting a banana skin at the bottom of each plant,in theory the vapors given off the banana skin might speed up the process of ripening........Would it help to put a banana skin below the soil as well?
Is there any thing else we can do to help?

 

I had not heard about the banana skins but how about six hours of sunshine a day, my dearest?

I wonder if the banana skins would keep the greenfly down or encourage it?

They're looking good. I only have three on my one plant that was forced upon me.

 

Banana skins are great but better under the soil. Chop them up a bit and cover with a bit of soil so they rot down quicker.

My five plants still have no flowers but I did start them off late. A couple of days ago I watered in some wood ash from the stove as an experiment.

It's all about the potassium.

TO

 

this is my toms

 

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa80/marysam100/

mypics1005-1.jpg

 

Show-off!!!

:D

TO

 

no just lucky me thinks :D

 

Most ripening fruit gives off ethylene gas when it does it triggers off a hormone response in other plants around it causing them to ripen, they use the gas to ripen bananas, they are shipped over green the gas is introduced and triggers them to start ripening once they start its a rapid process. The use of the banana skin when placed near toms triggers the ripening it doesn't really matter if it's above or below the soil,other ripe tomatoes in the vicinity do the same job.

 

That was interesting reading from Walnut I have some Tomatoes that are orange and have been for weeks!!. They are near the greenhouse door maybe they are in a dreft that stops the gas getting to them as all the other plants in the greenhouse have done well. I have just started closing the door fully it wioll be interesting to see if they start to ripen fully now.

Dave

 

You can also use an apple to help ripening, and Dave, your toms should be at the back of the greenhouse were the air is moister and any cucumbers should be near the door where the air is dryer. David.

 

You are bang on Walnut! Have a look here. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/CV206

I have a feeling I have heard you can put tomatoes and banana skin in a sealed paper bag. It seems to make sense as the tomatoes would then be subject to a reasonably high level of ethylene. A few banana skins in a greenhouse would give a very low level. If you Google 'Tomato ethylene' you will get several such sites. The implication is that once you start the ethylene process sunlight is no longer involved.

 

You could try using a litre from this



:eek: maybe not ............ banana skins would be cheaper