How to store tomatoes so that they turn red: accelerate ripening and keep the vegetable fresh for a long time

Every novice gardener is interested in the question of how to properly collect more green tomatoes so that they quickly ripen at home. After all, planting and growing tomatoes is only half the battle. In the article you will find a detailed description of the process of collecting, ripening and preserving tomatoes.

Another problem is how to keep ripe tomatoes fresh for as long as possible. After reading this article, you will learn simple ways to keep this vegetable fresh for several months without much effort.

Why pick unripe tomatoes

It is not necessary to wait until the tomatoes are fully ripe on the bushes. It is possible and even necessary to collect the fruits that are not yet ripe.

The reasons:

• the largest green fruits are removed to relieve the bush - they will no longer grow, but they can break the branches;
• green fruits are removed to increase yields - after removing the tomato, the bush will give up all the nutrients for the emergence and development of new fruits;
• with the onset of the first frost and the temperature lowering to + 10 ° C at night, tomatoes are harvested green - warm days may not be enough for the fruits to fully ripen on the bush, and the entire crop may die from the cold;
• dampness can make plants sick late blight - first, the bushes are affected, and then the fruits are covered with black spots (such tomatoes cannot be eaten);
• many housewives canning green tomatoes.

We remove the fruits correctly

Which tomato can already be picked is determined by color. Tomatoes range from light green to light orange. The darker the green, the longer it will take to ripen. The size of the fruit must match the variety.

The fruits are cut with scissors together with the stalk so as not to damage the skin. So you will extend the shelf life of tomatoes, protect them from premature decay. It is important to pick tomatoes in dry but not hot weather.

What varieties to choose for long-term storage

In specialty stores, you can easily find seeds of almost all varieties of tomatoes. For open ground, choose medium and early ripening varieties, and for greenhouse planting with late ripening.

What varieties and hybrids are stored for the longest

Yellow tomatoes New Year's, Vasilisa, Zhanna, Snowfall, Gift of Autumn, Orange ball, F1 Slothbok, Rio are perfectly stored.

If you prefer red fruits, then choose Ekaterina, Zazimok, The empire, Stone flower, Intuition.

For lovers of exotic black tomatoes are suitable: Black Crimea, Black truffle, Black a pineapple, Dark chocolate.

reference... Regardless of the variety, tomatoes grown outdoors are stored better than those grown in a greenhouse.

When to pick tomatoes for ripening

Open field tomatoes are harvested before the first frost. If the fruit begins to turn brown near the inflorescence, this means that it will no longer grow, you can safely pluck it. If the weather is too wet and rainy already in August, it is worth collecting all the green fruits. From excess moisture, they begin to rot.

If the tomatoes are grown in a greenhouse, you can remove the fruits for ripening later.Depending on the weather conditions and the variety, harvesting starts from late June and continues until early October. But when the temperature in the greenhouse drops below + 9 ° C, you need to collect all the fruits completely.

Conditions for ripening and storing green tomatoes

For the best result in preserving tomatoes certain conditions must be met. Consider detailed instructions on where and how to keep tomatoes, as well as unusual ways and tips to preserve the harvest.

Where to store harvested unripe tomatoes

For quick ripening, the best place is a dark and warm room with moderate humidity levels. It must be well ventilated. The optimum temperature is +… + 25 ° C, the higher it is, the faster the tomatoes will ripen.

There are several options for storage:

1. Small boxes are covered with paper (not with a newspaper), spread the tomatoes in a maximum of 3 layers. Each next layer is also overlaid with paper. Instead of paper, you can sprinkle the fruit with straw or sawdust.
2. Used to store unripe tomatoes in felt boots... This is also a valid option, but you will have to sort them out every 2-3 days, tracking ripe ones and or starting to deteriorate.
3. Storage in banks. Banks are first sterilized, 2 tbsp are poured into the bottom. l. dry mustard. Unripe tomatoes are laid out in layers. Each layer is also sprinkled with mustard. Roll up with a metal lid. They put jars in storage in a cool dark place: a basement or cellar is perfect. Tomatoes will remain fresh for up to 4-5 months.
4. In a small apartment, you can spread the fabric under the bed and sprinkle unripe tomato berries on it, covering them with another cloth.

We speed up the process of ripening tomatoes

Consider the most popular and effective ways to speed up the ripening process of tomatoes:

1. Ethylene gas has been scientifically proven to ripen tomatoes (and many other vegetables). The fruits themselves also produce this gas. To increase its concentration, the fruits are covered with a cloth or straw.
2. Bright sunlight and high temperatures will help the tomatoes ripen faster.
3. In any place where the crop is stored, place 1-2 already ripe red fruits or a ripe banana. Thus, the "ripening enzymes" will spread among the unripe fruit faster.
4. If you need the tomatoes to ripen urgently, you can resort to such an unusual method - inject each tomato with vodka (0.5 cm³) in the area of ​​the stalk. The ethylene concentration will increase and the reddening process will accelerate several times. It is not safe to give these tomatoes to children.

How to keep tomatoes fresh until winter

You can enjoy the taste and aroma of fresh vegetables even at the New Year's table. To do this, follow a few simple rules.

First, sort the fruit carefully. Any signs of spoilage, dents, stains, mold are the reason to use the fruit for processing. Tomatoes must be dry, without skin damage. When stored in boxes, sorting is carried out 1 time in 3-4 days.

Important! Do not store tomatoes in a plastic bag. Despite the convenience, this method will lead to rapid damage to the fruit.

The humidity in the storage place should be high - from 80-85%, and the temperature should not exceed 7-10 ° C. In dry air, tomatoes become flabby faster and lose their flavor.

A small amount of unripe tomatoes can be kept in the refrigerator. And for making soups or pizza toppings, ripe tomatoes are cut into thin circles, put in bags and frozen in the freezer. So you can use these vegetables fresh until the next harvest.

Storing ripe tomatoes

Ripe tomatoes are stored from several days to 2-3 weeks. Mid-ripening and late-ripening varieties will lie at room temperature for 3 weeks. Early maturing is best stored in a cooler place for no more than 5-7 days.

Separate ripe tomatoes from the rest of the vegetables. Such a neighborhood will accelerate the ripening process and lead to early decay. Ripe fruits will lie in the refrigerator for several days.

3 methods of processing tomatoes that will prolong their storage

There are a few tricks to keeping your crop lasting longer:

1. Place the tomatoes in a container and cover with vegetable oil. The oil level should be 1 cm higher than the fruit.
2. Prepare a solution of water, salt and vinegar in a ratio of 8: 1: 1 and pour over the fruits.
3. In sterilized jars, first place a layer of finely chopped tomatoes and salt. Put whole fruits on top, sprinkling each layer with salt. Roll up the cans and store them in a cold place (refrigerator or basement).

How to slow down the ripening of tomatoes

To slow down this process at home, there is a simple rule: the colder it is in the room where you store the tomatoes, the slower they ripen. However, the room must be well ventilated, otherwise the fruits will quickly deteriorate or lose their taste.

Tips from experienced gardeners for picking and storing tomatoes

When picking and storing tomatoes, you should rely on the unusual and interesting advice of experienced gardeners:

1. So that the fruits turn red faster in the garden, spray them with iodine solution - 30 drops of iodine per 10 liters of water.
2. Storing tomatoes in the cold loses their taste - keep them in the refrigerator only when necessary.
3. It is not worth washing tomatoes, it is better to wipe them with a cotton swab and alcohol to kill germs.
4. Put clean and dry fruits in a sterilized jar. Tomatoes must be loosely stacked. Pour 1 tbsp into the jar. l. alcohol, close the lid. Twist the jar a little to get all the tomatoes wet. Make a tube wick out of paper, light it and lower it into the jar. Once the alcohol ignites, gently roll up the lid. With this method, all oxygen from the can will disappear. The tomatoes will last for 4-5 months and stay fresh.

Conclusion

Agricultural technology involves the collection of unripe tomatoes to ease the load on the plant and increase yields. Experienced gardeners know how to store tomatoes so they turn red quickly at home or in the basement.

Compliance with the temperature regime, maintaining the humidity level, choosing suitable fruits for storage and timely bulkhead will provide the hostess with ripe tomatoes for several months.