The Top 5 Reasons Tomatoes Won’t Turn Red or Ripen

The Top 5 Reasons Tomatoes Won’t Turn Red or Ripen
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The Top 5 Reasons Tomatoes Won’t Turn Red or Ripen

There’s nothing more frustrating than watching your tomato plants thrive only to see their fruits stay green. Unfortunately, wishing and hoping won’t have them turning red any sooner. 

Here, we are giving the hard truths and explaining what to do when those tomatoes won't turn red.

What Causes Tomatoes to Turn Red?  

The red hue of tomatoes is due to lycopene, a natural pigment and antioxidant that collects in the fruit as it ripens under specific growing conditions. Lycopene makes the fruit eye-catching, ripe, and contains vitamins and nutrients.

There's a delicate balance between the chemical makeup and the genetics of the specific variety of tomatoes. Environmental factors like temperature and rain play a huge role in growing the perfectly blushing red tomato.

green beefsteak tomato in gardengreen beefsteak tomato in garden

5 Reasons Tomatoes Won’t Turn Red

1. Fluctuating Temperatures 

Tomato plants need temperatures of 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit to ripen. Anything above 85 degrees or below 50 degrees can halt any color change. This doesn't just put a stop to the ripening process but also prevents the tomato from maturing. 

What To Do:

  • Provide shade for plants during heat waves.

  • Use row covers to retain warmth during cooler nights.

  • Wait for temperatures to normalize.

2. Young Immature Fruit

Tomatoes need to reach their full mature size in order to start ripening. You’ll need to research your tomato variety and learn how many days it takes for a mature fruit to form. Patience is key, as tomatoes will only begin to change color once they’re fully developed.

What To Do:

  • Research your variety of tomatoes, whether it’s a determinate or indeterminate variety, and how long it takes to bear harvestable fruit.

3. Lacking Proper Sunlight

All tomato varieties require full sun (daily direct sunlight for a minimum of 6 hours). Dense foliage shading the maturing tomatoes or planting in heavily shaded areas reduces the energy needed for tomatoes to turn red. 

What To Do:

  • Plant all tomato plants in an area with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.

  • ​​Prune any leaves blocking fruit exposure to sunlight.

  • Consider repositioning container plants or adding reflective surfaces.

4. Improper Soil Nutrients 

Soil needs to have the proper nutrient makeup for tomatoes to flourish. Too much nitrogen and your plant will focus on producing leafy green foliage rather than plump red tomatoes. Too little and your plant will suffer from stunted growth and yellowed leaves.

Balanced fertilizer with the right mix of nutrients is essential to support flower and fruit production. It's best to pick a fertilizer with a 5-10-5 or 10-10-10 ratio. This is the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK).

What to do:

5. Lack of Pruning 

Tomato plants with too many leaves, stems, or fruits can struggle to decide where to use their energy. Should they grow more leaves, produce more fruits, or focus on ripening? 

Most of the time, they will choose to grow even more leaves and stems. Although your tomatoes may eventually turn red, this process takes much longer.

What to do:

  • Remove suckers. Suckers are the small shoots that grow in the joint between the main stem and a branch of a tomato plant.

  • Trim back 20 percent of the plant for added sunlight and less energy expenditure. 

  • Remove small immature fruits so the plant can focus on ripening the more mature tomatoes.

green tomatoes in various sizes on the vine in gardengreen tomatoes in various sizes on the vine in garden

Tips From the Pros

Be Patient

Like all gardening woes, this is another lesson for us to slow down and practice patience. The good news? You can research tomato varieties that have a shorter harvesting time. That way, you don’t have to wait as long for a delicious vine-ripened tomato.

Some quick ripening varieties include:

  • Sakura (Organic): Matures beautiful fruits in 55 days.

  • Early Girl: A true winner that will mature in 57 days. 

  • Sun Gold: Supersweet and matures in 65 days. 

Pay Attention to Weather Patterns

Like most things in life, weather can be unpredictable and out of our control. There may be seasons with unseasonably warmer or cooler temperatures or drier or wetter conditions that will affect the growing and ripening process. 

Extreme heat can stop the production of the red pigment lycopene, while cooler temperatures can slow the overall development. 

Tips for protecting your tomato plants from heat waves:

  • Water thoroughly in the early morning hours. This locks in the moisture needed throughout the day without the risk of the sun's rays scorching the plant. 

  • Add some shade. You may need to assist your tomato plants by giving them a much-needed break from the sun. Add some shade by using a light cloth or using a temporary structure to provide some ease. 

Excessive rainfall may stress the plant or waterlog the soil, making it harder for the tomatoes to mature properly. 

Pro Tip: Be sure to never overwater your tomato plants, as this can have the same effect. 

Tips for protecting your tomato plant from excess rainfall: 

  • Add a thick layer of organic mulch around the base of the tomato plant. This acts as a barrier to prevent root rot and can absorb some extra moisture. 

  • Trim the bottom leaves off the base of the tomato plant. This helps provide extra air circulation and fends off  fungal disease. 

Turn Green Tomatoes Into Something Delicious

Green tomatoes can’t be all that bad, right? If you have an abundance and can't bear the thought of wasting them, why not turn them into something delicious? It doesn’t just have to be fried green tomatoes, either!  

Try pickled green tomatoes, a tangy green tomato salsa, or a green tomato relish. You may have just found your new favorite burger topping or chip dip, which is perfect for summer!  

graphic with tips to help tomatoes ripengraphic with tips to help tomatoes ripen

How Long Does it Take For Tomatoes to Turn Red?

On average, it takes anywhere from 40-50 days for a fruit to form from a pollinated flower and another 20-30 days to turn red and ripen, so about 60 to 80 days total. This of course depends on the variety of tomato plants.

Does this mean you can only harvest a tomato after it has turned red? Not exactly. You can harvest a green tomato if it has reached the most mature stage of development. 

This happens when the fruit is full-sized and firm and starts to show a slightly lighter color at the tomato's base. With the right conditions these fruits can easily ripen right on your countertop! 

But if you harvest a tomato before it reaches its most mature stage, it won’t develop the deep red color or the flavor profile associated with those vine-ripened tomatoes we all know and love. For the best results, let the tomato mature before plucking it off the vine. 

Wrapping Up

Watching your hard work pay off into beautifully ripe tomatoes is super rewarding. But knowing the right steps and pro tips makes all the difference. Now that you have an understanding of what may be keeping your tomatoes from turning red and how to help them along, you’re on the path to delicious yearly tomatoes grown right in your backyard. 

If you’re ready to expand your tomato garden, check out the Park Seed Tomato Collection for some of the best varieties. And don’t miss these 3 Tomato Tips:

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