Tomato Trouble

The word on the streets of Garden Farms is green tomatoes! Lots of neighbors are wondering why their tomatoes are still green as we approach the end of our summer growing season. From what I've been reading it's very common and there are lots of different ideas as to why it happens. Extremely hot temperatures can affect ripening. "... tomatoes do not produce lycopene and carotene, the pigments responsible for ripe tomato color, when temperatures are above 85 deg. F. So, extended periods of extreme heat cause tomatoes to stop ripening. The optimum temperature range for ripening mature green tomatoes is 68–77 deg. F. The further temperatures stray from the optimum, the slower the ripening process will be. And, when temperatures are outside the optimum range for extended periods, conditions may become so stressful that the ripening process virtually halts." This from the Purdue University Website (click on the paragraph above to visit the site). Those of us who have ripe tomatoes,enjoy! Those of us who don't,be patient. It's worth the wait!