A hybrid heirloom tomato

[Gemma]

Even in Scotland I think those lovely toms will ripen.

Many different kinds of butterfly visit my garden, I don't know the names other than the first on is a Monarch

 

[Sheal]

Thanks everyone for your comments. I need you all to keep your fingers crossed please. If these fail I've only got six seeds left for next year.

Years ago it was said that putting a banana amongst the tomatoes helped them ripen. I've tried it but found no difference.

 

[Meadowlark]

Thanks everyone for your comments. I need you all to keep your fingers crossed please. If these fail I've only got six seeds left for next year.

I'll cross my fingers, no bananas...but as far as having viable seeds going forward you have accomplished that already in my opinion in the mature tomatoes. The new seed's germination rate will increase somewhat over the next three weeks, but by and large you have already succeeded in producing viable new seeds.

 

[Sheal]

Thanks for the support Meadowlark. I do hope you're right. I'm tempted to pick one and cut it open to check progress.

 

[Meadowlark]

Thanks for the support Meadowlark. I do hope you're right. I'm tempted to pick one and cut it open to check progress.

Well, three weeks will make the seeds even more viable.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

Years ago it was said that putting a banana amongst the tomatoes helped them ripen. I've tried it but found no difference.

It's because of a gas given off by the ripe banana. Can't remember its name, but it is one of the relatively simple hydrocarbons, supposedly the simplest hormone going.
Ripe tomatoes do the same job and it is sometimes recommended to put the green toms in a paper bag with a ripe on, or in a drawer. The idea is the gas does not dissipate and a paper bag allows the right sort of humidity. I have never tried it, very few problems ripening tomatoes and the ones that don't become green tomato chutney.

Ethylene, C2H4, double bonded carbons with two hydrogens each. Thanks Google.

 

[Sheal]

With little sun now and the overnight temperatures dropping, I decided to strip the Manx Marvels from the plants and ripen them inside on a sunny window cill (hopefully).

Most of them are smaller than usual and in a warmer climate some of them would have reached up to four inches in diameter. With a late start and not a good summer season this is what I have from three plants...

A couple of conjoined tomatoes amongst them. I suspect the one on the left won't ripen.

The largest one amongst them. There are a few this size.

The total weigh in was 3 pounds 14 ounces.