Do Tomatoes Ripen When Water Is Withheld?

Ripening Tomatoes

• To hasten ripening, reduce watering or stop watering altogether in late August. This step stresses plants and forces them to ripen faster. If the weather is unseasonably hot, give the tomatoes some water or the plants may wither and die.

General Watering Guidelines

• Withholding water before late summer won't help ripen tomatoes but will reduce yields and even kill the plant. Water tomatoes once or twice a week throughout the summer, depending on weather conditions. Tomatoes need evenly moist soil. Too little water results in stunted growth and yellow leaves. Too much watering reduces tomato production and fruit quality. Aim for a constant supply of water. Drought periods followed by excessive water encourage blossom end rot.

Watering Method

• Throughout the summer, and if you continue to water in the fall, use a soaker hose or drip irrigation system if possible instead of overhead sprinklers. Soaker hoses and drip systems lose less water to evaporation than conventional methods and also are less likely to cause diseases spread by wet leaves.

Ripening Tips

• In addition to reducing water quantities, remove any small green fruit and flowers that appear in August. These fruits won't have time to ripen before fall frosts and they divert energy away from ripening fruit. By removing them, the larger fruit ripen faster. Cover the fruit with floating row covers to protect them from mild frosts, but pick the tomatoes if a heavy frost is predicted.