Why are my Tomatoes NOT Turning Red? 5 Reasons & Solution

As a gardener, it is a rewarding experience to watch your fruits, flowers or veggies grow from their initial stage to the flowering and ripening stages.

I can’t wait to harvest my tomatoes in a few weeks. Every morning, I walk around my garden with a sense of fulfillment. Once I see the big red tomatoes staring at me, it fills me with so much thrill. 

However, my experience has not ALWAYS been rewarding.

For 3 consecutive years, I went through one of the most emotionally draining tomato planting seasons. It took FOREVER for my tomatoes to turn green. In fact, for 2 straight years, I didn’t see a single green tomato in my garden. 

“What could be the cause?” – this was my thought. Well, I found the perfect answer and will be sharing it with you in this article. 

Read on to discover the 5 major reasons why your tomatoes are not turning red. This will change your entire perspective about tomatoes – leading you to a more rewarding planting and harvesting season.

Why are my Tomatoes NOT Turning Red?

From my experience, I discovered these 5 reasons, which you are about to ALSO discover. Treat what you are about to read as important. If you want to step up your tomato-planting experience, then, watch out for these 5 reasons and do all you can to prevent them from reoccurring. 

Maintain the perfect temperature for your tomato plants. This is one of the major reasons behind the non-red tomatoes in your garden.

When tomatoes are exposed to excessive heat or cold, their growth process can either stop or slow down.

This explains why some seasons can bring QUICK ripening while others are slow, boring, and sometimes NEVER HAPPEN.

Sick tomatoes

While researching the impact of temperature on tomatoes, I found out that the ideal temperature needed for turning your tomatoes red is between 68 to 77 degrees (F).

Lycopene can be produced between those ranges. Once it gets too hot or drops below 68 degrees (F), the ripening process stops or slows down – causing green tomato fruits to pop up in your garden

Now, I understand that tomato plants need enough sunlight. However, overexposure to direct sunlight is counter-productive. It affects the ripening of your tomatoes, leading to green fruit formation. 

Sick tomatoes

When I discovered this, I felt uncomfortable at first. All my life, I have believed that sunlight cannot be excessive. Well, I have learned. Too much sunlight raises temperature levels, which affects the production of lycopene. 

What your tomatoes need is HEAT. Therefore, you don’t need to place them directly under the sun. 

In a bid to care for your tomatoes, it’s possible to become overzealous – especially in the area of watering your plants.

Caution is advised! Subjecting your tomato plants to excessive water makes the soil damp, which can prevent the absorption of oxygen and other essential nutrients.

Green tomatoes

It is advised to reduce your watering schedule when your tomato fruits get to the maturity stage. This sends them into survival mode, accelerating the ripening process. 

Nitrogen and other balanced fertilizers are needed at the early growth stage of your tomato plants. They contribute to foliage production and root development.

Why are my Tomatoes NOT Turning Red? 5 Reasons

However, once the green fruit of your tomato plants gets to the maturity stage, stop applying nitrogen.

If you don’t, then your plant will be focused on foliage production – leading to a reduction or distortion in the ripening process.

Planting the wrong tomato species can lead to green tomatoes. This is why you need to CHECK properly for the right variety of tomato plants. Be sure they produce red tomatoes.

This is an important “early” check and balance to put in place. If your tomato species produces only green fruits, then that is what you’ll get.

Why are my Tomatoes NOT Turning Red? 5 Reasons & Solution

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