My balcony tomatoes got huge but never turned red

I planted two cherry tomato plants in deep pots back in May. They grew like crazy, over five feet tall, and had tons of green fruit. But after two months, not a single one ripened. I learned they need way more heat than my shady north-facing balcony in Chicago gets. Has anyone else had this happen? What's a good veggie for low sun spots?

3 comments

3 Comments

blakem822mo ago

That's a classic Chicago balcony problem. My north-facing setup gets maybe four hours of direct light, and my cherries always ripen, just later. Heat helps, but it's not the only thing. Ethylene gas from a banana in a paper bag with a few tomatoes works every time for me. Leafy greens like kale or Swiss chard are your best bet for truly low sun.

avery_fox932mo ago

Totally agree about the banana trick! I've done that for years with my stubborn balcony tomatoes. They just sit there green forever until you give them that ethylene boost. My south side spot gets decent light but the heat still isn't enough some summers. You're right, leafy greens are the real winners for low light. I threw some spinach and chard in my shadiest planter as a test and they went crazy.

the_kim15d ago

Heard a tip recently about putting a ripe apple in with green tomatoes too, similar idea with the ethylene. Might be worth trying alongside the banana trick.