Green spots on tomatoes do not ripen

Discussion in 'Fruit and Vegetable Gardening' started by fluffypuffmarshmallows, Aug 9, 2006.

  1. fluffypuffmarshmallows

    fluffypuffmarshmallows Member

    Messages:
    12
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Kent County, MI
    Hi,

    I am wondering if anyone knows what can cause quarter-sized, or slightly larger, green areas on a tomato to remain green long after the rest of the tomato has ripened. The spots I am seeing are not on the top of the tomato, but the side. I finally picked one after concluding that the green area was never going to ripen, and cutting it open found that the area underneath it simply seemed under-ripened, too-- no rotting, no squishiness. Any ideas?

    Heather
     
  2. AlexH

    AlexH Active Member

    Messages:
    49
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Port Moody, BC, Canada
    My guess is green shoulders:

    http://www.ext.colostate.edu/PUBS/GARDEN/02949.html

    Green/yellow shoulders develop on ripening fruit, possibly due to high temperatures. Chlorophyll in this area is slow to break down and results in a patch that remains green or turns yellow but not red. This problem may affect the entire shoulder or only a small, irregular patch. Shade the plant and take other precautions to reduce the fruit's exposure to the sun.
     
  3. fluffypuffmarshmallows

    fluffypuffmarshmallows Member

    Messages:
    12
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Kent County, MI
    Thanks. That does sound like it, and they do get a lot of sun. I'd read about green shoulders on a different website, but it made it sound like it only happened around the stem of the tomato. At least it isn't toxic!
     

Share This Page