My cherry tomatoes are orange and a bit stiff, when they should be red and tender. I had used Auroville tomato seeds from India. They didn’t ripen. They remained almost ‘dormant’ in a zombie state. However, they had developed well and had already produced a 1st harvest.
If you read this article, you’ll understand how tomato chemistry works: https://www.leblogjardin.com/pourquoi-mes-tomates-ne-rougissent-pas
It has been scientifically proven that chemical modifications to a tomato’s DNA, known as epigenetic modifications (intrinsic to the tomato), play a major role in the ripening of these fruits. This article is very well documented, I summarise and analyse what happened to my tomatoes.
This is because the production of molecules such as ethylene, lycopene and carotene signals the tomatoes to change colour. These molecules play an essential role in the ripening of the tomatoes, as do a number of external factors. In the case of my tomatoes, I can say that they didn’t ripen because the weather was too hot, up to 42°, whereas these chemical substances, which are essential for colour change and for the overall development of the tomato, are only optimal between 10 and 30°, and even 35° for ethylene.
What’s more, sunlight is essential for the plant’s growth. Leaves photosynthesise sunlight, not fruit, and as many of them have fallen off, due to sudden hot spells and drought, my tomato plants have lost quite a few leaves and therefore their chances of optimising photosynthesis. The fallen leaves reduced the tomatoes’ ability to optimise ripening because they reduced the plant’s ability to capture light. As a result, they remained orange and were unable to soften properly, as substances such as ethylene were unable to play their role properly.
But from the state of ‘dormancy’ came ‘rebirth’, a new tomato plant. And with outside temperatures reaching over 10°C, the chemistries will play their part properly. This plant has a chance of producing new tomatoes, which will reach maturity, because the sun is always out.
