How to Ripen Green Tomatoes Indoors: The Easy Newspaper, Apple, and Banana Method Before Winter

Autumn is here, temperatures are dropping, and your tomato plants are still covered with green tomatoes. Does that mean your harvest is lost?

Absolutely not!
There’s a simple, traditional gardening trick that can help mature green tomatoes ripen indoors, even when the weather outside is too cold.
All you need is a wooden crate or cardboard box, some newspaper, and a ripe apple or banana.
Here’s how this clever method works!

1.Why Do Tomatoes Stop Ripening When It Gets Cold?
Tomatoes need suitable temperatures to develop their beautiful red color and sweet flavor.
When temperatures fall below approximately 10°C (50°F), ripening slows significantly. Frost can also damage the fruit.
Fortunately, mature green tomatoes can continue ripening after being picked, provided they haven’t suffered cold damage.
The secret is a natural plant hormone called ethylene, which encourages ripening.
Apples and bananas release ethylene, making them useful companions for green tomatoes.

2.What You’ll Need
This simple method requires only a few household items:
Mature green tomatoes
A wooden crate or cardboard box
Newspaper or plain paper
One ripe apple or banana
A cool-to-moderate, dry indoor location
Gardening tip: Choose tomatoes that have reached their full size and are beginning to lighten from dark green to pale green. Very immature tomatoes may never ripen properly.

3.How to Ripen Green Tomatoes in a Crate

Step 1: Harvest Your Green Tomatoes
Pick healthy, mature tomatoes before the first frost.
Avoid fruit with cracks, bruises, mold, or signs of disease.

Step 2: Prepare the Crate
Line the bottom of a wooden crate or cardboard box with clean newspaper.
The paper helps cushion the tomatoes and absorb small amounts of moisture.

Step 3: Arrange the Tomatoes
Place the tomatoes in a single layer, leaving a little space between them.
You can wrap each tomato loosely in newspaper to help protect it from bruising.
Avoid overcrowding, which can encourage spoilage.

Step 4: Add an Apple or Banana
Place one ripe apple or banana inside the crate, near the tomatoes.
These fruits naturally release ethylene gas, which can help trigger and accelerate ripening.

Step 5: Cover Loosely
Place another sheet of newspaper over the tomatoes or loosely close the box.
Do not seal the container airtight. Some ventilation is important to prevent excess moisture and mold.

Step 6: Store at the Right Temperature
Keep the crate indoors at approximately 18–21°C (64–70°F).
Avoid direct sunlight, radiators, and very damp rooms.

4.How Long Does It Take for Green Tomatoes to Turn Red?
Depending on their maturity and storage conditions, tomatoes may begin changing color within several days.
Many mature green tomatoes ripen in approximately 1–3 weeks, although some can take longer.
Check the crate every two or three days.
Remove ripe tomatoes and discard any fruit showing signs of mold or decay.
Replace the apple or banana if it begins spoiling.
Important: Apples and bananas can help speed up ripening, but they cannot make severely immature or frost-damaged tomatoes ripen successfully.

5.Extra Tips for Better Results
Choose mature tomatoes: Full-sized green tomatoes have a much better chance of ripening indoors.
Keep them dry: Excess moisture encourages mold and rotting.
Check regularly: One spoiled tomato can affect nearby fruit.
Avoid refrigeration: Very cold storage can interfere with ripening and reduce flavor.
Separate ripe tomatoes: Once they turn red, remove them from the crate and use them promptly.
Don’t expect identical flavor: Tomatoes ripened indoors may not taste exactly like those that finish ripening naturally on the vine.

6.What If Some Tomatoes Stay Green?
Not every tomato will turn red, especially if harvested too early.
If your tomatoes remain green but are healthy, you can use them in cooked recipes such as:
Fried green tomatoes
Green tomato chutney
Cooked green tomato relish
Green tomato sauces
Green tomatoes contain naturally occurring glycoalkaloids, so avoid eating large amounts of unripe tomatoes, particularly if they taste very bitter.

Cold autumn weather doesn’t have to mean the end of your tomato harvest.
With a simple crate, some newspaper, and a ripe apple or banana, you can help mature green tomatoes continue ripening indoors.
It’s an inexpensive, practical way to reduce food waste and enjoy more of the tomatoes you’ve worked so hard to grow.