*As of September 1, no more water, then take a shovel and cut down around the plant severing the roots.  This will stress the plant and force it to mature the tomatoes.  The fruit will ripen within five to eight days.  To ensure the plant stays healthy during the summer, when I plant the tomatoes I put banana peels in the bottom of the hole. I save peels all winter. Secondly, I fertilize every 10 days with miracle grow and epsom salt. 

The ripening of tomatoes is not something I have had to think about all that much, though I did grow some during a Florida fall before and picked green ones before frost. Usually we grow tomatoes in the early spring in the Deep South and they succumb to heat and disease in the summer. By the time cold weather comes, we haven’t had tomatoes in months. This is why it’s so important to learn from experts in your area! You can learn a lot from people all over the globe, but only local experts are going to give you the precise climate and growing information you need for best results in your area.