https://commonsensehome.com/tomatoes-not-ripening/
"The optimum temperature for ripening tomatoes is 70 to 75°F. When temperatures exceed 85 degrees to 90 degrees F, the ripening process slows significantly or even stops. At these temperatures, lycopene and carotene, pigments responsible for giving the fruit their typical orange to red appearance cannot be produced. As a result, the fruit can stay in a mature green phase for quite some time.
What can you do if you're stuck with green tomatoes and intense heat? Once the tomatoes have reached mature size, you can bring them inside to finish ripening. Remember, tomatoes like it 70-75 °F – just like many of us humans."
Even though the Temperatures here on the KS/MO border were in the mid to upper 90's las week, several Early Doll tomatoes ripened last week!. Mrs. Pete was thrilled!
Early Doll: 55 Days. Every gardener needs a variety like this one - early and packed with flavor. Produces 4 to 5 oz. bright red, globe shaped fruit that is excellent for fresh use in salsas, salads or slicing. Determinate.
This tomato is supposed to be determinate but its over 6 feet high at this point and I think i need to get some paracord and string it up! Here is something else I read in another Early Doll description that was interesting! "Dandelions are another good plant to have in your tomato patch believe it or not. Tomatoes are susceptible to fusarium wilt, which is a soil borne fungal disease and dandelions can help keep this in check." Humm...
Gotta feel for all the Midwest veggie farmers trying to make a living at the Farmer’s Market this year. A farmer’s market near me was doing a video tour every weekend to show what the vendors have. They quit doing them June 18th and up to that point, it was mostly meats, crafts, baked goods, jelly/jam etc. Very little veggies because May was the new June this year and June was the new July and July is a bonafide heat wave. Near 100 a few days here and there actually started in mid-late June.
My mater plants are hanging in there but only because they get shade at 4pm. They still look stressed. Near 100 most days and mid to high 70s most nights.
Good year to show how important it can be some years to have a high tunnel, low tunnel, greenhouse to get a month or two head start.
For those that put up food, it’s a good year to show why you might want two years worth put up.
And of course all the real farmers aren’t having the best year by any means. Even if their region had/has good weather, fuel and fertilizer have doubled or tripled.