Alcohol will help tomatoes ripen faster.

A unique method for ripening tomatoes was developed by chemists and biologists at the Institute of Food Technologies in St. Petersburg. The scientists have proven that ethyl accelerates flowering and ripening of the fruit.

This method hasn't found widespread use, as it would require considerable investment for large plantations. However, in smaller garden plots, the "drunken" tomato method is successfully used.

The essence of the method

The principle of action is to saturate unripe fruits with ethyl alcohol. When the substance enters the plant, it causes:

• stopping plant cell division;
• inhibition of the growth of stepchildren;
• cessation of foliage growth;
• activation of flowering;
• acceleration of fruit ripening.

Tomato plants can be stimulated to produce a faster harvest using ethanol at any stage of fruit ripening. Unripe tomatoes are injected with alcohol, which accelerates ripening by 5-14 days. After infusing the tomatoes with alcohol, their flavor remains unchanged, with no odor or bitterness.

How to plant

When growing "drunken" tomatoes, it is necessary to select the appropriate varieties and begin sowing seeds for seedlings.

1. In the second or third ten days of March, prepare suitable containers.
2. Fill the boxes or containers with nutritious soil, which should consist of: 5 kg of garden soil, 3 kg of well-rotted manure, 1 kg of sand and 1 glass of wood ash.
3. Disinfect the seeds by immersing them in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for half an hour.
4. Rinse the planting material under running water and dry.
5. Spread the dried seeds on the surface of the soil at a distance of 1.5 cm by 1.5 cm, deepen and sprinkle with earth.
6. Cover the containers with newspapers or plastic and place them in the warmest and darkest place.
7. After the first tomato loops appear, place the containers with soil in the brightest spot, lowering the air temperature by a few degrees.
8. When the tomato seedlings grow the second or third pair of true leaves, transplant each plant into a separate container with a volume of at least 0.3 liters.
9. At the age of 40-55 days, transplant the seedlings to a permanent location in open ground.

 

 

How to care

After planting the seedlings in their permanent location, carry out all necessary agricultural practices: watering, loosening the soil, and treating pests and diseases. After fruit set has begun, wait 2-3 weeks before injecting the tomatoes with alcohol.

1. Injections should only be performed in sunny weather during daylight hours. After all, the tomatoes are already damaged after the punctures, and the sun's rays will cauterize the wounds, promoting faster healing.
2. After filling a 20-cc syringe with 40-degree vodka or 96% alcohol diluted with water, begin administering injections.
3. Having determined the center of the fruit “by eye”, insert half a cube of alcohol solution into each one, making 4-5 punctures.
4. Five to seven days after the injections, the tomatoes will begin to turn brown, and within 10 to 15 days they will be fully ripe. By this time, the needle holes will have healed and become invisible.
5. Once "drunken" tomatoes are ripe, they can be safely eaten. No alcohol flavor remains. After all, when exposed to sunlight, the ethyl turns into ethylene gas and evaporates.

 

 

Suitable varieties

When using the "drunken" tomato method, only varieties and hybrids resistant to cracking are suitable. When ethyl is added to tomatoes, it will promote cell expansion. This action will cause the skin to rupture in tomatoes that are not resistant to cracking. The following varieties are most suitable for cultivation:

Adele F1

An early-ripening indeterminate hybrid with plum-red fruits. A vigorous plant with thick, crack-resistant skin.

Ivanhoe F1

An early-ripening indeterminate hybrid with dense, round, medium-sized fruits that resist cracking even in high humidity.

Bobcat F1

An early indeterminate hybrid with large, rounded-flattened fruits that do not crack at all during ripening.

Mamston F1

An indeterminate hybrid with enormous, delicate pink fruits. It is distinguished by its increased resistance to cracking.

Esmira F1

A vigorous indeterminate variety with large pink fruits. Resistant to cracking.

Budenovka

A mid-early, tall variety with red, heart-shaped fruits. Resistant to cracking.

Bull's forehead

An early, medium-sized variety with large, red fruits. These tomatoes are easy to transport and do not crack.

Ephemeral

A low-growing variety distinguished by dense, deep-red fruits. Due to their increased density, the fruit does not crack even in the rainiest summers.

Supernova F1

A determinate hybrid with large, bright red fruits. It doesn't crack even in extreme heat with ample watering.

Lyana

A mid-early, low-growing variety producing medium-sized, round, flattened fruits. Thanks to their thick skin, they are resistant to cracking.

Adviсe

Those amateur vegetable growers who want to speed up the ripening of tomatoes using the "drunken" method should follow some tips:

1. When the fruit is filling and soaking in ethyl alcohol, it is not recommended to apply nitrogen-containing fertilizers. Nitrogen will promote vegetative growth, but the fruit will slow down its development. During this period, only fertilizers containing potassium, phosphorus, and boron should be used.
2. When using the "drunken" method, remember that during the period of active fruit growth, overwatering will negatively impact the tomatoes. Even the most crack-resistant varieties and hybrids will simply become watery and tasteless.
3. After injecting tomato fruits, yellowing and leaf drop may sometimes occur. Don't be alarmed, as this is merely a temporary reaction to the presence of ethylene in the plant's tissue. After a week, the ethylene's effect will wear off, and the tomato plant will begin to grow vegetative mass again.

https://youtu.be/UiIeyco4XEk

Reviews

Gardeners who have already tried the "drunken" tomato method share their impressions:

Elena, Rostov-on-Don

My husband and I recently read about an interesting method. We decided to give it a try. We grew our tomatoes as usual, but decided to experiment with two of them. We injected the green tomatoes with a syringe, adding 0.5 ml of vodka. After 10 days, most of the punctured tomatoes were almost ripe, while the rest had turned brown. We picked them and tried them – they tasted like regular tomatoes, but they ripened much earlier than the others. The method worked!

 

Nikolay, St. Petersburg

Growing tomatoes outdoors in our region is a very challenging task. The tomatoes don't have time to ripen before the start of late blight season. I read an interesting article online about Russian scientists proving back in the 19th century that alcohol accelerates ripening. I decided to try this unique method on 10 tomato plants, using only 50 grams of vodka. The results were impressive. Just a week after the alcohol injections, the tomatoes turned brown, and within five days they were fully ripe.

By learning about this unusual "drunken" tomato method and following the recommendations, you can enjoy delicious, juicy tomatoes earlier than expected.