Knowing when to pick tomatoes might seem like a straightforward task, but did you know there is actually a right way and time to harvest tomatoes off of your plants for maximum flavor and freshness?
While the concept of walking out to your garden and picking a bright red, juicy tomato straight from the vine might sound amazing, it really isn’t the best practice. In fact, allowing a tomato to fully ripen on the vine is actually asking for trouble.
Insect damage, sun scald, splitting skins, adverse weather, and so much more can affect ripening tomatoes. Wait too long, and your tomatoes will start to lose not only nutritional value but their perfect flavor as well. Add to that the fact that the overall health and productivity of your tomato plants can also be directly affected.
So how do you know when the best time to pick tomatoes is? Do you just go by their overall color? What about the size of the tomato at the time of harvesting? Or do you go off of the exact days-to-maturity listed on your seed packet?
Picking tomatoes at just the right time does take a bit of skill. But don’t worry because this article will take the guesswork out of the process so you can be confident that you are harvesting your tomatoes at the perfect time!
How Tomatoes Ripen
In order to know when to pick your tomatoes, you first need to know a little bit about how tomatoes mature.
Tomato plants will start to put out ethylene gas to start the ripening process. As soon as you see that the tomato has started to turn from that bright green color to slightly pink or red, the process has begun.
At this point, the tomato is no longer absorbing any nutrients or resources from the plant. Even if you pick the tomato with just a tiny bit of red or pink showing, it will still continue to ripen off the vine without any problems.
Advantages Of Ripening Off The Vine
There are many advantages to harvesting tomatoes before they are completely ripe on the vine. First, the longer a fruit is growing on a tomato plant, the higher chances are that the fruit will become blemished or damaged.
Not only do you find those bright red or pink tomatoes irresistible, but so do the animals, insects, and birds! Leaving the fruit to fully ripen will increase the chances that pests and insects take a bit out of that tomato before you ever get a chance to.
In addition, the fruit can also become damaged by the elements of Mother Nature. Morning dew left on tomatoes can actually burn the delicate flesh of ripe fruit when the sun’s harsh summer rays hit it. This causes sun spots, and while not an issue itself, it can cause problems with pests and diseases.
Rain can also adversely affect tomato plants and cause damage to the fruit. Heavy rains can make tomatoes grow too rapidly, causing the skin to split and crack. Those splits are another type of open invitation for diseases and pests alike to take hold – something gardeners want to avoid!
When & How To Pick Tomatoes
Early Harvesting Equals More Fruit!
When it comes to picking your tomatoes before they are fully ripe, it is better for the fruit and for the plant itself.
Even though the tomatoes are no longer sending resources to a ripening tomato, the plant will still dial back on producing new blooms while the present fruit continues to grow on the plant.
This is especially true for indeterminate tomato varieties that continue to put on new fruit throughout the entire growing season. If too many tomatoes are on the plant at one time, it is known as “fruit overload.” This overload causes the plant to slow down its production of new blooms.
In addition, ripening tomatoes weigh a lot – especially the slicing varieties like brandywines and beefsteaks! All of that weight can cause issues for the plant in general, whether you have tomato supports or cages in place or not.
For example, damaging or harsh winds can easily break the stems of tomato plants that are loaded down with fruit. In fact, winds can even be strong enough to knock over or uproot entire plants altogether!
Knowing The Right Time To Pick Tomatoes
Keeping in mind the days-to-maturity for that specific plant can help be an overall guideline of when the fruit will ripen. However, looking at the actual fruit color itself is a more reliable source.
Also, don’t go by the size of the tomato. The same variety of tomatoes can put out a wide array of different shapes and sizes for their fruit – even on the same plant.
While you can pick tomatoes as soon as they start to turn color, it’s best to wait until a third of the fruit is pink or red (or whatever color the ripe tomato of your variety is colored).
This simple guideline allows the tomato to stay on the vine to begin the ripening process. However, it’s not so long that it will affect the fruit or the plant itself.
Ripening Tomatoes Off The Vine
Contrary to what you might have read before, it is best to not ripen tomatoes on your sunny windowsill. Nor should you ripen them in your refrigerator either.
As long as the tomato has started to turn color, it no longer needs help from the sun to ripen. Too much sun can cause the same issues that you would get while the fruit is still on the vine – splitting and cracking.
In addition, sun and heat can actually speed up the ripening process. This can cause the fruit to ripen unevenly, leaving part of the fruit hard as a rock while the other side is soft and squishy.
As for refrigerators, the cool air will cause the fruit to stop ripening almost altogether. The refrigerator will also cause the fruit to lose its delicious flavor. It can also reduce its nutritional value as well as time passes.
FYI – If you want a nice cold tomato, it’s ok to pop the already-ripened fruit into the fridge. Just do it for a few hours beforehand so you can still enjoy a cold slice on your BLT sandwich.
Where To Ripen Them Instead
So where is the best location to ripen tomatoes off of the vine then? Believe it or not, a nice cool, shady location is ideal. Aim for air temperatures of around 65 to 70º Fahrenheit, and you’ve got the perfect spot!
Set the tomatoes on a wire rack or someplace where they can receive plenty of air circulation. This will help the tomatoes to ripen evenly on all sides. A cooling rack works well, or you can even make homemade racks using hardware cloth or something similar. (Affiliate Link: Checkered Chef Cooling Rack)
Avoid placing them on cutting boards or any surface where the bottom of the fruit won’t also receive good airflow. If indoors isn’t an option, a cool shed, garage, or even front porch also works well. Just be sure to keep them out of direct sun and high temperatures. If you do, they will ripen beautifully off the vine!
By following these simple tips, you will be able to enjoy perfectly ripe, juicy, and full-of-flavor tomatoes all summer long! And if you have a big harvest of tomatoes, be sure to check out our “Tomato Recipe Tab” on the site for some great ways to use them up!