If you’re standing in your garden and wondering when to pick your tomatoes, you’ve come to the right place. Knowing when to harvest involves a combination of color, touch, and understanding your tomato variety. This guide will help you pick your tomatoes for the best taste.
Quick Facts
- Look for uniform color: This indicates ripeness.
- Gentle squeeze test: Ripe tomatoes should yield slightly.
- Know your variety: Different tomatoes ripen at different times.
The Timing
Timing plays a significant role in the flavor of your tomatoes. Harvesting at the right time can make the difference between a good tomato and a great one. To master this timing, pay attention to three things: visual ripeness indicators, the feel of the fruit, and your tomato variety.
Visual Indicators
The first and most obvious sign of a ripe tomato is its color. A fully ripe tomato will be uniform in color with no green near the stem. This mature color varies depending on the variety, so always check the seed packet or catalog for guidance.
The Squeeze Test
Color isn’t the only indicator of ripeness. The feel of the fruit can also give you clues. When you gently squeeze a ripe tomato, it should yield to pressure, whereas an unripe one will be hard. Ripe tomatoes also come off the vine with a slight twist. A gentle pull will tell you if the tomato is ready to be picked, as ripe ones will come off the stem easily.
Knowing Your Varieties
Different tomato varieties have their own ripening signs and timelines. Early maturing varieties can be ready in as little as eight weeks, while late-maturing varieties can take up to twelve weeks. Knowing the characteristics of your tomato variety will help you time your harvest for maximum flavor. Always check the seed packet or plant tag for this information.
How to Harvest
Picking tomatoes is more than just pulling fruit off a plant. It’s a delicate process of selecting ripe, healthy tomatoes and removing them from the plant without damage.
Gentle Twist
The simplest way to harvest tomatoes is the gentle twist. This is done by gently twisting the tomato until it comes free from the stem. Be careful not to damage the tomato or the plant.
Using Secateurs
For larger tomatoes or those with tougher stems, garden secateurs are a gardener’s best friend. They allow you to cut the stem just above the fruit without damaging the tomato or plant. This method is especially good for heirloom tomato vines.
Harvesting Clusters
If you have smaller tomato varieties like cherry or grape, it’s best to harvest in clusters. Once most of the fruit in a cluster is ripe, you can remove the whole cluster. This saves time and keeps the tomatoes fresher longer, prevents fruit flies, and allows for better air circulation around the fruit.
Preemptive Picking: When to Harvest Early
Sometimes, despite our best efforts, nature throws us a curveball. Unfavorable weather, pests, or disease can force us to harvest our tomatoes earlier than we want. This is called preemptive picking.
Weather
If frost is forecasted, harvest your tomatoes early to prevent damage. If temperatures are going to drop, pick your tomatoes at the mature green stage and let them ripen indoors at room temperature. Tomatoes that are just starting to show color can also be harvested and ripened off the vine.
Pest and Disease
Pests and disease are other reasons you might need to preemptively pick. Regular checks for disease like blight are crucial. Harvesting early can mitigate these risks and still let you enjoy your tomatoes.
 Indoor Ripening Methods
Whether you had to pick your tomatoes early or want to extend your harvest season, tomatoes can still ripen off the vine thanks to a natural hormone called ethylene gas. Indoor ripening methods tap into this gas and provide the right conditions for your tomatoes to reach their full flavor.
Ethylene Gas Hacks
Placing your tomatoes near fruits that produce ethylene, like bananas, can speed up the ripening process. Simply put your tomatoes with bananas in a paper sack or cardboard box at 70-75°F, and you’ll get faster and more uniform ripening.
Indoor Ripening Conditions
Besides ethylene gas, the right temperature and environment are key to indoor ripening. Tomatoes ripen best when allowed to ripen indoors at 75-85°F during the day and 60-70°F at night. Remember to put your tomatoes in a bright area of the room but not in direct sunlight. Ensure they don’t touch each other.
Your Tomato Harvest
Storing your tomato bounty properly is just as important as harvesting them at the right time. Whether you want to use your freshly picked tomatoes in the next few days or preserve them for longer, here are some tips.
Room Temperature Storage
Storing ripe tomatoes in the refrigerator is a common mistake. Cold temperatures can change their natural flavor and make them tasteless. Instead, keep your ripe tomatoes in a cool, dry place at room temperature.
Long Term Preservation Methods
If you had a big harvest and can’t use all your tomatoes right away, long-term preservation methods are your savior. Freezing whole tomatoes is a simple way to extend their shelf life for up to six months. You can also convert your ripe tomatoes into homemade sauce and freeze it.
Heirloom and Green Tomatoes
Heirloom and green tomatoes need extra care. Heirloom tomatoes are more prone to splitting and often need to be harvested before they’re fully ripe. Green tomatoes can be used in various recipes like salsa verde, pie, pickles, fried green tomatoes, and chutney.
Your Tomato Plants
Regular monitoring and care of your tomato plants is key to an abundance of harvests throughout the season. Even after the first harvest, your plants still need love and care to maximize yield.
Checking Plants
Regular checks for diseases, ensuring they’re watered and fertilized, can make a big difference in your harvest.
Post-Harvest Plant Care
Post-harvest care is important. Pruning your tomato plants can help the plant focus its energy on ripening the fruit already on the plant.
Growing and harvesting your own tomatoes is a journey. With these tips and techniques, you’re on your way to a big harvest of perfectly ripe, delicious tomatoes.
