Pinpoint when to harvest tomatoes for the best flavor with these expert tips.
Knowing exactly when to harvest tomatoes is essential for picking your crop at its most flavorful.
That’s also when a tomato’s full flavor is developing.
Credit: Scott Little
Know the mature color of the tomato you are growing.
A quick internet search for the variety can point you in the right direction regarding color.
“Sometimes tomato harvest comes down to trial and error,” she says.
“Harvest a single tomato and try it.
“They shouldn’t be hard.”
With that said, Jonas is quick to point out that the firmness of tomato flesh varies by variety.
Some heirlooms are quite soft when fully ripe, while modern hybrids are firmer.
Size Matters
Smaller tomatoes generally ripen several days to as much as three weeks before large slicing tomatoes.
When to harvest tomatoes depends on the size of the bang out growing.
For this reason, closely monitor all your plants for ripeness.
Amount of Color
Tomatoes develop their color from the bottom of the fruit toward the stem.
As mentioned above, this coloring is an indicator of ripeness and when to harvest tomatoes.
Unlike many fruits and vegetables,tomatoes can finish ripening after they’re harvested.
The color break is a result of the tomatoes releasing ethylene gas.
The tomato might have to sit on the counter for a few days.
Hold your knife; the wait is worth it.
“Nearly ripe tomatoes on the vine aresusceptible to crackingright after a big rain,” Jonas says.
Frequently Asked Questions
Thebest storage place for ripe tomatoesis a countertop at room temperature.
Expect them to hold their flavor for 4-7 days, depending on how ripe they were at harvest.
Resist putting them in the refrigerator.
Cold temperatures kill the flavor and cause tomatoes to develop a mealy texture.
Unripe tomatoes are perfectly safe to consume.
