Tomato harvesting is simple and really satisfying. However, timing is everything when it comes to flavor and texture. Now that you've spent weeks tending to them, you may enjoy the fruits of your labor. If you want to enjoy tomatoes at their tastiest and freshest, you need to know when to pick them. This comprehensive guide will teach you every step of the way! I will demonstrate how to recognize ripe tomatoes and how to carefully harvest tomatoes without damaging or splitting them.
Picking Times for Tomatoes
There are so many kinds of tomatoes that it's difficult to give a universally applicable harvesting schedule. In most cases, however, harvest time will be between 60-100 days following seeding. Smaller types, such as cherries and grapes, typically require between 50 and 70 days to mature, while larger varieties and heirlooms can take 80 days or more. Early Girl and bush hybrids are two examples of cultivars developed to speed up the maturation process. Tomatoes that have ripened on the vine will have the finest flavor, but you can safely pick them at any stage of development. Sometimes it's preferable to harvest them when they're still a little on the green side. The fruits are vulnerable to damage from both splittings from too much water and frost. If there is a chance of precipitation or frost, you should harvest them before the weather turns.
When do you Pick Tomatoes?
Pick tomatoes after they have reached their full size and color. You can usually tell the overall size and color to look for by checking the packaging or labeling. To complete the picture, give them a gentle squeeze; they should be firm but delicate.
When Picking a Tomato, What Color Should it Be?
The optimum time to eat tomatoes is after their color has intensified. That's typically a deep red, although there are also pink, yellow, and orange variations. In particular, heirlooms can be problematic. Some still have a yellowish hue on top and can shatter if stored for too long. See if they are still quite solid before you go ahead and pluck them.
How to Harvest Tomatoes
Once you've determined the optimal time to harvest your tomatoes, we'll go over the best practices for doing so without damaging your crop. Tomatoes should be picked whenever they reach maturity. In fact, it's a fantastic method for promoting increased blooming and fruiting. It's possible that once the plants are laden with fruit, you'll have to pick them up every day. Until the first frost, which for most of us marks the end of the season, many varieties will keep on producing. However, some kinds can only produce a substantial harvest in a span of a few weeks.
Next Steps for Harvested Tomatoes
Once fresh tomatoes have been plucked, they should be stored at room temperature on the kitchen counter. If you want to keep them fresh longer, storing them in the fridge is a good idea. However, the longer they are stored in the fridge, the more texture and flavor they tend to lose. If you're going to keep them in the fridge, bring them back to room temperature before eating.