when should I pick tomatoes?

hookilau on Wed 23 Jun - 7:47

I've got some baby plum tomatoes (determinate) but got to wondering when I should pick them....should they still be green or just starting to blush and let fully ripen on the counter?...should I do as I do with end of season hot peppers and cut a bit of vine/branch and then allow to ripen?

Any help is greatly appreciated

Thanks,
Nette

jsavolt on Wed 23 Jun - 8:05

I like to pick them when they are ripe on the vine. I think they have a better taste when they can ripen in the sunshine. At the end of the season when you are worried about frost, by all means, bring them in to ripen. Maybe try it both ways and see what YOU think tastes better.

plb on Wed 23 Jun - 8:27

Let them ripen on the vine - otherwise they might taste as the ones you get from the supermarket

kimbertangleknot on Wed 23 Jun - 8:53

jsavolt wrote:I like to pick them when they are ripe on the vine. I think they have a better taste when they can ripen in the sunshine. At the end of the season when you are worried about frost, by all means, bring them in to ripen. Maybe try it both ways and see what YOU think tastes better.

I agree with this 100%. I'm a vine ripened girl myself, but I had a friend that preferred to pick them while they were still greenish/yellow at the top portion or almost fully orange. He then let them ripen in the window sill. I didn't like them this way personally, but he LOVED them. It really is personal preference.

LaFee on Wed 23 Jun - 9:25

Let one ripen on the vine -- then tell us if you don't think it's the best thing on the planet.

I believe it was the late, great comedian Lewis Grizzard who advocated eating tomatoes like an apple -- just rinse it and eat it. The best ones, if I recall, were dubbed "sink tomatoes" -- because you had to eat them standing over the sink so as not to cover yourself and everything around you in tomato juice.

His best line?

"It's hard to think anything but pleasant thoughts when you're eating a homegrown tomato."

hookilau on Wed 23 Jun - 9:50

Unfortunately, I've only ever tasted supermarket tomatoes

so I guess I'll have to try it both ways! Thanks for the replies

I didn't want to miss the boat when their time came, I'm also hoping to not have to fight garden pests for the fruit. I guess that's why I'm anxious to pick 'em!

So far, there are but 2 teeny babies about half the length of my thumb and lots of flowers elsewhere. They suure are cute.

Thanks again for your replies

Nette

when should I pick tomatoes?

when should I pick tomatoes?

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