Dining and Cooking
What’s your take on harvesting at the breaker stage?
In Tomatoes

What’s your take on harvesting at the breaker stage?


I have a serious squirrel problem.

It’s difficult for me to even get tomatoes to the ripening stage sometimes let alone have them survive throughout the whole ripening period.

My only issue is that I’m hearing mixed things as to whether the flavor decreases when you harvest early. Some people say that once the color change starts the plant has already stopped sending sugars into the fruit so the flavor is essentially set. I’m not sure I believe this.

In the other hand I don’t want the squirrels to get more than they already are if I can be harvesting these ones at the breaker stage.

by Ordinary-You3936

29 Comments

  1. phoebestars69

    In your specific case, you should definitely harvest at the breaker stage.

    Does a slight increase in flavor matter when the alternative is to just not get tomatoes at all?

  3. CorisTheDino

    I harvest underripe and have great flavor, but I always through breaker stage was a little more color than that

  4. EviI_OIive

    Pick it. It’s going to taste 100x better than the one at the store that was picked even earlier than this, and 1000x better than the one you don’t get to eat because the squirrels got to it.

  5. Outside-Badger301

    I picked some yesterday at this stage because we were getting a bunch of rain and I didn’t want them to split. Ideally I like them to ripen on the vine, but it’s a fruit by fruit decision based on the circumstances. In your circumstance I’d rather pick now than feed the jerky squirrels 🐿️

  7. Old_Crow_Yukon

    I’d try to let it go another day or half day but i also don’t have a squirrel problem. This would be fine to harvest.

  8. mediocre_remnants

    I’ve never been able to tell the difference. You could do a taste test, but… if no tomatoes are ripening on the vine how could you? What option do you have?

  9. Super_Prize_8197

    That’s when I pick mine. Protects from insects and critters, and also from excess rainwater or other non-consisting watering (cough cough) that could cause it to split.

  10. DimMike

    Pick em! It’ll also make room for more to grow quicker!

  11. snowsew

    Serious squirrel problem seals it.

    I harvest when I feel like it. But I don’t fight squirrels. They like my apples too much

  12. wearehere3

    There’s been a double blind study on this showing that people can’t tell the difference in flavor between vine ripened and counter ripened tomatoes. I always harvest at first blush.

  13. Blurple11

    I set saucers and various vessels full of water around my garden because I heard the main reason critters eat tomatoes is because of the water content and they’re thirsty. Might be worth a try, can’t hurt

  14. HibiscusOnBlueWater

    Try fake rubber snakes and mint extract sprayed around the perimeter. Haven’t seen a squirrel near my stuff in 2 years and before that they were eating even the green ones.

  15. Thick-Marzipan-9176

    I vine ripen mine. I don’t care what they say, it does not ripen or change flavor sitting on the counter. Ask any pepper grower, they change color but don’t truly ripen.

  16. BigTunaBags

    Since you said you have a squirrel problem, this is a no brainer – pick that guy.

    Even if you didn’t have a squirrel problem, I would only let mine go probably a day or two more at most from this point. People who claim they can taste a difference from letting it “fully” ripen on the vine vs. pulling at the breaker stage either have a *much* more refined/sensitive palate than I or anyone I know do, or are experiencing a placebo effect.

  17. Firalean

    I have a cage for my tomatoes due to squirrels and rats. But I also usually have leftover seedlings that get planted outside the cage in a ‘If I get at least some, I win’ mentality. Outside the cage I pick at a few days past that stage, inside I let them ripen, but I don’t think it makes a significant difference.

  18. albert-cicconi

    Yes. Do it. They are subject to cracking at this stage if you get a heavy rain. When I was a kid growing up on a vegetable farm, if there was a big rain in the forecast it was time to pick tomatoes bushels and bushels, then graded every day.

  20. mentalbackflip

    I love a warm fully ripe tomato straight from the vine. But if the squirrels are stealing them, pick ‘em and put them on the windowsill!

  22. GoldJob1352

    If squirrels are taking it, then yes go harvest. In my case, I prefer to ripen them on the vine, i dont buy the logic that it tastes the same ripen on and off the vine. For myself, vine riped tomatoes are the best

  23. mrshelmstreet

    Harvest at break. Science has proven the sun has nothing to do with ripening to taste.

  24. Scared_Key_7841

    Do it. It absolutely works just fine.

  25. Dru2021

    How long after harvesting at breaker stage are they good to stay on the counter / in a box for to ripen? I’m not quite sure of this bit yet. There’s always a green spot on the top / I chicken out before I worry they will go off..

  26. Sp07va000

    I was never able to ripen a tomato on the vine and last year started picking when they got a bronzy orangish cast on them , but definitely more that that ripest one on yours. I place them in a cardboard box that was about 10 inches high and would stick a ripe pear or apple or whatever I had in there with them. It usually took 3-4 days for them to ripen but was finally able to can a lot of tomatoes for the first time in a long time. I would put them in a blender and freeze in ziplock bags. At the end of the season , I had a huge pile of ziplock bags and then cooked and canned a tremendous amount of sauce.

  27. Inevitable-One-3674

    I grew tomatoes professionally both in field and hydro houses. In the field we picked as soon as there was a first blush and ripened them on tables in a greenhouse, cause so many things can happen to tomato in field, the amount we grew animals weren’t really an issue but bugs were because we grew organically and for sale tomatoes have to look perfect. Another reason (I’m dealing with this this year) too much rain will make the tomato split. The flavors are fantastic. Pick a couple as they blush and leave some on and do a comparison tests, we all used to carry salt and pepper in our pockets for taste testing or a midday snack 😊

  28. PorklesIsSnortastic

    I’m also fighting squirrels and harvesting at the breaker stage is the only way I get to eat any of my tomatoes. And sometimes the squirrels take them before the breaker stage. So I’m on team harvest at the breaker stage.