My first time growing tomatoes. When is the right time to pick the tomato to complete its ripe? Pic is the current state.
A
by Chilindrina22
18 Comments
darthdodd
Let it vine ripen
FineAd2187
As the color turns it will be more inviting to neighborhood critters. I’d pick it now
mudpupster
Wait until it’s red-ripe in most cases. If it has insect damage or if it falls off the plant, you can let it ripen inside on a counter.
Manutza_Richie
Pick it now and let it ripen on the counter. You won’t have to worry about critters getting it or splitting.
PacoTacoMeat
Vine ripen tastes best. Pick once you want to eat it. If you are concerned about critters, use fence or netting.
Special-Ad-3180
There’s no difference between vine ripe and ripening inside. Look up the breaker stage. Once it hits that point(between 30%-50% flush), it’s no longer getting anything from the vine so it will ripen the same and the flavor is locked in… so why risk damage/pests/sun scalding after that point.
There are many videos about this. Here’s just a couple.
in my experience ive found no difference in taste between vine ripened and ripened on the counter. i pick them once they start to change color and they ripen perfectly on the counter. letting it stay on the vine just risks attracting critters or other issues haha
lovethylabor
What kind of tomatoes are these? Different tomatoes have different colored skin so you’ll want to confirm the ripeness color before picking.
I do agree that picking them right after the breaker stage and letting them ripen inside is ideal. There will be plenty that you miss so you might as well get your first one as protected as possible 😁
Asst2RegionalMngr
Whoever is saying let it ripen on the vine must live in the Garden of Eden where there are no pests/rodents. Pick it when you see color change, let it ripen on the counter so it doesn’t get stolen(squirrels are the biggest culprits where I am).
intothewoods76
I like to pick them not long after they start turning color and let them finish ripening on the windowsill.
If I try to get “vine ripe” all I get are partially eaten tomatoes the squirrels got to.
The one you have pictured there I’d probably pick tomorrow.
denvergardener
It’s wild to me that in a tomato group, people are telling you not to let it ripen on the vine.
That’s the whole point of growing them myself. I’ve been growing tomatoes for at least 15 years. I’ve had hundreds of tomatoes ripened on the vine and the ones you try to ripen off the vine.
There’s no comparison. Vine ripe is better.
karstopography
The first order of business is to make sure you get to enjoy the tomato before the wildlife or insects get to it. If you can be certain insects or wildlife aren’t going to eat it, then pick the tomato at anytime up until and before it begins to rot. I’ve had tomatoes picked at color break that finished ripening inside at room temperature and fully vine ripened and with a few exceptions, there’s little to no difference in flavor.
OhSayCanUSay
As others have said, pick at the breaker stage. Also pick at the hottest point of the day, and finish ripening on a window sill with the stem facing down.
wolfansbrother
Pick them around this color and store them upside down on their sholders on the counter. they are sturdier than the ‘bottom’. here is a short video about difference between things that ripen on counter vs ripen on the vine. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttCd60Qko5A](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttCd60Qko5A)
Rough-Brick-7137
I like to pick when they have just a blush of color. They’re prone to cracking, insects and birds and my dumb groundhog! I store them stem side down on a cookie sheet lined with paper towels. At the point of starting to blush they’re not grown in size anymore. Just ripening and they do that on their own.
vanguard1256
I pick them as soon as they start changing color. Otherwise I might lose it to birds or squirrels.
18 Comments
Let it vine ripen
As the color turns it will be more inviting to neighborhood critters. I’d pick it now
Wait until it’s red-ripe in most cases. If it has insect damage or if it falls off the plant, you can let it ripen inside on a counter.
Pick it now and let it ripen on the counter. You won’t have to worry about critters getting it or splitting.
Vine ripen tastes best. Pick once you want to eat it. If you are concerned about critters, use fence or netting.
There’s no difference between vine ripe and ripening inside. Look up the breaker stage. Once it hits that point(between 30%-50% flush), it’s no longer getting anything from the vine so it will ripen the same and the flavor is locked in… so why risk damage/pests/sun scalding after that point.
There are many videos about this. Here’s just a couple.
https://youtu.be/FR1S3hPZEps?si=is0tQHHi-DYS3FuD
https://youtu.be/zzTx6sR2ZkI?si=14tJu_XpfqZtm_oe
Here’s a couple shorts.
https://youtube.com/shorts/5miHXccuEMg?si=r2w7yrDPCN9ar4_L
https://youtube.com/shorts/GkDUgjI80A0?si=bpsuBhoex3jvcXf0
in my experience ive found no difference in taste between vine ripened and ripened on the counter. i pick them once they start to change color and they ripen perfectly on the counter. letting it stay on the vine just risks attracting critters or other issues haha
What kind of tomatoes are these? Different tomatoes have different colored skin so you’ll want to confirm the ripeness color before picking.
I do agree that picking them right after the breaker stage and letting them ripen inside is ideal. There will be plenty that you miss so you might as well get your first one as protected as possible 😁
Whoever is saying let it ripen on the vine must live in the Garden of Eden where there are no pests/rodents. Pick it when you see color change, let it ripen on the counter so it doesn’t get stolen(squirrels are the biggest culprits where I am).
I like to pick them not long after they start turning color and let them finish ripening on the windowsill.
If I try to get “vine ripe” all I get are partially eaten tomatoes the squirrels got to.
The one you have pictured there I’d probably pick tomorrow.
It’s wild to me that in a tomato group, people are telling you not to let it ripen on the vine.
That’s the whole point of growing them myself.
I’ve been growing tomatoes for at least 15 years. I’ve had hundreds of tomatoes ripened on the vine and the ones you try to ripen off the vine.
There’s no comparison. Vine ripe is better.
The first order of business is to make sure you get to enjoy the tomato before the wildlife or insects get to it. If you can be certain insects or wildlife aren’t going to eat it, then pick the tomato at anytime up until and before it begins to rot. I’ve had tomatoes picked at color break that finished ripening inside at room temperature and fully vine ripened and with a few exceptions, there’s little to no difference in flavor.
As others have said, pick at the breaker stage. Also pick at the hottest point of the day, and finish ripening on a window sill with the stem facing down.
Pick them around this color and store them upside down on their sholders on the counter. they are sturdier than the ‘bottom’. here is a short video about difference between things that ripen on counter vs ripen on the vine. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttCd60Qko5A](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttCd60Qko5A)
I like to pick when they have just a blush of color. They’re prone to cracking, insects and birds and my dumb groundhog! I store them stem side down on a cookie sheet lined with paper towels. At the point of starting to blush they’re not grown in size anymore. Just ripening and they do that on their own.
I pick them as soon as they start changing color. Otherwise I might lose it to birds or squirrels.
Where are you getting ripe tomatoes so early?
Vine ripen!!!