There’s nothing quite like the taste of homegrown tomatoes. And if you enjoy picking these straight from the vine and into your dishes (or mouth), it can be a letdown when your crop misses that bold, juicy flavor you had hoped for.
However, even though it looks ripe and ready for the picking, you’ll need to know the best stage of ripeness for picking a tomato.
What’s more, tomatoes on the vine are constantly at risk of damage from weather extremes, pests, and disease. Which is why identifying the ideal time to harvest is crucial for securing a high-quality, delicious yield.
So if you want to avoid a bland and disappointing crop, here are the three tomato picking stages — to ensure they are bursting with the juicy flavor you crave.
1. When your tomatoes are fully ripe and red
This is when your tomato crops have reached their full size, red color, and are firm in texture. These signs indicate that your harvest is ready for consumption, and experts suggest eating or using them immediately after they are picked for maximum flavor.
However, after harvesting, be sure you consume them within a day or two to enjoy them before their peak flavor begins to fade.
It’s also worth noting that the kind of tomato plant you select is vital for its final flavor.
“The variety of tomato can determine flavor,” states Jessica Mercer, Ph.D, horticulturist at Plant Addicts. “Some tomatoes are bred for shipping ease, firmness, disease resistance, or high yield. Others, like cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, and many heirlooms, are known for good sugar-acid balance and aroma.”
Before choosing which seeds to sow, you should investigate which particular cultivars align with your preferred flavor profiles.
For top tips, check out Tom's Guide to tomatoes for everything you need to know about growing a juicy harvest.
2. The ‘color break’ or turn stage
As the name suggests, this is the point at which the fruit begins to get color, about the size of a dime on the blossom end.
While it’s tempting to pluck and eat the fruit at this stage, you may be disappointed with the overall taste, as it hasn’t yet fully ripened.
A top tip is to place them on a countertop at room temperature for three days, and the tomato should ripen — ready for your tasty dishes.
Of course, if you want to keep them for longer, store them in the fridge for a few days.
3. Mature green stage
This is when your plant has a lighter green color but no pink/red showing yet on the blossom end. Typically, this indicates that your tomatoes are not quite ready to harvest, and usually takes about a week to fully ripen.
However, you can pluck and store them in the fridge for a few weeks at this stage of development. In addition, gardeners usually harvest mature green crops as the season ends to protect them from frost.
Top tip for tasty tomatoes
Although the heatwave might encourage more frequent watering, overwatering your plants can actually wash out the bold flavor you desire.
To avoid diluting those essential sugars and acids, a good tip is to water only once the upper two inches of soil feel dry to the touch.
“Too much water, particularly when fruit is ripening, can dilute the sugars and acids that give tomatoes their flavor,” explains Mercer.
“Water deeply and consistently when the top inch or two of soil begins to dry. Check the soil for dryness before watering again.” What’s more, overwatering tomatoes, especially before a harvest, can make a real difference to their sweetness.
Plus, you’ll need to ensure your soil is kept in a healthy condition, free from disease or root rot, often triggered by overwatering.
Add a rich, organic fertilizer like a good fish fertilizer. This contains all the essential plant nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium — which are all vital for healthy development and full flavor.
For more top tips, check out when to fertilize tomatoes: the 3-step schedule for a bountiful harvest
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