How to Know When to Harvest Your Tomatoes for Peak Flavour
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Tomatoes are a summer garden staple, bursting with vibrant colours and fresh flavours. However, picking them at the right time is crucial to ensure you get the best taste. Here’s how to determine when your tomatoes are perfectly ripe and ready for harvest
Check the Colour
The colour of a tomato is a key indicator of its ripeness and flavour. However, not all tomatoes ripen to the same hue, so knowing the mature colour of your specific variety is essential.
For example, yellow heirlooms may appear ripe when they reach a sunny yellow shade, but they’re truly at their peak when they develop a rich, golden hue. Similarly, some purple or black tomatoes reach full flavour when their colour deepens to nearly brown or dark maroon. It’s always a good idea to research your specific tomato variety and its ripeness colour before picking.
Another important tip: make sure there are no green spots left on the fruit, as this indicates it’s not fully ripe yet.
Taste Test
Sometimes, determining if a tomato is ready can be as simple as taking a bite. If you’re unsure, pick one tomato and taste it. If it lacks flavour or is too firm, allow the others on the vine to continue ripening. However, if severe weather, like strong winds or heavy rain, is on the horizon, it’s better to harvest them sooner rather than later.
Do a Feel Test
Ripe tomatoes should feel slightly soft to the touch, with a bit of give when you gently squeeze them. If a tomato feels hard, it’s not ready yet. The firmness can vary depending on the variety, so it’s good to familiarise yourself with how your specific tomatoes should feel when ripe.
Watch the Forecast
Weather plays a significant role in when to harvest. If heavy rain is expected, it’s wise to pick your tomatoes before the storm hits. Excessive rain can damage your fruit, especially if it’s nearly ripe, causing the skin to split. Tomatoes that have been stressed by drought are particularly vulnerable to splitting after a rainstorm.
Consider the Size
Smaller tomatoes, like cherry or grape varieties, typically ripen faster than larger types, such as beefsteak tomatoes. If you planted several varieties at the same time, expect your cherry tomatoes to be ready for harvest before your beefsteaks.
How to Ripen Tomatoes After Picking
If you happen to pick a tomato before it’s fully ripe, don’t worry—tomatoes can ripen off the vine, too. In fact, picking them at the “colour break” stage (tomatoes will be half green and half pink, yellow or orange) and then storing them properly can extend your harvest by several weeks.
Tomatoes ripen due to the ethylene gas they naturally produce. To control this process, store your tomatoes in a dark, cool place. For example, tomatoes will typically ripen in about two weeks at temperatures between 18-21°C (65-70°F). If stored at 13°C (55°F), they may take 3-4 weeks to ripen. However, avoid storing tomatoes below 10°C (50°F), as this can result in bland, tasteless fruit.
By paying attention to these factors, you can ensure that your tomatoes are harvested at their peak, providing you with the best flavours summer has to offer.
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