When should you pick tomatoes?

Question

I picked some before they were red to let ripen on a window sill, and they ended up turning white in spots. HELP!!!

Answer 1

It's best to keep tomatoes on the vine til they're red. You might have to pick before they're red before a frost or when there's an overload of tomatoes on a vine that might be slowing down overall ripening.

If you have to pick tomatoes before they are red, then try to wait til they're in the pink stage. Otherwise, sort out the mature green tomatoes for ripening & the immature green tomatoes for cooking (green fried tomatoes, etc).

You may have picked your tomatoes when they were TOO green & not mature enough to ripen further:
" Mature green tomatoes are those with a glossy, whitish green fruit color and mature size."
http://www.extension.umn.edu/info-u/nutrition/BJ763.html

This site states that tomatoes that are too green & not mature enough are "more likely to spoil than ripen and never develops the flavor consumers want anyway. Mature green fruit will develop good flavor. Mature green tomatoes are well sized and have turned light green to white. If cut open, seeds are encased in gel and no empty cavity space is present.
Fruit may be "turning" with a tinge of pink color showing, "pink" with 30 to 60 percent color showing, "light red" with 60 to 90 percent color present, and others "fully red" but not soft."
http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/CoopExt/4DMG/VegFruit/ripening.htm

While ripening, store mature green tomatoes at 55 to 70 degrees F. To speed up ripening, place green or partially ripe tomatoes in a bag or box with a ripe tomato or apple.
Good luck! Hope this helps.

Answer 2

There must have been a lot of moisture in the room, cause that is just weird. I've found to get the best flavor you want to pick them while they are still a little orange and let them finish ripening for a day or 2 off the vine. In a dry place out of direct sun but in the light.

Answer 3

When they are completely red an firm to the touch. If you pick them when they are under ripe they won't be as sweet. However, If picked green or slightly red donot put them in the sun. Put them in a cool place out of the sun. They will ripen slowly. If picked too green you can always make some fried green tomatoes.

Answer 4

Pick them when you have to, if they're in danger of being eaten by insects or animals, let them ripen as much as possible on the vine, then pick them with some of the stem remaining on them, turn them upside down and put them in indirect light. I've also had luck putting them in a planter on my porch, protected from the dirt with a paper plate. They ripened beautifully there, but are not in direct light.

Answer 5

i believe the white spots are something akin to sun burn. as for when to pick them once they start to turn pink you can pick them and still have the oh so wonderful taste of the home grown tomato. but for me id rather let it stay on the vine, turn brite red, then go out to the garden with a salt shaker get on my knees , shake some salt on the delicious fruit and bite in. but hey that's me.only problem with leaving it on the vine is animals and birds getting to them.

Answer 6

I like tomatos vine ripe. That is, when I touch them to pick them, they fall off in my hand.

Answer 7

When they are ripe; at this time of year.

Answer 8

if you need to pick them while they are green ,use them in cooking or make chutney with them .

Answer 9

pick 'em when they're red.