How soon must ripe tomatoes be picked?

[Tangerine]

Some of my Sun Gold cherry tomatoes and my blueberry-sized Matt's Wild Cherry tomatoes are now ripe. But I would like to use more than 3 or 4 at a time, and it looks like that's how they are ripening...3 or 4 at a time. May I leave the ripe ones on the stem for a certain length of time? Or, must I pick them now and store in a hanging basket? Thanks for any tips!

~Tangerine

[mrswaz]

If you leave them on the plant, you run the risk of someone or something else getting to them. However, if you pick them now, and they're ready, you might have three days to use them before they begin to soften.

At the beginning of ripe tomato season, that's how they do it. A few here and there to tantalize, and then they really start flushing with ripe and ready ones.

So my advice is to pluck the ones that are ripe now and eat them, right then and there. Enjoy them. And then wait, because in no time you'll be swimming in cherry tomatoes.

[sparrowgrass]

I pick mine when they are ripe or almost ripe, and hold them in the kitchen (NOT on the windowsill) until I have enough for whatever I am doing.

Keep them coolish (but not in the fridge) and you will have several days of leeway before you have to eat them or lose them.

I have been picking mine at the firm colorful stage--it is so dry that the critters have nothing to eat, and if I leave them on the vine, they are sure to be damaged.

I really don't mind sharing some--if that turtle bites one, I leave it in the garden for him to finish. Poor guy--rough year for him, and the birds too.

[RiverFarm]

I'm finding a lot of turtle damage here, too, but I figure that eventually the fruits higher on the plant will start ripening, and those will be for me. I often chuck the turtle-nipped tomatoes to the chickens.

I know a lot of people who swear that it doesn't make any difference in flavor if you pick the tomatoes a little early, rather than letting them ripen on the vine, but to me they taste better naturally ripened. I'm like you, though; I have plenty coming in right now but not enough to process for purée. I usually do that once a summer, when the plants are loaded with ripe tomatoes.

[Tangerine]

Mrswaz, I'm at the table in my herb garden where I just finished a luscious egg white omelet with chiffonaded basil and parsley. After that, I walked over to my Matt's Wild Cherry plant and popped three tiny candies...er, I mean tomatoes, into my delighted mouth!

Sparrowgrass, you are so kind to the turtles! I, too, feed all the birds in my garden. And, squirrels as well--they're hungry, too!

RiverFarm, I can't wait for the overflow of tomatoes to begin!

[charley]

I like to pick Sun Golds in all color stages. They ripen to full flavor just fine sitting in a bowl on the counter.

My plants produced heavily for 8 weeks and now are in low production mode. They'll pick back up later next month/early September.

The ones I've been picking this week will be a pasta meal tomorrow or Sunday.

Pic was mid-June. You can see the various color shadings on the Sun Golds.

[SusanL]

Oh, charley-I have tomato envy!! Just finished lunch and I am drooling over your "June" harvest!! Beautiful photo of some truly fine tomatoes!!

[Tangerine]

Wow, Charley! Yes, I see what you mean. Oh, thank you! Now I feel confident in picking the sun golds. If it weren't thundering and lightning, I'd go out and pick them right now. Q

[sparrowgrass]

I just picked 2 five gallon buckets of tomatoes. Guess what I will be doing on Saturday?

And guess what everyone is getting for Christmas--salsa, sauce, bbq sauce, maybe some ketchup. I pickled some garlic, but due to the weather, no canned beans or fruit.

[fldivegirl]

I like to pick Sun Golds in all color stages. They ripen to full flavor just fine sitting in a bowl on the counter.

My plants produced heavily for 8 weeks and now are in low production mode. They'll pick back up later next month/early September.

The ones I've been picking this week will be a pasta meal tomorrow or Sunday.

Pic was mid-June. You can see the various color shadings on the Sun Golds.

Beautiful!