How—and When—to Harvest Tomatoes for Optimum Flavor

From heirloom to more common varieties, tomatoes taste wonderful and offer plenty of vitamins and nutrients. If you’re thinking about growing tomatoes in your garden, it’s important to understand exactly when to harvest them. Harvest too soon and the tomatoes won’t be ripe; harvest too late and the tomatoes might become inedible. We reached out to experts to find out how—and when—you should harvest your tomatoes for the perfect addition to all of your summer meals.

Tools You'll Need

• Garden shears 
• A bowl or crate to collect tomatoes

Before You Start

There are a few things you want to take note of before you begin harvesting your tomatoes.

Look for Color

The most important thing for determining if your tomatoes are ready for harvest is to check their color. "Tomatoes should have a deep, consistent color appropriate to their variety, whether that’s red, yellow, orange, or purple," says Lee Jones, farmer and owner of The Chef’s Garden, a family-owned regenerative (climate-friendly) farm.

Check for Firmness

Next, evaluate your tomatoes' firmness. "Ripe tomatoes should feel slightly firm but give a little under gentle pressure," says Jones. Tomatoes ripen differently than other plants. They ripen from the bottom to the top, so the top of the tomato should be firmer than the bottom.

Instructions

1. Snip tomatoes off the plant with your garden shears by cutting as close to the fruit as you can. As you become a more experienced tomato gardener, you can gently twist tomatoes off the plant.
2. Water your plants. This will ensure the plant continues to grow tomatoes after losing some of its fruit through harvest.

How to Know When It's Time to Harvest Tomatoes

There are six stages of tomato ripeness. According to Mariah Henry, director of urban agriculture of Carolina Farm Trust, you can harvest at any time after stage four for mature tomatoes. "You can harvest at stage two to reduce cracking [when a tomato splits or breaks] and insect damage," she says. Stage two is considered "vine ripe," meaning the tomato will continue to ripen after it is harvested.

1. Green Mature Stage: This is when the tomatoes are still green.
2. Breaker Stage: This is when the mature color first starts to come in. “Depending on your variety, the color can be a tannish, pinkish-red,” says Henry. At this point, the tomatoes are ready to harvest if you want them to ripen indoors.
3. Turning Stage: The tomato will have up to a third of its mature color by now.
4. Pink Stage: The tomatoes begin to soften.
5. Light Red Stage: The tomato is more than half its color.
6. Red Final Stage: Tomatoes have all their mature color and are ready to be eaten.

How to Store Fresh Tomatoes

Once picked, store tomatoes properly to maintain their flavor and texture. "Store fully ripe tomatoes at room temperature, away from direct sunlight, for up to several days," says Summer Thompson, a Colorado-based master gardener and operations expert at Love, Plants.

If your tomatoes are very ripe, extend their shelf life by refrigerating them. "However, let them come to room temperature before eating to enhance their flavor," she says. For unripe tomatoes, store these in a paper bag or a cardboard box at room temperature until they ripen. "Adding a ripe banana can speed up the ripening process," Thompson says.