If you enjoyed this video, please "Like" and share to help increase its reach! Thanks for watching 🍅TIMESTAMPS for convenience: 0:00 The Vine Ripened Tomato Lie 1:23 Stages Of Tomato Ripening 2:34 Why Grocery Store Tomatoes Taste Bad 3:45 The Problem With Vine Ripening Tomatoes 4:38 Tomato Breaker Stage 6:16 The Best Time To Pick A Tomato 9:30 How To Ripen Tomatoes Indoors 12:58 The Psychology Of Vine Ripened Tomatoes 16:12 Adventures With Dale
I stopped waiting until they are totally ready to eat because they tend to crack so bad, and then they don't keep as well. My question is, if they are sealed off from the plant, how come they crack? I thought that was from them continuing to take in water? I agree; picking them a little earlier doesn't hurt the flavor one bit!
Thank you very much for the very thorough and in depth Explanation of the various stages of ripening. I made a video the other day and I had mentioned my brief reason why I am cut a tomato before it was ripe. It was nowhere near as colorful and informative as yours lol. I just kept it simple and said in my video that you don’t have to keep the tomato on there because it’s already absorbed all the nutrient it needs. I did not in no way go as in depth as you and I do appreciate your time and effort to put this video together. It helps many people understand this process in the very educational way. I do my best to teach in my own way, I’m just getting started with this new garden and this channel. My channel is not for everyone. I do things a little differently and hope my channel inspires other people to think outside the box and I hope that the people that watch your channel understand these things much better with knowledge based information that you share through your content your videos. It’s absolutely amazing. Thank you for all your hard work!
@@cynthiacollins2668Not sure about your area, but here in the Southwest, because of the environment being so hot and dry, with hot dry winds, low humidity and high temperatures, it is necessary to pick early. Otherwise the skin dries too fast and cracks and splits when the internal moisture expands from the heat.
70 year old gardener here and I have been growing tomatoes for many of those years, and this is one of the most informative videos on tomatoes I've ever watched. Thanks for adding to the gardening knowledge of this old dog!
I agree. I honestly think it's one of those "little known facts." Or, at least, it's a fact that has been lost because of the internet. Looking back, my grandfather *always* picked his tomatoes early and let them finish ripening on the porch, but the internet has popularized photos of blood red tomatoes hanging on vines, so I think the knowledge of past generations has been forgotten. Whatever it is, I hope this video helps people.
@@teamshoemaker I haven't had too much of any issue with bugs and critters eating them vine ripened. Sometimes the occasional chipmunk nipple but mainly just on the cherry tomatoes and there's far more than they can keep up with, not to mention they're often drawn away by the nearby raspberries.
@@TheMillennialGardener I agree 100%!! "My garden is my sanctuary" It keeps me sane in this insane world!! Thank you for all you do I'm a brand new gardener, and I've learned so much from you and try to watch all your videos!! You rock!!
Yep, old lady gardener here and I can attest that picking tomatoes at the breaker stage is the way too go. Took me years to believe it but it is true. I did a taste test between letting them stay on the vine and ripening them inside - no difference. Honestly, it reduces so much stress letting them ripen inside!
Old lady here. If i dont pick my tomatoes earlier if the 117/118 degrees does my local birds gets to it before I do I do have shade cloth on them. My tomatoes and peppers are wonderful ripeten in my kitchen.
Many people in the sticks where I use to live would buy a case of green tomatoes from a local tomato farmer in the fall, they would wrap them individually in News paper in a box and close the box and put it under the bed or in a closet. When they wanted ripe tomatoes they would unwrap some and set them out on the counter, in just a few days they had ripe tomatoes.
Funny thing is if they took a sheet of newspaper and covered the whole box, the ethylene would build up and ripen them all quickly. It's pretty fascinating.
@@lindamorgan2678I left some unripe yellow pear-shaped tomatoes just lying around in different rooms of the house last autumn and months later, really months, the ripened tomatoes remained unspoiled. Some didn't start shrivelling or drying up until 5-6 months later.
Considering that the half-ripe fruits I’m harvesting now are coming off the vine with little to no resistance, it makes sense that the plant has finished nourishing the fruit.
As a grocer who sells thousands of pounds of tomato of different types year round. This is all correct information. Sadly people will fight any type of information that conflicts with their own.
@@dross10001I don't think it's the harvesting time that affects the taste. I've harvested tomatoes to early and they just don't ripen, if they ripen at all the timing may be fine. The taste is probably more of a result of what they are fed.
I have been growing tomatoes for a few years. Last year i grew 185 lbs of tomatoes in my backyard garden. I can say for a fact that everything mentioned in this video is true and it works. It took me a long time to realize that picking my fruit early gave me the best results. Now that stink bugs are a major issue for my tomatoes and peppers, it is especially important to pick them before they are attacked. In mid to late summer, I often have up to 10 trays of tomatoes ripening in my dining room, at any given time.
I never ripe my tomatoes on the vine. I wrap them..put them in a box…they ripen around the same time. Very seldom having to throw any away. Once ripened..I cut them in half put them Into a covered casserole dish with other ingredients for sauce….pop it in the oven! The best flavored sauce!
I do believe growing our own tomatoes is one of our finest rewards as a gardener and you my brother have removed decades of gardening failures and myths. I give you my props❤
I learned this a couple of years ago from one of my FB gardening group.. I was getting so discouraged from.losing almost fully ripened tomatoes to pests. I posted a picture and was advised to harvest the tomatoes earlier, almost as soon as it starts blushing. I've saved a lot of tomatoes by doing that, and the flavor is always great!
This is my 3rd year growing tomatoes. This was extremely informative and I'll never let my tomatoes just hang. My issue is splitting and now I know. Thanks for always giving direct info and brining in the technicals and real word into a great video.
@@TheMillennialGardener I lost a lot of cherry tomato's last year to splitting. I'll pick sooner and let ripen. I also am heeding your container growing guidance since I added hoops to my raised beds and am growing them in 5 gal buckets this year. First time successfully growing from seed as well. Lots going on in my little back yard this year. Grapes, Strawberries, many other things. Really enjoy the content, keep it up. Now to deal with these slugs.
@@MichaelRei99That is a good question, but I notice that my cherry tomatoes do split sometimes when I am washing them in the sink. Must be too ripe at that point? IDK
They are just so much more pliable and thin skinned when ripe and any temperature changes cause slight flexing which can split the skin, also when he says they are "seperate" from the plant, they still can take in water, which they basically do nothing with other than swell, they aren't benefiting from any nutrients or anything coming from the plant at this time. It's basically pumping water into a tomato for no reason, and they pop really easily.
I've been growing vegetables and tomatoes for close to two decades before you were born, I learn something new every year. Homegrown tomatoes are the number one treat from the garden for me. For tomato advice, I'm looking no further than your channel. I'm so glad you're here for us!
I just returned from being gone 2 days and found two beautiful tomatoes partially ruined by either splitting or a bird pecking. I was waiting "one more day" to pick 4 tomatoes when I watched this video. It's dark, but I just went out and picked them. Thanks for this video.!!
I figured this out several years ago when I started gardening. I was mainly picking early because critters (mainly rodents) were raiding my garden. MANY people criticized me for doing it, but this was the only way I was going to get a harvest. However I didn't know about not ripening them in sunlight. I don't generally do that, but I never realized that it could cause a problem.
Wow, learned something new! I knew to pick my tomatoes as they colored up but I have always put them in my kitchen WINDOW. Gotta go move a bunch of tomatoes. . .
That's where I keep the ones I want to stay green... for fried green tomatoes. They develope the flavor I like after 2 days on the window sil. The rest go in a big paper grocery bag.
Try both. Your window blocks most UV rays, surprisingly. Keep some in your window, put some on your counter in the shade. See which way you like better. You may prefer one way over the other.
@@TheMillennialGardener I'm digging this idea. My tomatoes in the East facing window take 1-3 weeks to ripen, but I pick those when they are still green (depending on the condition of the plant) I'm going to conduct an experiment like this with one of my plants and compare.
This is so crazy that you put this video up yesterday!! Last evening I was out in my garden, picking my tomatoes at about 30% ripeness and I said to myself “I believe that vine ripe tomatoes is a myth. There’s no way people let their tomatoes ripen all the way on the vine!” 😅 👌🏼
I am 70 years old & have grown tomatoes for 50 of them...& you're right ! Old wives tales die hard. But your info about stages of ripeness, storage, etc. are spot-on.🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅
I sustainably grow sun sugar cherry tomatoes and sell them commercially to local Cincinnati area grocery stores. Since I hated putting them in plastic produce clamshells, I created a paperboard container to package them in that I also sell to other growers. They do indeed finish ripening quite nicely in the vented box within the delivery day with no discernable taste difference in flavor if picked at least 50% ready. The reason I prefer a ripe cherry tomato picked right off the vine though (and not one that's been sitting on the counter) may have something to do with the volatiles (the chemicals that produce their flavors). A warm cherry tomato off the vine to me has a richer flavor and the skin is softer and easier to eat than one in an air conditioned 70' kitchen or store. There was a study done that showed while lower storage temperatures didn't change the sugar and acid makeup of tomatoes, it did cause the tomato's volatiles to dip as the temperature decreased. Cold storage temperatures would further break down the cell's membrane and affect taste. It sure explains why we shouldn't be refrigerating tomatoes but could even small temperature and humidity changes explain the difference in flavor some of us are percieving? The study is here: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1613910113
Been trying to tell people this for years. I'm in east central Fl. Totaly organic. Pick at about 30 to 50 % max. Give them time. Some neighbors tried to argue with me about that. Now they buy from me. 🤷♂️. Hard down here in the heat and humidy in the summers. Birds like to drink my fruits. Ripend fruits on the vine don't last long. In the house or on the vine. Just for the point of view, I've been doing this a long time. Your channel is by far above the others. Really appreciate your efforts that put into this.
Great video thank you. I am definitely one of those “gotta let it ripen fully on the vine” kind of people. I am glad to know that I no longer have to do this. Look forward to trying it out this year.
Orange? Oh hell NO. Regardless of what anyone says, letting your maters turn red is not a problem. Said another way, I don't think the folks growing a hundred acres of tomatoes are fully ignorant of how to grow and when to pick them. Yes, waiting until they are super soft is iffy, at times, other times, just bring a salt shaker out to the patch with you and. . . .
This is how all the older generations picked tomatoes. My mother became her father had a big garden and they had to keep food in cellar and it had to last. They knew all this. I watched this video and called my mom and I said that’s why you have such great tomato crops. She learned from her dad. I never paid atteattention to my mom is 83. So old school wins the day but definitely new and good info for younger generations 👍
My grandmother from Siberia was getting 30%-50% ripe tomatoes and ripen them on sunny windowsill. 😊 It’s also helps tomato with releasing some weight from the vine. I love how very informative your videos. The best detailed content out there.
I love it when you upload. Every time I learn something new!!! This information is so so crucial. I had no idea I could cut my tomatoes off sooner! Last year, I came outside and beetles had taken out some of my ripe tomato while on the vine.
Hey, I could have told you that 40 years ago. Down here in Florida, when the tomatoes and peppers are forming, the birds and varmits are going into their cupboards getting out their knives, forks and bibs. I don't mind sharing, but it reaches a point! 20% tomato crop loss even picking them early. The last week the varmits have attacked the peppers (even Hot) with Hannibal Lecture efficiency. It's war!
Depending on where you're at, if you're growing tomatoes during the rainy season, even worse than the pests is the splitting. For every tomato I lose to pests, I lose 2-3 from the rain if I let them vine ripen. It's best to pick them half ripe and let the countertop finish them.
I saw the thumbnail and said to myself "yeah, whatever bro". After scrolling down another page or two I decided to go back and watch it. I am glad I did! Thank you for the great information.
Great video as usual. We love Dale too. Started tomato's in Fla from seed in November 6 plants in the pool screen area, Cut suckers for months and made 50 plants, Built large raised beds to accommodate all the new garden, Disease and animals taking their toll last couple weeks picked them all and removed the heirlooms this week left the determinates. I ate tomato's sandwiches for the last 3 months and we have about a hundred German Johnson green on every table in the house lol. Army worms, every leaf disease, borer worms, just started and over 5 inches of rain this last week. Your channel has inspired us immensely Thank you for the hard work you do.
I did almost the exact same thing here in central Florida and thought I started the season to early. Had a great harvest and ate my LAST tom sand for lunch today
I'm so glad I saw this! I have to pick my tomatoes when they are blushing before the bird's get them. Thanks for a great video. I've learned so much from this channel.
Totally agree with you. Especially here in TN. The rain will crack them all the time if i dont pick early. I like to pick right after they start to blush. Helps with insects attacking as well. Thanks for the science behind the tip.
I started a container garden a few years ago. I’m growing tomatoes this year from your recommendations. I’m also growing dwarf tomatoes from the dwarf tomato project. I’ve learned so much from your channel! Thanks so much for all your efforts to produce informative content!
I'm curious to hear how things turn out. Please let me know later in the year. I'm curious how you will like the Dwarf Tomato Project plants. They're very interesting and unlike any other tomatoes. They're built like little trees and the flowers look like dandelions.
@@TheMillennialGardener I also started an early tomato project back in January. I seed started 2 Rosella Purple & 1 Siletz Jan 6 with a goal of tomatoes by June. I have tennis size tomatoes on the Siletz.
I started picking my tomatoes before they're fully ripe a few years ago. between disease issues, pests, and frost it's just easier and I end up with more tomatoes that look nicer.
Hi Millennial Gardener, thank you so much for the informative video on ripening tomatoes. You made some good points. Now I understood the stage of the ripening process. Last year, my tomatoes were on the vine a bit too long and they were somewhat mushy. This year, I will not let my tomatoes go too far so to compare the difference. I will let you know how my fruits turn out following your suggestions. YES, never put tomatoes in the refrigerator. The fruits are tasteless, soft and mushy at times. Ripe tomatoes will be left in my fridge ONLY if I can't use them right away. Once in the fridge, I will use them later to make soups or sauces. Great video!
1st your a very good speaker .. 2nd your 100% right...We had a produce stand and until our field tomato's came in we would buy at the local farmers market ..(Shipped in from Fl. )We nicknamed them square Tomato's because they ripened in the ethylene room and on the truck in a box. It's definitely a mindset about vine ripened but still an old wives tale. It's hard to beat some of the old fashioned ways but when you add the science into the mix it just gets better. LOL.. my neighbor asked me why I am always shaking my plants ... I told him Tomatoes are self-pollinating, meaning they have flowers that contain both the male and female parts and this will help out nature to produce more fruit .. He just scratched his head as he walked away .. Keep up the great work !! subbed
thanks so much, i have only grown a garden for 2 years, my aunt who is a very experienced gardener visited and said i should have already picked some of the tomatoes that are reddish-yellow and put them in a cool dry place to finish, i had huge doubts but your video explaining the actual scientific reasoning has banished them and today i went out and picked everything that looks close to ready.
Yea! Finally, the video I asked you to make last year. I've seen so many gardening YT channels mention this but I've never seen anyone do a dedicated and informative video on the topic. I'm glad to have a source to point people to now when so many people on gardening FB groups are adamant about a tomato picked before fully ripe is the same as grocery store tomatoes.
I really appreciate this advice it's very helpful . I wrestle with this problem all the time with my wife . She thinks that a tomato has to ripen fully on the vine to be any good and I end up loosing many just as you say . I could not point to any proof that it's not necessary to fully vine ripen but now I can . Thank you . We need more videos like this that go deeper into the details of growing things . I am a retired soldier and growing vegetables is a hobby , but it does not come naturally to me and I struggle a lot . I now have a far better idea of when to pick my tomatoes .
i pick em on the blush...let em ripen on the counter...there's a softness point where i like to eat them...merita old fashioned...heavy on the dukes....cracked pepper and sea salt...and sometimes a slice of cheddar...gotta love it...yall...
Thank you so much for this info. I'm one of those guys who always waits until the last minute to pick a tomato. I'm going to try this this year because as you said the birds and the bugs are going to get them and you are right. I can't count how many times I've lost a prize tomato because I left them on until fully ripe. I've learned something from you everytime I watch one of your videos. Thank you!
South Florida we pick tomatoes from early January to mid April. Absolutely agree with what you are saying. We pick "pinks" for the best taste. You can actually pick them green if the fruit starts showing white lines on the bottom.
Great to hear the facts of tomato ripening stages. I noticed this in the autumn when frost was expected we would pick half ripened tomatoes and when they full ripened they tasted great
Thank you so much!! This information is particularly valuable right at this moment. Last year, for the first time, our community garden, with a view of the ocean in Southern California, got overrun with rats! It was such. a demoralizing situation. Overnight, on the 3rd of July, they came in and ate 30 perfectly ripe ears of corn that I was saving to pick for a party on the 4th of July. Out of 72 corn stalks, I ended up with 5 good ears. The same with tomatoes. Every time a tomato got ripe, overnight it got a giant chomp out of it. Thank God they weren't interested in cherry tomatoes; so, I got masses of them. And, so thankful, too, that we can garden here all year round; so, there was plenty of joy left over for the rest of the year. The rats didn't seem interested in broccoli and Brussel sprouts. But, you have given hope for this new tomato season!!! I"ll just pick the tomatoes before the rats are even interested in them!! Thank you so very dearly!!!
I grew up in Hanover County, Virginia, the "Tomato Capital of the World". As a boy I would work during the summers in the tomato fields. Because we went from farm to market, we would pick a tomato as soon as it started turning pink on the bottom. All tomatoes would then go to the sorting tables at the farmhouse. Those with the most color would go to the markets. Those with less would ripen another day or two and then go. In short, you are absolutely correct that a "vine-ripened tomato" is one that has begun to turn, not one that is beet red.
Thanks! Well researched and thorough. I've grown tomatoes for over 10 yrs. and was interested to see if there was something I didn't know. I was hoping to hear " the sooner you pick...the more you get", like beans, peas, cukes, etc. The explanation of how the partially ripe fruit gets cut off was new info to me and explains things. Thank you! I just subscribed.
Zone 5a Michigan here. I'm in my second year of growing tomatoes (Terenzo Cherry), and it's worked really well for me to prioritize the plant health over the tomato ripeness. (FYI, my main plants are both in hanging baskets) When it gets loaded with fruit, the plant itself looks weighed down and stressed, and I also become concerned that the planters may break from the weight. To fix that, every 2-3 days, I remove the most ripe tomatoes, along with any damaged leaves. The removed tomatoes are usually a whiteish color that has not turned red yet or a shade of greenish - orange. Last year, I got 3 large harvests from my plant, along with around 20 new plants from suckers. I keep the tomatoes in the window and allow them to ripen. They are the most delicious tomatoes I've ever had, although that could be contributed to the variety, as I have not tried many types. I was able to overwinter my 2 largest indoors (they didn't produce any fruit, but they kept most of their leaves). This is supposed to be an annual, but it's behaving like perennial. My largest plant has produced its first harvest for this year. I'm so curious to see how things progress, and whether or not it will die off after this massive harvest. Thank you so much for the information in your video. I may adjust the process to match yours on one of my 2 large plants to see what the differing results are.
Just saw your picture of you, your lovely, and Dale on your wedding day! Congratulations!! And God bless you! I am So Very happy for you both. I mean for all three of you!
my mother does this because her father did it. she lives in wales uk, where the weather isnt so good or predictable so only grows in a greenhouse. i live in greece where we have perfect condieions for them, so i obviously grow outdoors. thank you for this reasoned explanation, i will take your advise this year and also pass this on to my mother who will be happy to know the reason my grandfather did this. cheers from crete
You SIR are 100% correct. My dad had 2 dz plants - we ate tomatoes every you can think of, gave away so many, and my mom canned 250 Qts. At the end of the season we had enough green tomatoes we made a dz. qts of " green tomato mincemeat " for pie in the winter. I am here to say it works, feeding the plants helps a lot also.
I got some 8x12 drawstring net bags off amazon to try on my tomatoes this year. I had trouble with squirrels stealing my tomatoes last year ,even when they were not fully ripened. I think the net bags covering the tomato clusters will fix this. Thanks for busting up the myth of vine ripening because I never would have thought otherwise.
Yes, squirrels have been my primary tomato nemesis for years. I've tried various spraying with little to no success. They find their way into most caging and if it works it makes it tough for me to access them too! My best "solution" so far is to just grow more bushes and let them take some. Yes they'll prefer red ones, so at times I'll wrap a few in grow-cloth mesh when they first start to color until the break stage at least. The critters will take a green one rather than work harder for the red. It's been odd that at my Mom's (10 miles away) she has never had trouble with the squirrels -- until this year! She only grew 3 bushes (1 cherry, 1 Rutgers, 1 Big Boy) and they took every single one of the larger ones' first batch so far (14 from the Big Boy plant), all while they were yet completely green.
So glad to hear this. I lost 2 huge German Johnson today. I left them on one more day and went out this morning and half of both of them were half gone!!
I grow my own. Home grown and vine ripened are indescribably delicious. You can't even compare it to anything you'll find in a grocery store no matter how much you pay. That said, a tomato that has started to turn and is then picked and allowed to ripen in the sun vs one allowed to completely ripen on the vine, are not a lot different. But also, from the time it starts to change color until it's vine ripe is only a week or two anyway.
I have to laugh but you made a good point for newbies to gardening. There are so many folks that don't know that you just preached facts. Chicken eggs are the same way when purchased from a grocery store! You nailed this video!!!!!
The not letting tomatoes get cold is the best tip. I have known this for years. I hate the fact that every restaurant refrigerates their tomatoes and always taste horrible. Many grocery stores do the same.
If the restaurant didn’t refrigerate they would get warnings to do so from the local health dept. who know nothing about tomatoes, but claim to know everything about food poisoning 😮
Maybe the restaurant uses them up quick enuf before the tomatoes have a chance of losing quality.. or they just don’t care about the quality they are serving..🤷♀️
I picked all my green tomatoes before the first hard freeze. I put them in boxes and stored them in my basement. they eventually all ripened and I ate my last tomato in December.
So, what I like about vine ripened tomato's is that I can pick and eat them freshly when I am in my garden. I love cherry tomatoes, and many times I will eat a handful of them along with freshly picked blueberries. Odd combination but it works, good info and I will use this knowledge. thanks for sharing
I started listening to this video thinking "no way I'm going to agree with this nonsense". I ended it thinking "huh...I'm going to have to do some blind taste tests this summer!". I specifically started gardening so I could have "vine ripened tomatoes"...this challenges what "vine ripened" really means. Very interesting! Very logical breakdown of the facts.
It has taken me a few years to figure this out by myself. Some success and lots of disappointment. Thanks for the easy to understand explanation of why some of our gardening myths are wrong. I wish I had this video years ago.
I'm a Michigan grower, fighting deer, chipmunks, and this year ground hogs I think!. I have been forced to pick my tomatoes at "BLUSH" for the last 2-3 seasons when the tomatoes show true color - I REMOVE THEM, then have a chance to eat my tomatoes before the critters do. This gives me a harvest, I store the Blushed tomatoes in daisy trays lined with newspaper ( I still get a free local paper that works good to line the trays) in my family room out of direct sunlight, watch the progress and look for spoilage (from cuts in the skin). They ripen FANTASTIC and taste great. I grab every larger variety tomatoes at first Blush. This technique DOES NOT work on my cherry tomatoes. My experience under ripe cherry tomatoes rot inside before they will ripen.
If it's a *really* nice sized tomato I pick them when they get a whie-ish hue on the bottom. It works for me - heirloom or hybrid. I grow both but have bacterial wilt (deep south) in my soil.
I'm going to follow your advice this year. I'm in North Florida and every time I've grown tomatoes I've been disappointed trying to ripen on the vine. They end up attacked by squash bugs, splitting, or rotting and I never have enough for canning. Thank you!
I just had this discussion with my husband a couple nights ago. He told me that I was picking the tomatoes too soon that I should wait for them to turn red. And I told him if I wait for them to turn red the critters will probably get them first. I was so glad to see this video confirming what I was thinking😊
Speaking of critters, my late dog loved when they were ripe on the vine. He ate veggies of all kinds and I caught him stealing my roma and cherry tomatoes on many occasions.
@@Redwood65 I've day two dogs (same breed) that love funky, half-rotten tomatoes as well as the ripe ones. You know, the ones I've discarded cuz of critters or caterpillars. I was carrying some 'maters to a gal friend recently and had to make a quick stop into Kroger. When I returned fido had eaten half of the 'maters I was carrying to this friend. Lesson? Put them in the trunk if fido is in the car.
Incredible info.! I love how you brought science into this presentation and made it very fact based. I've grown tomatoes quite a bit and never knew that they are cut off from the host plant at the 30-50% ripening stage. I'm going to heed your advice and pick my tomatoes before they are completely red because every tomato that I've tried to vine ripen as of late has gotten damaged by the birds and insects.
Gardening for about 30 years now and this is something I intuitively figured out over the years as we would watch perfect nearly ripened tomatoes split, be eaten or taken altogether by animals. Now I know that it was the right decision to pull them "early" and I have you to thank! So thanks!!!
There are other reasons people think vine ripened is better. Storing unripe tomatoes in the refrigerator shuts them down and they never ripen. Seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit is ideal ripening temperature.
Well, this will save a whole lot of frustration. So much time wasted trying to "verbally encourage" my tomatoes to ripen😂. A couple of seed questions that you may have already answered. Is there a particular company that you get your seeds from? How long will seeds last if kept dry and dark?
I don't even wait until 30% due to the dang squirrels & rats! I pick them at "first blush" these days. I've even had them chew through the mesh bags before. So many people don't know they don't have to wait till their tomatoes are ripe to pick them. Good information!
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You I am 73 years old & totally agree with everything you have said in this video as I have been saying the same thing for about 10 years- since I started growing vegetables. Your videos are so informative. Newbie Here from Australia. Cheers Denise- Brisbane Australia
Thank you Anthony for saving me time in the garden netting the beautiful Mushroom Basket tomatoes to protect from proboscus type bugs . The information you share is priceless. Blessings to you and your "official" wife.
If the breaker stage really ''closes'' off the cell walls, maybe you can make an experiment by plucking one tomato off the vine and puting it right next to one that is still hanging on the vine (preferably from the same plant and vine) and you could see which tomato starts rotting faster, if the one on the vine doesnt last longer then you are probably right.
I think that would be tough because it's so hot here in the summer and my house is (obviously) air conditioned, so the climate control of my house would probably slow the process. It would be tricky to do. If I left it outside, it would have to be protected somehow, but it couldn't be under a bucket, because then it would trap the ethylene and speed ripening 😆
How about this, if the tomato plant is actually closing the tomato off from the plant why would you even have to worry about tomatoes splitting. Something isn’t adding up.
@@MichaelRei99 I don’t think the tomatoes are splitting because they’re still “connected“ nutritionally to the plant. They are most likely splitting because of the exterior weather conditions that have nothing to do with the plant.
@@MichaelRei99 yes, because the splitting is caused by changes in temperatures and humidity. Fruits expand and contract with the heating and cooling of the day and night, and when you get extreme humidity and heavy rainfall, the air becomes so wet that the tomatoes swell. When tomatoes are green, it doesn't matter much, but when they're ripe, they're so fragile they crack, especially the thin-skinned, heirloom types.
@@TheMillennialGardener Ignore the troll, he has paraphrased the same comment at least 3 times. I've been growing tomatoes for around 20 years and started pulling them early like this about 3 years ago. Absolutely no discernible difference in taste and they definitely stay healthier and less for those pesky squirrels. Even though I've been doing this for a while I have picked up some useful tips from you, appreciate it.
It’s interesting you bring this up; the last time I grew tomatoes I had a hugely busy year. This is exactly how I handled my tomato crop because I couldn’t keep up if I waited and only used the tomatoes that were perfectly ripen on the vine, so doing thattwice every day.
I figured this out on my own last year when I had to pick tomatoes at about the 50% ripe stage because a few of my plants got wilt. I realized the tomatoes picked at that stage and ripened on my kitchen counter tasted exactly the same as the fully ripe tomatoes I was picking from my healthy plants. I knew about the use of ethylene in the ripening process, and I did put a few of my 50% ripe tomatoes in a paper bag with a banana, and sure enough, they quickly ripened. For the rock hard, end of season green tomatoes, I pickled those, made salsa with them, or turned them into that iconic Southern American dish fried green tomatoes. I’m no gardening genius, I’m still in the novice stage, but I’m glad to know I was actually right about a gardening fact for once. Now if anyone can explain why my eggplant and heirloom pepper seedlings are still tiny even though they germinated over a month ago, I’d be very grateful. It’s been cool and very rainy/overcast, could that be the reason?
All peppers, and I do mean all, that I've encountered in 5 decades.. Are show-ers noT growers. 😂 soooo slow. Take this time to talk to them, sing to them and get to know what they like. It'll be a while.
If the tomato is completely sealed off from the plant at 30% color, what causes them to split? I always thought they take in too much water, but if they are sealed off from the plant, that can't be the case.
This is a huge help to me! So many times I lose tomatoes on that last day of ripening. I appreciate that you explained why. Makes sense! Thank you so very much!! Great info!
TMG is right on point. I've been successfully pulling my tomatoes at about 50 %, certainly not past 75%, let them ripen on the counter, and they end up beautiful and much tastier than anything bought commercially. Definitely helps mitigate pest damage by leaving them on the vine. Great Advice 👍
I think the myth is pulling the tomato early fabricated by big AG . If the plant puts a barrier between itself and the tomato why would you have to worry about splitting??
Thursday May 16th was a very good day my niece came home from Veterinary University, I had to pick her up at JFK airport. Four hours one way down and another four back. So didn’t get much done in the garden but it was a good day! Also saw my first purple asparagus shoots.
Yep, that one one more day on the vine is disaster. Picking them at 50% ripe extends the eating pleasure too. Plus more time to hand them out. Thanks for clarifing this and the grocery process.
I agree with the science of this video but I think a fully ripe tomato taste better right off of the plant IF you eat it right away. The summer temps that keep a tomato in the 80-95 degree range are just phenomenal. When they get to room temp they suffer in flavor....
The terpenes and complex flavonoids become more developed the longer the tomato ripens on the vine. The perfect tasting tomato is more at risk of getting damaged but that a gamble I’m willing to take vs getting a pretty LOOKING tomato. If you’re trying to sell produce for profit, yes, pick early and ripen it using controlled environment. But the longer that tomato ripens on the vine- the more complex the homegrown flavor
@williamWBG I agree with you . I tested this several years ago. I don’t eat tomatoes unless they are homegrown. My only reason for growing them is for their complexity of flavor. Maybe it depends on one’s sensitivity to the complexity of flavor and texture. Also factory farmed chicken and beef tastes nothing like pasture raised chicken and grass fed beef.
If you enjoyed this video, please "Like" and share to help increase its reach! Thanks for watching 🍅TIMESTAMPS for convenience:
0:00 The Vine Ripened Tomato Lie
1:23 Stages Of Tomato Ripening
2:34 Why Grocery Store Tomatoes Taste Bad
3:45 The Problem With Vine Ripening Tomatoes
4:38 Tomato Breaker Stage
6:16 The Best Time To Pick A Tomato
9:30 How To Ripen Tomatoes Indoors
12:58 The Psychology Of Vine Ripened Tomatoes
16:12 Adventures With Dale
I stopped waiting until they are totally ready to eat because they tend to crack so bad, and then they don't keep as well.
My question is, if they are sealed off from the plant, how come they crack? I thought that was from them continuing to take in water?
I agree; picking them a little earlier doesn't hurt the flavor one bit!
Thank you very much for the very thorough and in depth Explanation of the various stages of ripening. I made a video the other day and I had mentioned my brief reason why I am cut a tomato before it was ripe. It was nowhere near as colorful and informative as yours lol. I just kept it simple and said in my video that you don’t have to keep the tomato on there because it’s already absorbed all the nutrient it needs. I did not in no way go as in depth as you and I do appreciate your time and effort to put this video together. It helps many people understand this process in the very educational way. I do my best to teach in my own way, I’m just getting started with this new garden and this channel. My channel is not for everyone. I do things a little differently and hope my channel inspires other people to think outside the box and I hope that the people that watch your channel understand these things much better with knowledge based information that you share through your content your videos. It’s absolutely amazing. Thank you for all your hard work!
My garden channel
youtube.com/@squirrelsgarden58?si=SiYkME-0g0srpGnk
@@cynthiacollins2668Not sure about your area, but here in the Southwest, because of the environment being so hot and dry, with hot dry winds, low humidity and high temperatures, it is necessary to pick early. Otherwise the skin dries too fast and cracks and splits when the internal moisture expands from the heat.
What about peppers? Pick early as well?
70 year old gardener here and I have been growing tomatoes for many of those years, and this is one of the most informative videos on tomatoes I've ever watched. Thanks for adding to the gardening knowledge of this old dog!
Are you talking about Dale?
Ill trust your word.
Wow, cool. I wondered why store bought tomatos tasted like shit. I never eat tomatos in the winter.
@@angelmartinelli9983 You must eat it to know what it tastes like.
@eb1684 I have tasted them that's why I don't eat them anymore, that's all that's available in the winter, so I don't eat tomatos in the winter ever
This was one of your best videos for tomatoes. This isn’t discussed as frequently by most influencers and a major tip
I agree. I honestly think it's one of those "little known facts." Or, at least, it's a fact that has been lost because of the internet. Looking back, my grandfather *always* picked his tomatoes early and let them finish ripening on the porch, but the internet has popularized photos of blood red tomatoes hanging on vines, so I think the knowledge of past generations has been forgotten. Whatever it is, I hope this video helps people.
Too many bugs or birds getting them if you leave them. Also I give a lot of extra away, so it allows a few days time to use them up.
Yep. Excellent video. Thank you.
@@teamshoemaker I haven't had too much of any issue with bugs and critters eating them vine ripened. Sometimes the occasional chipmunk nipple but mainly just on the cherry tomatoes and there's far more than they can keep up with, not to mention they're often drawn away by the nearby raspberries.
I agree! Great info💚
I love how this channel content isn't driven by sponsors! The information provided is far more trustworthy as a result. Thank you!
You're welcome! I don't think sponsorships are necessarily bad, but I just do this because I really love it. My garden is my sanctuary.
then find a way to support him through his amazon list or shop
Same here! I've been so turned off by the evolution of my favorite gardening channels that are mainly pushing products, now.
@@TheMillennialGardener
I agree 100%!!
"My garden is my sanctuary"
It keeps me sane in this insane world!!
Thank you for all you do
I'm a brand new gardener, and I've learned so much from you and try to watch all your videos!!
You rock!!
@@Martha-q8p1blike epic gardening?
Yep, old lady gardener here and I can attest that picking tomatoes at the breaker stage is the way too go. Took me years to believe it but it is true. I did a taste test between letting them stay on the vine and ripening them inside - no difference. Honestly, it reduces so much stress letting them ripen inside!
U R a SMART "old lady🙂😜
Old lady here. If i dont pick my tomatoes earlier if the 117/118 degrees does my local birds gets to it before I do
I do have shade cloth on them. My tomatoes and peppers are wonderful ripeten in my kitchen.
Nervous Nellie!
❤ 17 straight minutes of content JAM PACKED with GREAT INFORMATION!!!
I learned a lot!!
I'm glad you enjoyed it! I tried to storyboard it as efficiently as possible 😀
Many people in the sticks where I use to live would buy a case of green tomatoes from a local tomato farmer in the fall, they would wrap them individually in News paper in a box and close the box and put it under the bed or in a closet. When they wanted ripe tomatoes they would unwrap some and set them out on the counter, in just a few days they had ripe tomatoes.
Funny thing is if they took a sheet of newspaper and covered the whole box, the ethylene would build up and ripen them all quickly. It's pretty fascinating.
I do that to all the ones unripened before frost sometimes I do not wrap them just lay them flat and don't let them touch
@@lindamorgan2678I left some unripe yellow pear-shaped tomatoes just lying around in different rooms of the house last autumn and months later, really months, the ripened tomatoes remained unspoiled. Some didn't start shrivelling or drying up until 5-6 months later.
@@TheMillennialGardener but they didn't want them all to ripen at once, they wanted to have ripe tomatoes through the winter
I do this every fall before frost. I eat red-ripe tomatoes well into the winter.
Considering that the half-ripe fruits I’m harvesting now are coming off the vine with little to no resistance, it makes sense that the plant has finished nourishing the fruit.
lol
As a grocer who sells thousands of pounds of tomato of different types year round. This is all correct information. Sadly people will fight any type of information that conflicts with their own.
Grocery tomatoes...🤮 They are picked way too early to give them a longer shelf life.
Cognitive dissonance.
@@dross10001, thus was born the name hothouse, that is, tasteless, tomatoes.
@@dross10001I don't think it's the harvesting time that affects the taste. I've harvested tomatoes to early and they just don't ripen, if they ripen at all the timing may be fine. The taste is probably more of a result of what they are fed.
Yes they will. See half of the western world in their political views lol
I have been growing tomatoes for a few years. Last year i grew 185 lbs of tomatoes in my backyard garden. I can say for a fact that everything mentioned in this video is true and it works. It took me a long time to realize that picking my fruit early gave me the best results. Now that stink bugs are a major issue for my tomatoes and peppers, it is especially important to pick them before they are attacked. In mid to late summer, I often have up to 10 trays of tomatoes ripening in my dining room, at any given time.
Can i do the same with peppers?
I had some crop loss due to bugs eating the peppers last year
I never ripe my tomatoes on the vine. I wrap them..put them in a box…they ripen around the same time. Very seldom having to throw any away. Once ripened..I cut them in half put them Into a covered casserole dish with other ingredients for sauce….pop it in the oven! The best flavored sauce!
I bet your dining room smells great!! You serving tomato pasta ?? 😄
I do believe growing our own tomatoes is one of our finest rewards as a gardener and you my brother have removed decades of gardening failures and myths. I give you my props❤
I learned this a couple of years ago from one of my FB gardening group.. I was getting so discouraged from.losing almost fully ripened tomatoes to pests. I posted a picture and was advised to harvest the tomatoes earlier, almost as soon as it starts blushing. I've saved a lot of tomatoes by doing that, and the flavor is always great!
So guilty of " just one more day" to go out and be frustrated that a critter got it first........Thanks so much for this info.
God Bless
Why would a God bless this individual but allow millions to suffer daily because they don't know anything about him?
Think about it.
This is my 3rd year growing tomatoes. This was extremely informative and I'll never let my tomatoes just hang. My issue is splitting and now I know. Thanks for always giving direct info and brining in the technicals and real word into a great video.
I'm glad you enjoyed the video! Let them go to half-ripe and that should be far enough. No need to risk them beyond that point.
@@TheMillennialGardener I lost a lot of cherry tomato's last year to splitting. I'll pick sooner and let ripen. I also am heeding your container growing guidance since I added hoops to my raised beds and am growing them in 5 gal buckets this year. First time successfully growing from seed as well. Lots going on in my little back yard this year. Grapes, Strawberries, many other things. Really enjoy the content, keep it up. Now to deal with these slugs.
Well how exactly could your tomatoes be splitting if the plant separates itself from the tomato??
@@MichaelRei99That is a good question, but I notice that my cherry tomatoes do split sometimes when I am washing them in the sink. Must be too ripe at that point? IDK
They are just so much more pliable and thin skinned when ripe and any temperature changes cause slight flexing which can split the skin, also when he says they are "seperate" from the plant, they still can take in water, which they basically do nothing with other than swell, they aren't benefiting from any nutrients or anything coming from the plant at this time. It's basically pumping water into a tomato for no reason, and they pop really easily.
I've been growing vegetables and tomatoes for close to two decades before you were born, I learn something new every year. Homegrown tomatoes are the number one treat from the garden for me. For tomato advice, I'm looking no further than your channel. I'm so glad you're here for us!
I just returned from being gone 2 days and found two beautiful tomatoes partially ruined by either splitting or a bird pecking. I was waiting "one more day" to pick 4 tomatoes when I watched this video. It's dark, but I just went out and picked them. Thanks for this video.!!
I figured this out several years ago when I started gardening. I was mainly picking early because critters (mainly rodents) were raiding my garden. MANY people criticized me for doing it, but this was the only way I was going to get a harvest.
However I didn't know about not ripening them in sunlight. I don't generally do that, but I never realized that it could cause a problem.
Wow, learned something new! I knew to pick my tomatoes as they colored up but I have always put them in my kitchen WINDOW. Gotta go move a bunch of tomatoes. . .
Me too!
I think you should move half and study the results. My mother always ripened hers in an east facing window..
That's where I keep the ones I want to stay green... for fried green tomatoes. They develope the flavor I like after 2 days on the window sil. The rest go in a big paper grocery bag.
Try both. Your window blocks most UV rays, surprisingly. Keep some in your window, put some on your counter in the shade. See which way you like better. You may prefer one way over the other.
@@TheMillennialGardener I'm digging this idea. My tomatoes in the East facing window take 1-3 weeks to ripen, but I pick those when they are still green (depending on the condition of the plant)
I'm going to conduct an experiment like this with one of my plants and compare.
This is so crazy that you put this video up yesterday!!
Last evening I was out in my garden, picking my tomatoes at about 30% ripeness and I said to myself “I believe that vine ripe tomatoes is a myth. There’s no way people let their tomatoes ripen all the way on the vine!” 😅 👌🏼
Huh?
It probably started as a marketing gimmick. Kinda like that "apple a day" non-sense. And yes, I love an apple in my green salad..!
I am 70 years old & have grown tomatoes for 50 of them...& you're right ! Old wives tales die hard. But your info about stages of ripeness, storage, etc. are spot-on.🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅
I sustainably grow sun sugar cherry tomatoes and sell them commercially to local Cincinnati area grocery stores. Since I hated putting them in plastic produce clamshells, I created a paperboard container to package them in that I also sell to other growers. They do indeed finish ripening quite nicely in the vented box within the delivery day with no discernable taste difference in flavor if picked at least 50% ready. The reason I prefer a ripe cherry tomato picked right off the vine though (and not one that's been sitting on the counter) may have something to do with the volatiles (the chemicals that produce their flavors). A warm cherry tomato off the vine to me has a richer flavor and the skin is softer and easier to eat than one in an air conditioned 70' kitchen or store. There was a study done that showed while lower storage temperatures didn't change the sugar and acid makeup of tomatoes, it did cause the tomato's volatiles to dip as the temperature decreased. Cold storage temperatures would further break down the cell's membrane and affect taste. It sure explains why we shouldn't be refrigerating tomatoes but could even small temperature and humidity changes explain the difference in flavor some of us are percieving? The study is here: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1613910113
Been trying to tell people this for years. I'm in east central Fl. Totaly organic. Pick at about 30 to 50 % max. Give them time. Some neighbors tried to argue with me about that. Now they buy from me. 🤷♂️. Hard down here in the heat and humidy in the summers. Birds like to drink my fruits. Ripend fruits on the vine don't last long. In the house or on the vine. Just for the point of view, I've been doing this a long time. Your channel is by far above the others. Really appreciate your efforts that put into this.
Great video thank you. I am definitely one of those “gotta let it ripen fully on the vine” kind of people. I am glad to know that I no longer have to do this. Look forward to trying it out this year.
Does anyone know if this goes for cherry tomatoes
too?
My husband has been telling me this for years! I’m like, “you pick them when they’re orange!” 😂
Thank you! I now have to admit he was right!
Red. Even if it werent true id need to cuz pests dont wait...
He was right, but you don't have to admit it 😆
I have to tell someone else to tell my wife because she never believes me.
As a husband that doesnt get many wins, Im taking this as a personal win. Thank you for your sacrifice!
Orange? Oh hell NO. Regardless of what anyone says, letting your maters turn red is not a problem. Said another way, I don't think the folks growing a hundred acres of tomatoes are fully ignorant of how to grow and when to pick them.
Yes, waiting until they are super soft is iffy, at times, other times, just bring a salt shaker out to the patch with you and. . . .
This is how all the older generations picked tomatoes. My mother became her father had a big garden and they had to keep food in cellar and it had to last. They knew all this. I watched this video and called my mom and I said that’s why you have such great tomato crops. She learned from her dad. I never paid atteattention to my mom is 83. So old school wins the day but definitely new and good info for younger generations 👍
My grandmother from Siberia was getting 30%-50% ripe tomatoes and ripen them on sunny windowsill. 😊
It’s also helps tomato with releasing some weight from the vine.
I love how very informative your videos. The best detailed content out there.
I love it when you upload. Every time I learn something new!!! This information is so so crucial. I had no idea I could cut my tomatoes off sooner! Last year, I came outside and beetles had taken out some of my ripe tomato while on the vine.
I used to make that mistake, too. Pick them when they're halfway and you'll lose so many less tomatoes!
Hey, I could have told you that 40 years ago. Down here in Florida, when the tomatoes and peppers are forming, the birds and varmits are going into their cupboards getting out their knives, forks and bibs. I don't mind sharing, but it reaches a point! 20% tomato crop loss even picking them early. The last week the varmits have attacked the peppers (even Hot) with Hannibal Lecture efficiency. It's war!
Florida 9b Found out the hard way . Squirrels beat me to it 🤬
Raccoons love my tomatoes 😠😡
Terriers and house cats. Also, a good perch for hawks and owls.
NY slugs and rolly polly,s
Depending on where you're at, if you're growing tomatoes during the rainy season, even worse than the pests is the splitting. For every tomato I lose to pests, I lose 2-3 from the rain if I let them vine ripen. It's best to pick them half ripe and let the countertop finish them.
Yep. This is so true. Once the tomato releases easily from the stem, it wants to go in your salad, soup and pasta.
I saw the thumbnail and said to myself "yeah, whatever bro". After scrolling down another page or two I decided to go back and watch it. I am glad I did! Thank you for the great information.
Great video as usual. We love Dale too. Started tomato's in Fla from seed in November 6 plants in the pool screen area, Cut suckers for months and made 50 plants, Built large raised beds to accommodate all the new garden, Disease and animals taking their toll last couple weeks picked them all and removed the heirlooms this week left the determinates. I ate tomato's sandwiches for the last 3 months and we have about a hundred German Johnson green on every table in the house lol. Army worms, every leaf disease, borer worms, just started and over 5 inches of rain this last week. Your channel has inspired us immensely Thank you for the hard work you do.
I did almost the exact same thing here in central Florida and thought I started the season to early. Had a great harvest and ate my LAST tom sand for lunch today
I'm so glad I saw this! I have to pick my tomatoes when they are blushing before the bird's get them. Thanks for a great video. I've learned so much from this channel.
Totally agree with you. Especially here in TN. The rain will crack them all the time if i dont pick early. I like to pick right after they start to blush. Helps with insects attacking as well. Thanks for the science behind the tip.
I started a container garden a few years ago. I’m growing tomatoes this year from your recommendations. I’m also growing dwarf tomatoes from the dwarf tomato project. I’ve learned so much from your channel! Thanks so much for all your efforts to produce informative content!
I'm curious to hear how things turn out. Please let me know later in the year. I'm curious how you will like the Dwarf Tomato Project plants. They're very interesting and unlike any other tomatoes. They're built like little trees and the flowers look like dandelions.
@@TheMillennialGardener I also started an early tomato project back in January. I seed started 2 Rosella Purple & 1 Siletz Jan 6 with a goal of tomatoes by June. I have tennis size tomatoes on the Siletz.
I started picking my tomatoes before they're fully ripe a few years ago.
between disease issues, pests, and frost it's just easier and I end up with more tomatoes that look nicer.
Hi Millennial Gardener, thank you so much for the informative video on ripening tomatoes. You made some good points. Now I understood the stage of the ripening process. Last year, my tomatoes were on the vine a bit too long and they were somewhat mushy. This year, I will not let my tomatoes go too far so to compare the difference. I will let you know how my fruits turn out following your suggestions. YES, never put tomatoes in the refrigerator. The fruits are tasteless, soft and mushy at times. Ripe tomatoes will be left in my fridge ONLY if I can't use them right away. Once in the fridge, I will use them later to make soups or sauces. Great video!
1st your a very good speaker .. 2nd your 100% right...We had a produce stand and until our field tomato's came in we would buy at the local farmers market ..(Shipped in from Fl. )We nicknamed them square Tomato's because they ripened in the ethylene room and on the truck in a box. It's definitely a mindset about vine ripened but still an old wives tale. It's hard to beat some of the old fashioned ways but when you add the science into the mix it just gets better. LOL.. my neighbor asked me why I am always shaking my plants ... I told him Tomatoes are self-pollinating, meaning they have flowers that contain both the male and female parts and this will help out nature to produce more fruit .. He just scratched his head as he walked away .. Keep up the great work !!
subbed
I really appreciate how you make the video more easily watchable by adding Celsius. Thank you!
WOW. You described my tomatoes (split, bug bites etc) for the last 2 years. I just didn't know to pick them earlier. Thank you!
I've been growing Tomatoes for years and today I learned something, thank you for this video.
thanks so much, i have only grown a garden for 2 years, my aunt who is a very experienced gardener visited and said i should have already picked some of the tomatoes that are reddish-yellow and put them in a cool dry place to finish, i had huge doubts but your video explaining the actual scientific reasoning has banished them and today i went out and picked everything that looks close to ready.
Yea! Finally, the video I asked you to make last year. I've seen so many gardening YT channels mention this but I've never seen anyone do a dedicated and informative video on the topic. I'm glad to have a source to point people to now when so many people on gardening FB groups are adamant about a tomato picked before fully ripe is the same as grocery store tomatoes.
I really appreciate this advice it's very helpful . I wrestle with this problem all the time with my wife . She thinks that a tomato has to ripen fully on the vine to be any good and I end up loosing many just as you say . I could not point to any proof that it's not necessary to fully vine ripen but now I can . Thank you . We need more videos like this that go deeper into the details of growing things . I am a retired soldier and growing vegetables is a hobby , but it does not come naturally to me and I struggle a lot . I now have a far better idea of when to pick my tomatoes .
i pick em on the blush...let em ripen on the counter...there's a softness point where i like to eat them...merita old fashioned...heavy on the dukes....cracked pepper and sea salt...and sometimes a slice of cheddar...gotta love it...yall...
Thank you so much for this info. I'm one of those guys who always waits until the last minute to pick a tomato. I'm going to try this this year because as you said the birds and the bugs are going to get them and you are right. I can't count how many times I've lost a prize tomato because I left them on until fully ripe. I've learned something from you everytime I watch one of your videos. Thank you!
South Florida we pick tomatoes from early January to mid April. Absolutely agree with what you are saying. We pick "pinks" for the best taste. You can actually pick them green if the fruit starts showing white lines on the bottom.
Great to hear the facts of tomato ripening stages. I noticed this in the autumn when frost was expected we would pick half ripened tomatoes and when they full ripened they tasted great
Thank you so much!! This information is particularly valuable right at this moment. Last year, for the first time, our community garden, with a view of the ocean in Southern California, got overrun with rats! It was such. a demoralizing situation. Overnight, on the 3rd of July, they came in and ate 30 perfectly ripe ears of corn that I was saving to pick for a party on the 4th of July. Out of 72 corn stalks, I ended up with 5 good ears. The same with tomatoes. Every time a tomato got ripe, overnight it got a giant chomp out of it. Thank God they weren't interested in cherry tomatoes; so, I got masses of them. And, so thankful, too, that we can garden here all year round; so, there was plenty of joy left over for the rest of the year. The rats didn't seem interested in broccoli and Brussel sprouts. But, you have given hope for this new tomato season!!! I"ll just pick the tomatoes before the rats are even interested in them!! Thank you so very dearly!!!
I grew up in Hanover County, Virginia, the "Tomato Capital of the World". As a boy I would work during the summers in the tomato fields. Because we went from farm to market, we would pick a tomato as soon as it started turning pink on the bottom. All tomatoes would then go to the sorting tables at the farmhouse. Those with the most color would go to the markets. Those with less would ripen another day or two and then go.
In short, you are absolutely correct that a "vine-ripened tomato" is one that has begun to turn, not one that is beet red.
Hanover boys represent 💪
I’ve been doing this for years because something would eat my tomatoes once it ripened. I am so glad to hear exactly why this works. 🙌👏🏼
What’s growing on!! Dang you are already harvesting.. I just planted my homegrown tomatoes in-ground on Saturday. Northern California.
Thanks! Well researched and thorough. I've grown tomatoes for over 10 yrs. and was interested to see if there was something I didn't know. I was hoping to hear " the sooner you pick...the more you get", like beans, peas, cukes, etc. The explanation of how the partially ripe fruit gets cut off was new info to me and explains things. Thank you! I just subscribed.
Zone 5a Michigan here.
I'm in my second year of growing tomatoes (Terenzo Cherry), and it's worked really well for me to prioritize the plant health over the tomato ripeness. (FYI, my main plants are both in hanging baskets)
When it gets loaded with fruit, the plant itself looks weighed down and stressed, and I also become concerned that the planters may break from the weight. To fix that, every 2-3 days, I remove the most ripe tomatoes, along with any damaged leaves. The removed tomatoes are usually a whiteish color that has not turned red yet or a shade of greenish - orange. Last year, I got 3 large harvests from my plant, along with around 20 new plants from suckers.
I keep the tomatoes in the window and allow them to ripen. They are the most delicious tomatoes I've ever had, although that could be contributed to the variety, as I have not tried many types.
I was able to overwinter my 2 largest indoors (they didn't produce any fruit, but they kept most of their leaves). This is supposed to be an annual, but it's behaving like perennial. My largest plant has produced its first harvest for this year. I'm so curious to see how things progress, and whether or not it will die off after this massive harvest.
Thank you so much for the information in your video. I may adjust the process to match yours on one of my 2 large plants to see what the differing results are.
Great idea to prevent birds stealing your tomatoes. Thank you for your wonderful information.
They say that birds aren't eating your tomatoes, instead they are quenching thirst and that you should put a pan of water out for them.
You're welcome!
@@PatC. Thanks for your advice. I do put a pan with water on my backyard. I also have few bowls of water for toads during summer.
Just saw your picture of you, your lovely, and Dale on your wedding day! Congratulations!! And God bless you! I am So Very happy for you both. I mean for all three of you!
In my opinion, this is your best video yet! Invaluable information, thank you!!
my mother does this because her father did it. she lives in wales uk, where the weather isnt so good or predictable so only grows in a greenhouse. i live in greece where we have perfect condieions for them, so i obviously grow outdoors. thank you for this reasoned explanation, i will take your advise this year and also pass this on to my mother who will be happy to know the reason my grandfather did this. cheers from crete
You had me at the bird pecking the tomato comment. The last two years I’ve lost my first tomato of the season to birds. Thanks for the info
You SIR are 100% correct. My dad had 2 dz plants - we ate tomatoes every you can think of, gave away so many, and my mom canned 250 Qts. At the end of the season we had enough green tomatoes we made a dz. qts of " green tomato mincemeat " for pie in the winter. I am here to say it works, feeding the plants helps a lot also.
I got some 8x12 drawstring net bags off amazon to try on my tomatoes this year. I had trouble with squirrels stealing my tomatoes last year ,even when they were not fully ripened. I think the net bags covering the tomato clusters will fix this. Thanks for busting up the myth of vine ripening because I never would have thought otherwise.
Maybe if you spray near your tomatoes with neem oil or insecticidal soap, (both have a strong chemical odor), perhaps it would deter the critters.
Yes, squirrels have been my primary tomato nemesis for years. I've tried various spraying with little to no success. They find their way into most caging and if it works it makes it tough for me to access them too! My best "solution" so far is to just grow more bushes and let them take some. Yes they'll prefer red ones, so at times I'll wrap a few in grow-cloth mesh when they first start to color until the break stage at least. The critters will take a green one rather than work harder for the red.
It's been odd that at my Mom's (10 miles away) she has never had trouble with the squirrels -- until this year! She only grew 3 bushes (1 cherry, 1 Rutgers, 1 Big Boy) and they took every single one of the larger ones' first batch so far (14 from the Big Boy plant), all while they were yet completely green.
So glad to hear this. I lost 2 huge German Johnson today. I left them on one more day and went out this morning and half of both of them were half gone!!
I grow my own. Home grown and vine ripened are indescribably delicious. You can't even compare it to anything you'll find in a grocery store no matter how much you pay. That said, a tomato that has started to turn and is then picked and allowed to ripen in the sun vs one allowed to completely ripen on the vine, are not a lot different. But also, from the time it starts to change color until it's vine ripe is only a week or two anyway.
I have to laugh but you made a good point for newbies to gardening. There are so many folks that don't know that you just preached facts. Chicken eggs are the same way when purchased from a grocery store! You nailed this video!!!!!
The not letting tomatoes get cold is the best tip. I have known this for years. I hate the fact that every restaurant refrigerates their tomatoes and always taste horrible. Many grocery stores do the same.
If the restaurant didn’t refrigerate they would get warnings to do so from the local health dept. who know nothing about tomatoes, but claim to know everything about food poisoning 😮
Maybe the restaurant uses them up quick enuf before the tomatoes have a chance of losing quality.. or they just don’t care about the quality they are serving..🤷♀️
Tomatoes never go in refrigeration unless they have been sliced and leftover, which never happens at my house. lol
I chill mine in the frig for about an hour before serving in a salad or just sliced into chunks. Can't believe the season is almost over. 😒
Here in the Deep South we were taught this exact same thing because of all the things you mentioned. Great info for a back yard gardener!!
I picked all my green tomatoes before the first hard freeze. I put them in boxes and stored them in my basement. they eventually all ripened and I ate my last tomato in December.
So, what I like about vine ripened tomato's is that I can pick and eat them freshly when I am in my garden. I love cherry tomatoes, and many times I will eat a handful of them along with freshly picked blueberries. Odd combination but it works, good info and I will use this knowledge. thanks for sharing
I started listening to this video thinking "no way I'm going to agree with this nonsense". I ended it thinking "huh...I'm going to have to do some blind taste tests this summer!". I specifically started gardening so I could have "vine ripened tomatoes"...this challenges what "vine ripened" really means. Very interesting! Very logical breakdown of the facts.
It has taken me a few years to figure this out by myself. Some success and lots of disappointment. Thanks for the easy to understand explanation of why some of our gardening myths are wrong. I wish I had this video years ago.
I'm a Michigan grower, fighting deer, chipmunks, and this year ground hogs I think!. I have been forced to pick my tomatoes at "BLUSH" for the last 2-3 seasons when the tomatoes show true color - I REMOVE THEM, then have a chance to eat my tomatoes before the critters do. This gives me a harvest, I store the Blushed tomatoes in daisy trays lined with newspaper ( I still get a free local paper that works good to line the trays) in my family room out of direct sunlight, watch the progress and look for spoilage (from cuts in the skin). They ripen FANTASTIC and taste great. I grab every larger variety tomatoes at first Blush. This technique DOES NOT work on my cherry tomatoes. My experience under ripe cherry tomatoes rot inside before they will ripen.
If it's a *really* nice sized tomato I pick them when they get a whie-ish hue on the bottom. It works for me - heirloom or hybrid.
I grow both but have bacterial wilt (deep south) in my soil.
I'm going to follow your advice this year. I'm in North Florida and every time I've grown tomatoes I've been disappointed trying to ripen on the vine. They end up attacked by squash bugs, splitting, or rotting and I never have enough for canning. Thank you!
I just had this discussion with my husband a couple nights ago. He told me that I was picking the tomatoes too soon that I should wait for them to turn red. And I told him if I wait for them to turn red the critters will probably get them first. I was so glad to see this video confirming what I was thinking😊
Speaking of critters, my late dog loved when they were ripe on the vine. He ate veggies of all kinds and I caught him stealing my roma and cherry tomatoes on many occasions.
@@Redwood65 I've day two dogs (same breed) that love funky, half-rotten tomatoes as well as the ripe ones.
You know, the ones I've discarded cuz of critters or caterpillars.
I was carrying some 'maters to a gal friend recently and had to make a quick stop into Kroger.
When I returned fido had eaten half of the 'maters I was carrying to this friend. Lesson? Put them in the trunk if fido is in the car.
Incredible info.! I love how you brought science into this presentation and made it very fact based. I've grown tomatoes quite a bit and never knew that they are cut off from the host plant at the 30-50% ripening stage. I'm going to heed your advice and pick my tomatoes before they are completely red because every tomato that I've tried to vine ripen as of late has gotten damaged by the birds and insects.
I feel like I go to gardening school every time I watch your videos!
Gardening for about 30 years now and this is something I intuitively figured out over the years as we would watch perfect nearly ripened tomatoes split, be eaten or taken altogether by animals. Now I know that it was the right decision to pull them "early" and I have you to thank! So thanks!!!
There are other reasons people think vine ripened is better. Storing unripe tomatoes in the refrigerator shuts them down and they never ripen. Seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit is ideal ripening temperature.
Taste is gone when you put them in the fridge
or they simply are better.
Vine ripened taste better. There is a difference. Vine ripened will have more sugars and acid that they will continue to develop from the plant.
You just changed my (gardening) life. Thank you.
You're welcome!! I'm glad it was enlightening 😊
Well, this will save a whole lot of frustration. So much time wasted trying to "verbally encourage" my tomatoes to ripen😂.
A couple of seed questions that you may have already answered. Is there a particular company that you get your seeds from? How long will seeds last if kept dry and dark?
Your expertise is important to us novice gardener. I've heard from other experts, the same ideas as you have talked about.
I don't even wait until 30% due to the dang squirrels & rats! I pick them at "first blush" these days. I've even had them chew through the mesh bags before. So many people don't know they don't have to wait till their tomatoes are ripe to pick them. Good information!
To me they taste alot better if they ripen on the vine and each variety has it's nuances that will come through
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You I am 73 years old & totally agree with everything you have said in this video as I have been saying the same thing for about 10 years- since I started growing vegetables. Your videos are so informative. Newbie Here from Australia. Cheers Denise- Brisbane Australia
What are you favorite things to grow in 7gal grow bags? I have a bunch left that I need to use
Bush beans are great if you pick a variety that’s bred for containers. They produce a lot!
Determinate tomatoes, Dwarf Tomato Project tomatoes, eggplant, ground cherries, tomatillos and vigorous pepper plants.
Thank you Anthony for saving me time in the garden netting the beautiful Mushroom Basket tomatoes to protect from proboscus type bugs . The information you share is priceless. Blessings to you and your "official" wife.
If the breaker stage really ''closes'' off the cell walls, maybe you can make an experiment by plucking one tomato off the vine and puting it right next to one that is still hanging on the vine (preferably from the same plant and vine) and you could see which tomato starts rotting faster, if the one on the vine doesnt last longer then you are probably right.
I think that would be tough because it's so hot here in the summer and my house is (obviously) air conditioned, so the climate control of my house would probably slow the process. It would be tricky to do. If I left it outside, it would have to be protected somehow, but it couldn't be under a bucket, because then it would trap the ethylene and speed ripening 😆
How about this, if the tomato plant is actually closing the tomato off from the plant why would you even have to worry about tomatoes splitting. Something isn’t adding up.
@@MichaelRei99 I don’t think the tomatoes are splitting because they’re still “connected“ nutritionally to the plant. They are most likely splitting because of the exterior weather conditions that have nothing to do with the plant.
@@MichaelRei99 yes, because the splitting is caused by changes in temperatures and humidity. Fruits expand and contract with the heating and cooling of the day and night, and when you get extreme humidity and heavy rainfall, the air becomes so wet that the tomatoes swell. When tomatoes are green, it doesn't matter much, but when they're ripe, they're so fragile they crack, especially the thin-skinned, heirloom types.
@@TheMillennialGardener Ignore the troll, he has paraphrased the same comment at least 3 times. I've been growing tomatoes for around 20 years and started pulling them early like this about 3 years ago. Absolutely no discernible difference in taste and they definitely stay healthier and less for those pesky squirrels. Even though I've been doing this for a while I have picked up some useful tips from you, appreciate it.
It’s interesting you bring this up; the last time I grew tomatoes I had a hugely busy year. This is exactly how I handled my tomato crop because I couldn’t keep up if I waited and only used the tomatoes that were perfectly ripen on the vine, so doing thattwice every day.
I figured this out on my own last year when I had to pick tomatoes at about the 50% ripe stage because a few of my plants got wilt. I realized the tomatoes picked at that stage and ripened on my kitchen counter tasted exactly the same as the fully ripe tomatoes I was picking from my healthy plants. I knew about the use of ethylene in the ripening process, and I did put a few of my 50% ripe tomatoes in a paper bag with a banana, and sure enough, they quickly ripened. For the rock hard, end of season green tomatoes, I pickled those, made salsa with them, or turned them into that iconic Southern American dish fried green tomatoes.
I’m no gardening genius, I’m still in the novice stage, but I’m glad to know I was actually right about a gardening fact for once. Now if anyone can explain why my eggplant and heirloom pepper seedlings are still tiny even though they germinated over a month ago, I’d be very grateful. It’s been cool and very rainy/overcast, could that be the reason?
All peppers, and I do mean all, that I've encountered in 5 decades..
Are show-ers noT growers.
😂 soooo slow.
Take this time to talk to them, sing to them and get to know what they like.
It'll be a while.
Took my eggplants soooo long to produce but nothings stopping them now!
Thank you! I'm growing 19 different varieties this year and now I can enjoy them at peak flavor!
If the tomato is completely sealed off from the plant at 30% color, what causes them to split? I always thought they take in too much water, but if they are sealed off from the plant, that can't be the case.
This is a huge help to me! So many times I lose tomatoes on that last day of ripening. I appreciate that you explained why. Makes sense! Thank you so very much!! Great info!
I don't want to believe that but I think I'm going to try it out thank you
I was resistant to the idea at first, too, but it's true.
I just went and picked already I appreciate the tip
You are smart to be skeptical. This whole breaker stage garbage is perpetrated by Big AG.
TMG is right on point. I've been successfully pulling my tomatoes at about 50 %, certainly not past 75%, let them ripen on the counter, and they end up beautiful and much tastier than anything bought commercially. Definitely helps mitigate pest damage by leaving them on the vine. Great Advice 👍
Awesome video. Busting common myths, highly educational, no nonsense 👍
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
I think the myth is pulling the tomato early fabricated by big AG . If the plant puts a barrier between itself and the tomato why would you have to worry about splitting??
Another great video I did not realize all of this I've been growing tomatoes 45 years and learned so much form this thank you please don't stop.
"Bad things" equal squirrels
They attack right before tomatoes ripen
This is the best gardening tip I've seen on your channel so far. Thanks for all your hard work
Thursday May 16th was a very good day my niece came home from Veterinary University, I had to pick her up at JFK airport. Four hours one way down and another four back. So didn’t get much done in the garden but it was a good day! Also saw my first purple asparagus shoots.
Congratulations 👏 👏 😊
@@TexasNana2 thank you!
@@JohnWood-tk1ge You're very welcome 🙂
Yep, that one one more day on the vine is disaster.
Picking them at 50% ripe extends the eating pleasure too.
Plus more time to hand them out.
Thanks for clarifing this and the grocery process.
I agree with the science of this video but I think a fully ripe tomato taste better right off of the plant IF you eat it right away. The summer temps that keep a tomato in the 80-95 degree range are just phenomenal. When they get to room temp they suffer in flavor....
Wow, very helpful information!🍁
The terpenes and complex flavonoids become more developed the longer the tomato ripens on the vine. The perfect tasting tomato is more at risk of getting damaged but that a gamble I’m willing to take vs getting a pretty LOOKING tomato. If you’re trying to sell produce for profit, yes, pick early and ripen it using controlled environment. But the longer that tomato ripens on the vine- the more complex the homegrown flavor
@williamWBG I agree with you . I tested this several years ago. I don’t eat tomatoes unless they are homegrown. My only reason for growing them is for their complexity of flavor. Maybe it depends on one’s sensitivity to the complexity of flavor and texture.
Also factory farmed chicken and beef tastes nothing like pasture raised chicken and grass fed beef.