How Do I Know When My Tomatoes Are Ripe

Your ripe tomato will give slightly to the touch. It shouldn’t be soft but rather a little tender. Because tomatoes ripen from the inside out, this is a good indicator that it’s ready. Be careful, however, to not bruise the fruit.

How do you know when a tomato is ready to be picked?

While color is perhaps the biggest cue of ripeness, feel is also important. An unripe tomato is firm to the touch, while an overly ripe tomato is very soft. A ripe, ready-to-pick tomato should be firm, but have a little give when pressed gently with a finger or carefully squeezed.

How long after tomatoes turn red do you pick them?

Standard-sized tomatoes take 20 to 30 days from blossom set to reach full size–commonly called “mature green”; they take another 20 to 30 days to ripen, that is begin to change color. A tomato can be picked when it begins to change color–from green to red, pink, yellow, or orange depending upon the cultivar.