How to Pick Tomatoes

Source: wikiHow

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There’s nothing like the flavor of a tomato that’s fresh from the garden, whether you’re eating it by itself or using it in a delicious recipe. To get the most out of your home-grown tomatoes, it’s important to pick them at the right time and in the right way. You can either pick tomatoes when they’re fully ripe or you can harvest them at first blush and allow them to ripen inside.

1. 1 Research your variety to find out what color your tomatoes should be. Although most tomatoes turn bright red when they’re ripe, some varieties can be orange, green, yellow, pink, or purple. Be sure you know what variety your tomatoes are so you’ll know what color they’ll be when they’re ripe.^[1]
   • If you start your tomatoes from seeds, you could either check your seed packet or ask the person who giving you the seeds to find out what color your ripe tomatoes will be.
   • If you buy seedlings, make sure you know the variety of tomato you are buying so you’ll know what color to expect.
2. 2 Check your tomatoes for ripeness every 1-2 days. Tomatoes can ripen quickly, so make sure you’re keeping a close eye on them. Every day or two, visit your tomato plants to look for a change in color.^[2]
3. 3 Examine your tomatoes to make sure the skin is smooth and shiny. Ripe tomatoes have smooth, slightly shiny skin. Your tomatoes should be free of any dark spots or bruising, which can indicate rot.^[3]
4. 4 Gently squeeze your tomatoes…

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