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Should you allow tomatoes to become fully ripe and red on the vine before harvesting?

Last Updated: November 14, 2011

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It is not necessary or advisable to allow your tomatoes to fully ripen on the vine.  Generally, yields will be increased by harvesting the fruit at first blush or pink, instead of leaving them on the plant to ripen fully. A tomato picked at first sign of color and ripened at room temperature will be just as tasty as one left to fully mature on the vine. Picking tomatoes before they turn red reduces damage from birds.

Browse related Faqs by tag: horticulture, vegetable gardening, tomato, harvest, vegetables and herbs, ripen, yields


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