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Tomatoes ripe yet?

Posted on 5/30/11 at 9:07 pm
Posted by nhassl1
Baton Rouge
Member since Jun 2008
1934 posts
Posted on 5/30/11 at 9:07 pm
just starting to pick a few off of my plants. Is anyone else starting to pick them yet? Also, how long should i let them stay on there before picking them off, color wise?
Posted by C
Houston
Member since Dec 2007
28149 posts
Posted on 5/30/11 at 9:11 pm to
Got a few but birds have been getting them as they turn red.

quote:

Also, how long should i let them stay on there before picking them off, color wise?


There is nothing better than eating them right off the vine. But they will ripen off the vine just fine.
Posted by WAR TIGER
Death Valley
Member since Oct 2005
4267 posts
Posted on 5/30/11 at 9:36 pm to
You have stumbled upon the art of picking tomatoes!!

The balance between letting them stay on the vine, versus picking them before the birds get to them.

My buddy pulls his when they show the first hint of orange.

I have learned to let mine turn orange, with a hint of red before I pull them. The longer you wait, the better the flavor. If you pull them early, just sit them on your kitchen windowsill until deep red.

P.s. - I just ate my first "Lemon Boy". A yellow version of better boy. INCREDIBLE!! Best tomato I have ever eaten.

Enjoy!!!
Posted by 756
Member since Sep 2004
15755 posts
Posted on 5/30/11 at 9:47 pm to
tomatoes ripen in the dark. once they start turning you may pull them and place them in a dark closet to ripen

Posted by TIGER2
Mandeville.La
Member since Jan 2006
10508 posts
Posted on 5/30/11 at 9:50 pm to
No tomatoes yet,I might be a week or so behind you. Been picking yellow squash and green zucchini for a few weeks now. Will start picking okra any day now.
Posted by Critic
Member since Oct 2009
21 posts
Posted on 5/30/11 at 9:54 pm to
Depends on the maturation of the plant/tomatoes. Also, depends on any other animals interested. once they start to turn red pests may start to pick at them. if pests mess with them harvest when they start to turn red, leave them inside the house(not refridgerated) to ripen and turn red. Then eat.

i have heard of a couple of tricks that may help thwart pests from messing with tomatoes. Never tried any of these methods before so im not sure if they work.

1.) put a red christmas ornament on your plant. Theory is that the pests mess with the ornament and realize its not food and leave plant alone.
2.) put a plastic zip-lock back over the tomato.

if you end up trying any of these methods out i'd be interested in how they work out. I have a few maters that I might try these on
Posted by Survivor 2010
Member since Dec 2007
2713 posts
Posted on 5/30/11 at 11:13 pm to
Tons of tomatoes....none have turned red yet. I'm estimating 2 weeks.
Posted by tigerswin03
SAINTS / PELICANS FAN
Member since Jan 2009
4715 posts
Posted on 5/30/11 at 11:43 pm to
quote:

Tons of tomatoes....none have turned red yet. I'm estimating 2 weeks
same here,i have never had as many tomatoes as i do this year,my plants are doing very well,but my cucumbers are not as plentiful so far.
Posted by nhassl1
Baton Rouge
Member since Jun 2008
1934 posts
Posted on 5/31/11 at 7:58 am to
I waited a little to long to pull the first ones. I'll pick the next ones earlier. Now besides making pasta sauce, what do I do with all of these tomatoes? I have 7 plants and will have way more than I can eat.
Posted by C
Houston
Member since Dec 2007
28149 posts
Posted on 6/4/11 at 6:19 pm to
quote:

put a red christmas ornament on your plan


I'm trying this one as of today. I've lost every tomato so far.

They appear to still be edible after a bird attack...
Posted by DownSouthTiger
downsouth
Member since Jan 2005
2612 posts
Posted on 6/4/11 at 10:58 pm to
I have been picking for two months. I have 138 plants this year and I have picked and sold 440 pounds this week. Been a great year that's the benefit of planting early with this heat if you haven't picked any yet I wouldn't expect a very big crop the sun is so damaging to the plants and fruit once it gets this hot.
Posted by DownSouthTiger
downsouth
Member since Jan 2005
2612 posts
Posted on 6/4/11 at 11:01 pm to
I don't know why but I never have a single tomato lost to birds they completely leave my garden alone.
Posted by LSUlefty
Youngsville, LA
Member since Dec 2007
28157 posts
Posted on 6/5/11 at 11:53 am to
Put a plastic owl in your garden. Bird problem solved. My problem now are stinkbugs and hornworms.
Posted by Crawdaddy
Slidell. The jewel of Louisiana
Member since Sep 2006
19094 posts
Posted on 6/5/11 at 12:07 pm to
My dads are. He has onlya few tomoate plants but a ton of the cherry tomatoes. Those are our favorites. Zip lock bagem and eat them anywhere anytime.
Posted by Vol Fan in the Bayou
Member since Nov 2009
4158 posts
Posted on 6/5/11 at 12:10 pm to
So far I have picked about 10. They are really starting to come in now

Planted very early this year - 1st week of March. I can assure you that with this heat I will never plant later again. I just wish we would get a nice long rain rather than me having to use the soaker hose twice a week.
Posted by lashinala
End of 565
Member since Jan 2006
5753 posts
Posted on 6/5/11 at 3:49 pm to
Same here but I planted late due to being on side of mountain (over 1200 ft) and freezes. HOrnworms are showing up and the bird battle begins this week. NExt week ripe tomatoes...I hope.
Posted by Crawdaddy
Slidell. The jewel of Louisiana
Member since Sep 2006
19094 posts
Posted on 6/5/11 at 10:05 pm to


todays batch from my dad. Cucumbers and cherry tomatoes. They will be gome soon. This is just my sample. Gives away lots to people. They look green but I assure you the tomatoes are all red some a bit oragange but ripe. Room temp no better.
Posted by Me Bite
A.K.A. - Bite Me
Member since Oct 2007
7246 posts
Posted on 6/6/11 at 9:49 am to
Does anybody prune their tomato plants? Mine are huge... About 6 feet tall and 2 foot wide. TIA
Posted by TigerDog83
Member since Oct 2005
8740 posts
Posted on 6/6/11 at 10:10 am to
quote:

Same here but I planted late due to being on side of mountain (over 1200 ft) and freezes. HOrnworms are showing up and the bird battle begins this week. NExt week ripe tomatoes...I hope.


We had the first hornworm sighting last week. In a period of less than a day between checking it ate a 3 foot tall pepper plant to the ground. Dusted all the plants with BT-k and haven't had any other problems. With a 40' x 40' garden and 12-15 types of plants it takes a lot of dust to keep them out so we are switching to the liquid stuff when it comes in.
Posted by lashinala
End of 565
Member since Jan 2006
5753 posts
Posted on 6/6/11 at 10:21 am to
Yeah, my pablanos are already runted due to the hornworms eating the leaves. The habaneros haven't been hit yet...I had the biggest thrill seeing a dead young raccoon with a half-eaten habanero near it last year. I can't say for sure it killed it, but I'm hoping. I tried not dusting last year, but have decided not to negotiate with terrorists now. Shame.
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