Tomatoes need at least 2 months to grow...

But that doesn't mean you should start counting 60 days from the day you planted and think you can start picking the fruit.

You may be disappointed...

So, how do you know when your tomatoes are actually ready?

In case you missed it: https://agrolocale.com/blog/Tomatoes-2

The colour of the tomatoes starts changing

This is probably the first thing you will notice...

If you are growing a red variety, you may first notice a little yellow, orange, or pale red colour appearing on one side of the fruit.

Don't worry if the entire tomato doesn't change at once...

It usually starts from one part and gradually spreads.

At this stage, the tomato is moving from the growing stage into the ripening stage.

I recommend that you pay attention to this stage...

I say this because it depends on what you intend to achieve with your tomato plant...

If you're growing tomatoes for your own consumption and want a very ripe, juicy tomato, you can leave it longer...

But if you are harvesting for sale or transporting the tomatoes somewhere like us, you may not want them to become too soft before they reach their destination...

Also, remember that not every tomato variety turns red.

You know, right?

Because some varieties become yellow, orange, pink, or even remain a different colour when fully ripe.

The tomato stops feeling rock hard

There is a simple test you can do when you are not sure whether your tomato is ready...

But be careful...

That's why I recommend that you touch it but not squeeze it...

You don't want to press the tomato hard just to find out if it is ripe.

Because tomatoes bruise easily, and they can be easily damaged too...

The reason is that when you touch a young green tomato, it usually feels very firm and hard.

As it begins to ripen, the fruit starts becoming slightly softer...

You will notice the difference if you start to check your tomato plant this way...

And I suggest that you don't wait until the tomato becomes very soft...

If you touch it and it feels like it is about to collapse, you probably waited too long...

And that's a bad sign...

Because you don't want to harvest tomatoes that have become very soft and aren't firm enough to handle...

It has reached the size it should be

Your tomatoes will usually tell you when they have stopped growing...

One of the signs is that the small green fruit will gradually become larger...

At some point, you will notice that it is no longer increasing in size as quickly as before.

This is another sign that it is getting closer to maturity...

But you don't want to make the mistake of thinking that size alone means the tomato is ripe...

Right?

You may see a tomato that looks big, beautiful, and completely green.

For example, if you are growing a variety that produces large tomatoes, the fruits may reach their full size and remain green for some time before they start changing colour.

This is why I recommend you look at size together with colour...

If the tomato has reached its normal size and you notice that the colour is beginning to change, then you know you are getting close...

If it is large but still very green and hard, give it more time.

The skin begins to look different

This is one sign you may not notice immediately...

Yes, I know that...

When you plant young tomatoes, sometimes they have a dull appearance.

But as they mature, the skin starts looking smoother and brighter.

It almost looks as if the fruit has developed a natural shine...

When you combine that with the change in colour, you can tell that the tomato is getting close to harvest.

This is why you should not only look at your tomatoes from a distance.

I suggest that you walk closer and look at the fruits properly...

That way, it becomes easier to notice these small changes.

The tomato starts developing that familiar tomato smell

Yes, your nose can also help you...

Since a ripe tomato has a stronger smell than a young green tomato...

You may not notice it while standing several metres away from the plant, but pick up the fruit gently and you will often notice that familiar fresh tomato aroma.

This becomes more obvious as the fruit gets closer to full ripeness.

It is not something you should use on its own to decide whether a tomato is ready, but it is another useful sign.

If the tomato has reached its normal size, the colour has started changing, it feels slightly softer, and it has that fresh tomato smell, you are probably looking at a fruit that is ready or very close to ready.

The fruit begins to separate easily from the plant

When a tomato is mature, it usually becomes easier to remove from the plant.

You may be able to gently twist the fruit, and it will come away without much effort.

If you find yourself pulling and struggling to remove it, don't force it.

It shows you need to leave it for a little longer.

You don't want to pull so hard that you break the branch or damage another fruit growing nearby.

If the variety you are growing does not easily detach when ripe, you can simply use a clean pair of scissors or pruning shears to cut it from the plant.

The important thing is to avoid damaging the plant unnecessarily...

Remember, that same plant may still have several other tomatoes growing on it.

That way, you don't want to harvest one ripe fruit and accidentally destroy three others that are still developing...

In addition,

Don't wait until every tomato is fully ripe

You may think the right thing to do is to wait until every tomato on the plant is completely red before harvesting.

You don't necessarily have to do that...

Once a tomato has started the ripening process, it can continue ripening after you harvest it.

This can actually be useful.

Just imagine you are growing tomatoes commercially...

If you leave every single one on the plant until it becomes completely ripe, some may become too soft before you can sell them.

Plus, others may split after heavy rain. Some may be attacked by insects or birds.

That's why harvesting at the right stage is better than waiting for the fruit to become completely soft and ripe on the plant.

For tomatoes you want to eat immediately, you can allow them to ripen further.

There's no problem...

But if it's tomatoes you want to transport or sell, if you harvest when they have started changing colour, that can help them survive handling better