Tomatoes should usually be harvested when they are red and firm.
The tomato is the most popular home gardening vegetable, according to the University of Missouri Extension. They can be grown in home gardens or on patios, and do well in containers. For fresh tomatoes, plant three to five plants per person in the household. Plant tomatoes well after the threat of frost, and fertilize soil for best results. Choose disease-resistant varieties for best results.
Instructions
1. Plant your tomatoes so that they will ripen when average daily temperatures are about 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Tomatoes that ripen in excessively warm temperatures (over 92 degrees) have less flavor and poorer overall quality.
2. Select tomatoes that are ripe but not soft. Select red, firm tomatoes if temperatures are at or around 75 degrees. If you expect very hot weather or frost, select tomatoes that are green and allow them to ripen off the plant.
3. Harvest tomatoes by firmly pulling them off the plant. Hold the stem with one hand and pull the fruit off with the other.
4. Store tomatoes at room temperature if you plan to use them within a few days. If not, store them in the refrigerator. Ripen green tomatoes by wrapping them in brown paper bags and storing at 60 to 65 degrees.
5. Pick tomatoes as they ripen, or every day or two during very hot temperatures.
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