Q&A for How to Pick Tomatoes

Return to Full Article

Coming soon

Add New Question

Question

How do you know if a tomato is ripe?

Maggie Moran
Home & Garden Specialist
Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.

Maggie Moran

Home & Garden Specialist

Expert Answer

One of the best ways is to give the tomato a squeeze test. Ripe tomatoes are firm but offer a little give.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 6
Question

How do you pick tomatoes off the vine?

Maggie Moran
Home & Garden Specialist
Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.

Maggie Moran

Home & Garden Specialist

Expert Answer

Grasp the tomato gently and twist it while pulling away from the stem. Alternatively, you can use scissors to cut it from the vine.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 6
Question

How do you pick out a good tomato?

Maggie Moran
Home & Garden Specialist
Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.

Maggie Moran

Home & Garden Specialist

Expert Answer

Use your fingers to test the firmness of the tomato, then smell the tomato near the stem—it should offer a sweet and earthy odor.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 3
Question

Can you pick tomatoes when they are green?

Maggie Moran
Home & Garden Specialist
Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.

Maggie Moran

Home & Garden Specialist

Expert Answer

Yes, and with the larger tomatoes, it is better to pick them at this stage and allow them to ripen on their own.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
Question

Can I cut off a bad spot and still let it ripen?

Amy Gremillion

Community Answer

No, this will expose the interior of the tomato which will cause it to rot quickly.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 9
Question

Why would my tomatoes rot on the bottom when they are still green?

Community Answer

This is called blossom end rot and is usually caused by overwatering. Using a moisture meter before watering is advisable.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 5 Helpful 17
Question

Why do people spray tomatoes?

Community Answer

People spray tomatoes to prevent pests from ruining them.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 6 Helpful 17
Question

Is it normal for a big tomato species to still be flowering in late summer?

Amy Gremillion

Community Answer

Yes, indeterminate tomato varieties will continue to produce until the first frost.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 7
Question

After picking tomatoes, what do I do with the plants?

Community Answer

Untie the plants from their stakes and throw them onto a compost heap, chopping them up a bit to help the process.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 4 Helpful 11
Question

My tomatoes look like they will not ripen. What should l do with them?

Community Answer

Perhaps put them in a more sunny spot. However, regulate if they start to wilt.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 5 Helpful 12
Question

Why do tomatoes picked green have yellow spots on the underside?

Community Answer

That's the color progression as tomatoes ripen. Fruit ripens from bottom to top, as gravity pulls the fluid toward the ground.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 5 Helpful 10
Question

How do I pick hard to reach tomatoes?

Amy Gremillion

Community Answer

Carefully push aside the plants that are in your way, taking care not to damage them.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 3 Helpful 5
Question

Why are my cherry tomatoes always ready to be picked from the middle?

Community Answer

This is most likely because the nutrients reach the middle first. Also, the middle is not exposed to various elements of nature as much, such as wind or chemical stress.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1
Question

Can I grow new plants from the seeds of my favorite tomato variety?

Community Answer

Yes. Check out this article: https://www.wikihow.com/Grow-Tomatoes-from-Seeds

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 2
Question

My tomato feels slightly soft but has a lot of green inside. What to do?

Community Answer

Pick medium-sized tomatoes that are organic or all natural and ones that are in the middle of the colors scarlet and orange red. The best ones are a tiny bit soft.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
Question

Should the stem be removed from the plant after picking a ripe tomato?

Community Answer

When removing the tomato, cut the steam just above the flower. The article above explains it in much more detail.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1