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Ely Mn

My tomato started turning about 3 days ago when it was 22inches
It is now 22 3/8 .i should keep it on until it stops growing even thou it is r
ripening right? im a litte confused y some pic them at first sight of turning
and some wait untill there almost ripe.

8/25/2013 11:48:31 AM

Sourthern Utah

i will wait till mine are ripe, then cut it,, just me..

8/25/2013 5:55:50 PM

Allentown, PA

When you wait until a tomato is fully ripe prior to removing it from the vine the tomato has already started it's weight decline no matter how insignificant.

I would remove your tomato now and have it weighed.

8/25/2013 6:45:32 PM

Ely Mn

It is now at 22 1/2 and doing 1/8 th a day
so i should still cut it off?
seems like that much growth would make up for the weight
Loss?but im a newbe

8/25/2013 7:46:15 PM

Muddy Waters

Are you taking it to a weigh off??

8/25/2013 9:46:52 PM

Ely Mn

I would have liked to take it to a weigh off but. that would be to far away.

8/25/2013 9:56:55 PM

West Virginia

I agree with Julia. I hope you hit your 4 pound goal.

8/25/2013 10:42:05 PM

East Carbon, Utah

I've taken careful weights and measurements and density calculations (water displacement method) of more than 800 large tomatoes at all stages of ripening. Briefly:

- Hard green tomatoes (green to the core) have a density of about 90% that of water.
- Ripening tomatoes (25% plus by estimation of exterior color) have a density of about 95% that of water.
- Varieties or individual specimens with hollow seed locules, of course, have lower density
- Varieties or individual specimens with a high concentration of seeds have higher density - sometimes even greater than water
- Occasionally, tomatoes left to fully ripen on the vine will shrink slightly, and thus presumably lose some weight.

I've also tracked the daily growth rates of hundreds of tomatoes on the vine using precision calipers, allowing estimation of diameter to the nearest 2 microns (0.02 cm).

Conclusions:
- Once tomatoes quit growing for 3 days in a row, they are done growing in girth, but may still be able to gain some weight as carbohydrates are converted to sugars (which are more dense), seeds mature (immature seeds float, mature seeds sink), and water content increases.
- Tomatoes ripen from the inside out
- Recommend waiting until tomato is 25%, but no more than 80% ripe to pick
- If your weigh-off is several days away, best to pick at first blush, as it will store longer (potentially 3 weeks in a 55° fridge) without splitting or rotting.

Good luck!

8/26/2013 4:53:55 AM

Ely Mn

Thanks alot for the replies!

8/26/2013 6:09:52 PM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

This seems like sumn to really look into.like seamsfaster has.dabled in maters for years but paying close attention now.just today girlfriend was cutting up green ones&asked why theres no juice,just hollow chambers.
I seen on here to leave till 75% ripe a heavy hitter said it.
Cauae when ripeing isnt really dieing so the plant pumps more to try to save it.but yet all the tissue get full of fluid.like a bruise on yourself feels soft&sorta like ripe mater were a greenie is still solid feeling.

8/26/2013 6:32:40 PM

Ontario, Canada.

"Recommend waiting until tomato is 25%, but no more than 80% ripe to pick"

You know this is really good advice. I did a bit of research on the weekend on grapes and found that they are very much similar to what is reported above. There is reams of research in grapes and vines that we can apply to maters.

Veraison in grapes is the process of or onset of ripening. The size gains stop as the grape begins to turn but the fruit still accumulated sugars making it denser.

8/27/2013 9:31:27 AM

Ely Mn

The tomato is now at 23 1/4 .its doing about a 1/4 inch a day.
i always heard they stop growing when they are ripening?
Its about 40% ripe and i just cant bare to cut it off yet.
Will it make it to 24 inches?
This is one heck of a ride for my first attemt at this!

8/29/2013 10:04:20 PM