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On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Has anyone kept any information on how long it took for their pollinated tomato to go to a ripe tomato based on the tomato variety. Last year lots of growers were reporting that it was taking around 60 days to go from pollination to ripe tomato but no one was giving variety specific data. Much of this does depend on weather and growing degree days but has there been a difference based on variety? Does Domingo take longer than Big Zac or Delicious or Megamarv or are they all about the same?

6/30/2020 2:07:34 PM

Western Massachusetts

Longest tomato I ever grew was around 2 months, most seem to start turning red at the 45-50 day mark here. I know cherry tomatoes also take about 50 days to turn red from pollination, so my guess would be variety is less of a variable than is the difference in day/night temps.

6/30/2020 2:12:16 PM

Western Massachusetts

I'm wrong - cherries take closer to 4-6 weeks. Maybe density plays a factor?

6/30/2020 2:14:02 PM

Lebanon, Oregon

It’s around 50 dap for me mid summer, both Big Zac and Domingo. As Fall approaches and temperatures cool, it ranges from 55-60 days. This is for me here in Oregon.

6/30/2020 5:14:20 PM

Central NY

I think wixom has great stats on this question. 65-70 days bred into these and we could be talking 15lbers.

6/30/2020 8:35:11 PM

Grittyville, WA

I posted a pic in my diary... 50 dap still green on the 5.12 MacDonald domingo. But we've had plenty of cool weather, only a few days in the 80's.

7/1/2020 12:40:05 AM

Brisbane Australia

Another Question, Would you that they continue to add weight the whole time? or is there a point where the tomato is done and its just a matter of colour change? Or is this variable to each cultivar or plant?Im assuming they continue to add some weight, or is this more related to timing for competitions?

7/1/2020 3:23:32 PM

Lebanon, Oregon

Stillman, that has been the age that of question. People used to pick when it started to blush thinking that was the maximum weight. In the last few years people have been leaving them on a little longer, like a few days, until they are more red. Growers, including myself, have demonstrated that the tomato can and does grow more from blush to red. It can be 1/2” total or more diameter in a few days. If you let it go too long soft spots can develop so you have to be the judge and know your fruit well. In a sport where every ounce counts, leaving it on the vine unto the last second has been the choice of many the last few seasons.

7/1/2020 4:41:21 PM

Brisbane Australia

good to know thanks for the response

7/2/2020 1:39:38 AM

Wixom MI.

In 2016 we had a rather hot dry summer and i was finding most of my tomatoes all verieties were only taking 37 to 42 days to go from flower to blush but garden rebel would get 45 to 50 days averaging about 8 more days than me. What i have noticed is that our day time temperatures would be about the same but my night time temperatures would often be 67-72° were as in Oregon were rick is the night time temperatures often average 57 to 62° often 7 to 10° cooler at night. What i found was that my tomatoes often grew faster than many others but also turned earlyer that others.

7/2/2020 7:00:22 PM

Wixom MI.

I believe that doug smith in the UK last fall grew a Domingo tomato around 5.50 lbs and was on day 80 when he picked it and it was still green !!! I believe he grew this in his greenhouse in November but with no heating in it so night temperatures would often be in the upper 30s and 40s at night. So i believe average temperatures though out the growing period of the tomato is the main cause of how long it takes to go from flower to changing color.

7/2/2020 7:08:13 PM

Wixom MI.

In 2016 when i grew my 6 lb tomatoes i was fortunate enough that i had 2 megazacs and my 5.95 Domingo polinate all in the same week. In the first 20 days all 3 tomatoes were about 20" to 21" but my 2 megazacs started slowing down were as the Domingo seemed to keep its pace up and started pulling away from the megazacs. On day 29 i believe my Domingo was near 27" cir. And was close to 6.4 lbs unfortunately it developed a rot spot and i had to cut out an entire cavity loosing about 6 oz. The tomato was still growing 1/4" a day when i saw that the rot was comming back so i had to pick it and it prematurely started turning do to the rot spot. Even with all i cut out it still weighed 5.95 lbs

7/2/2020 7:21:19 PM

Eastern Shore of VA

Last summer I had one go from blossom to red in 29 days.
I live in coastal Virginia,and it is hot and humid as hell here.

7/3/2020 8:34:44 AM

central Nc

Red looks good on ya esheel!

7/3/2020 12:19:13 PM

Norfolk, UK

I do have some to the raw data (diary entries) but would have to pen thru and I don’t think I’d have huge number of data points to take from.

I’d agree with Chris that it’s going to be driven by growing days - but with you Marv that the number of growing days per variety will (or could be) different. Just hard to standardise unless pollinated at the same time, or you have accurate climatic data.

As Chris mentioned, I harvested a 5.57lb Domingo - still green on dap 82, but tail end of season and in the end outside temps were 50f in day, 35f or less at night, 8.5 hours of daylight a day. I heated at night to keep worst of the frost off, vs anything warm.

Generally mid season I look to around 50 to 55 days after pollination to harvest, but my experience Is BZ and Delicious.

I’ve recorded fair weights on Domingo (5.1, 5.27, 5.57) but as late season mega blossoms, I’ve always ended up weighing green and I’ve yet to take one to the scale ripe as yet. Here’s hoping that’s different this season!

7/3/2020 6:05:44 PM