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#1
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Tomatoes - when to pick?
A week or so ago someone asked about when it was best to pick tomatoes.
I wanted to respond but could not find the magazine containing the definitive answer. I just found it. Contrary to popular belief it is NOT a good idea to leave the tomatoes on the vine to ripen to full red. By leaving the fruit on the vine actually DECREASES the sugar and acid (the flavouring) content of the tomato. To get full flavour, pick the tomato just as it begins to turn from orange colour to red and then keep them at between 15C and 21C in room light (NOT a sunny window sill!) for 4-5 days while they finish ripening. NEVER put tomatoes in the 'fridge because low temperatures alter the aroma volatiles of the fruit; the volatiles are another major component of the tomato's flavour. The tomaotoes will keep quite nicely for a week or more at room temperature. Anyone who wants to verify the above can read this advice, from a post-harvest physiologist who studied this subject extensively, in the Septemver/October 1994 issue of ORGANIC GARDENING (the American publication), page 25. The article about when to harvest deals with many vegetables and fruit. Cheers. -- Sound that shatters silence is called noise. Sound that enhances silence is called music. |
#2
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That's my experience too. Or rather I've noticed no serious
difference in taste between pickin em pinkish and pickin em red. Andrew Basil Chupin wrote: A week or so ago someone asked about when it was best to pick tomatoes. I wanted to respond but could not find the magazine containing the definitive answer. I just found it. Contrary to popular belief it is NOT a good idea to leave the tomatoes on the vine to ripen to full red. By leaving the fruit on the vine actually DECREASES the sugar and acid (the flavouring) content of the tomato. To get full flavour, pick the tomato just as it begins to turn from orange colour to red and then keep them at between 15C and 21C in room light (NOT a sunny window sill!) for 4-5 days while they finish ripening. NEVER put tomatoes in the 'fridge because low temperatures alter the aroma volatiles of the fruit; the volatiles are another major component of the tomato's flavour. The tomaotoes will keep quite nicely for a week or more at room temperature. Anyone who wants to verify the above can read this advice, from a post-harvest physiologist who studied this subject extensively, in the Septemver/October 1994 issue of ORGANIC GARDENING (the American publication), page 25. The article about when to harvest deals with many vegetables and fruit. Cheers. -- Andrew Gabb email: Adelaide, South Australia phone: +61 8 8342-1021, fax: +61 8 8269-3280 ----- |
#3
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Norman wrote:
I found your post very interesting reading and it will change my bad habits of dealing with tomatoes in the future. I have lots of tomatoes coming on and will go along with your advice. Great learning newsgroup. Thanks for the info. regards, Norman "Basil Chupin" wrote in message ... A week or so ago someone asked about when it was best to pick tomatoes. I wanted to respond but could not find the magazine containing the definitive answer. I just found it. Contrary to popular belief it is NOT a good idea to leave the tomatoes on the vine to ripen to full red. By leaving the fruit on the vine actually DECREASES the sugar and acid (the flavouring) content of the tomato. To get full flavour, pick the tomato just as it begins to turn from orange colour to red and then keep them at between 15C and 21C in room light (NOT a sunny window sill!) for 4-5 days while they finish ripening. NEVER put tomatoes in the 'fridge because low temperatures alter the aroma volatiles of the fruit; the volatiles are another major component of the tomato's flavour. The tomaotoes will keep quite nicely for a week or more at room temperature. Anyone who wants to verify the above can read this advice, from a post-harvest physiologist who studied this subject extensively, in the Septemver/October 1994 issue of ORGANIC GARDENING (the American publication), page 25. The article about when to harvest deals with many vegetables and fruit. Cheers. Glad to have been of help. And good picking with your tomatoes. Hope you have lots of Tommy Toes - the nicest tomato ever - and Black Russians (not as prolific as the Toes but very nice). Cheers. -- Sound that shatters silence is called noise. Sound that enhances silence is called music. |
#4
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I found your post very interesting reading and it will change my bad habits
of dealing with tomatoes in the future. I have lots of tomatoes coming on and will go along with your advice. Great learning newsgroup. Thanks for the info. regards, Norman "Basil Chupin" wrote in message ... A week or so ago someone asked about when it was best to pick tomatoes. I wanted to respond but could not find the magazine containing the definitive answer. I just found it. Contrary to popular belief it is NOT a good idea to leave the tomatoes on the vine to ripen to full red. By leaving the fruit on the vine actually DECREASES the sugar and acid (the flavouring) content of the tomato. To get full flavour, pick the tomato just as it begins to turn from orange colour to red and then keep them at between 15C and 21C in room light (NOT a sunny window sill!) for 4-5 days while they finish ripening. NEVER put tomatoes in the 'fridge because low temperatures alter the aroma volatiles of the fruit; the volatiles are another major component of the tomato's flavour. The tomaotoes will keep quite nicely for a week or more at room temperature. Anyone who wants to verify the above can read this advice, from a post-harvest physiologist who studied this subject extensively, in the Septemver/October 1994 issue of ORGANIC GARDENING (the American publication), page 25. The article about when to harvest deals with many vegetables and fruit. Cheers. -- Sound that shatters silence is called noise. Sound that enhances silence is called music. |
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