It's nearing the end of the tomato season in Seattle - my tomatoes seem
full-grown, just beginning to redden. How much would it affect ripening at
this stage to just cut the stem or major branch near its base before the
next forecasted rain and allow the tomatoes to remain propped up on the
vine? That would eliminate excess water absorption that causes splitting,
but how much would it decrease fruit sugar content? Anyone have experience
with this?

RHR

RHR,
not with tomatoes but with grapes. Grapes absorb water at the pedicle
that attach the fruit to the rachis and subsequently to the vine. If
this be the case in tomatoes, then the rain that falls on the pedicle is
your problem not absorbed water on adjacent leaves.

-Bill
Coloribus gustibus non disputatum

In article ,
"R. H. Rosenberg" wrote:

It's nearing the end of the tomato season in Seattle - my tomatoes seem
full-grown, just beginning to redden. How much would it affect ripening at
this stage to just cut the stem or major branch near its base before the
next forecasted rain and allow the tomatoes to remain propped up on the
vine? That would eliminate excess water absorption that causes splitting,
but how much would it decrease fruit sugar content? Anyone have experience
with this?

RHR