First blush vs fully vine ripened?

[Old chef]

Hello
So my question is- I have been picking my tomatoes at first blush. Will I get a bigger heavier fruit if I leave it on the vine? I have put 3 organza bags on the biggest about to blush.
Presently, I an in largest/ biggest tomato here in Tomato Junction. Received some Domingo & Mega Marv seed’s which I think will be some of the largest from my garden

Thoughts?
Old Chef

[zeuspaul]

I think the fruit has stopped growing larger and heavier at first blush. For most tomatoes flavor is about as good as fully vine ripened tomatoes.

I pick at first blush if I have an issue with critters. The red attracts birds and other. Also the longer it sits on the vine the better chance of an issue.

[karstopography]

We know that tomatoes ripening out on the vine even after they have broken color are subject to splitting if too much rain falls during that time frame. That tells me additional water (and likely other compounds) is coming into the fruit even after the color break. Extra water means more weight. But, if the tomato splits from so much excess water, then it might actually lose some weight via water lost through the split areas.

I do also wonder what effect heat, air temperature over the threshold of lycopene formation has on the weight. We know tomatoes vine ripened in hot weather can get blotchy and poor color formation from incomplete lycopene formation. So if lycopene isn’t formed, what is in the place where lycopene should have been in more temperate conditions? Does that have any impact on weight?

I do know large tomatoes picked at color break and brought inside to ripen at room temperature lose weight from the time they are picked to the time they are fully ripe. I had two tomatoes this season that topped a kilogram in weight each. I think both lost something like 20 grams each or so by the time they were ripe and cut to consume. Call it around 2% of their weight lost through evaporation or transportation of water inside the tomato to the atmosphere.

[MissS]

If you want to harvest your tomato at it's heaviest weight, then pick it at first blush. That is what all the competition growers do. If you want the best flavor possible then let it ripen on the vine a bit longer.

[MissS]

Well, I might have to eat my words here. Here is a tomato grown by Dan Sutherland this year. He is the world record tomato grower.

image.png

Here is another of his grown this year

image.png

These were allowed to ripen on the vine.

[Old chef]

If you want to harvest your tomato at it's heaviest weight, then pick it at first blush. That is what all the competition growers do. If you want the best flavor possible then let it ripen on the vine a bit longer.

Well Patti.......
This is all about you. These plants I speak of are your seeds. I have a cluster of 3 of Domingo that is incredible. I also have a double blossom of Mega Marv that is still moving.

Is that thread still available? I will get an 8- 10 yr old to help me post a picture

Old Chef

[Old chef]

Well, I might have to eat my words here. Here is a tomato grown by Dan Sutherland this year. He is the world record tomato grower. image.png Here is another of his grown this year image.png These were allowed to ripen on the vine.

Mine are definitely going to win the beauty/swimsuit competition.

Old Chef

[MissS]

If you want to harvest your tomato at it's heaviest weight, then pick it at first blush. That is what all the competition growers do. If you want the best flavor possible then let it ripen on the vine a bit longer.

Well Patti.......
This is all about you. These plants I speak of are your seeds. I have a cluster of 3 of Domingo that is incredible. I also have a double blossom of Mega Marv that is still moving.

Is that thread still available? I will get an 8- 10 yr old to help me post a picture

Old Chef

I got this pic from another site but I just saw that he has it posted on Tomatoville too. http://tomatoville.com/showthread.php?p ... post771081

You might think about making a hammock or some other support if you are getting a monster fruit. If you are going for the very biggest that you can grow then only grow one fruit per truss but it sounds like you are having some fun and may just want to leave them to see what you get. I'm so happy that you are enjoying the ride. That's what this is all about!