Hi guys! I’m a first time tomato grower here and I got an heirloom tomato (seed pack just said heirloom so idk what variety it is) that’s been the same shade of orange for a while now. It was ripening at a seemingly steady pace but just stopped barely short of becoming red. I’m now wondering if it’s supposed to be orange however I have this gut feeling that it’s supposed to actually turn red lol. Welp any words of wisdom are more than welcome! Thank you!
by r_arizo
9 Comments
It looks perfectly ripe to me. Not all tomatoes are blood red.
Did something change with your weather recently?
Either way, you can pick it now. It’ll either continue to ripen on your counter or you can eat it!
Some tomatoes are orange! You can pick them when you see the very first blush of color and let them ripen on your counter. This one is almost over ripe, pick it now!
tomato’s come in many shapes and colors… your variety is orange… as for me… i prefer orange ones
Pick by feel not by color… if it has a little give when you fondle it, it’s ripe for enjoyment.
Honestly, I pick tomatoes when they’re yellow and ripen them inside using brown paper bags. I know a lot of people swear by leaving them on the vine until they’re red, and I don’t attest that, but I have issues with bugs, so picking them early cuts down the amount of casualties.
And to be honest? I haven’t noticed a difference between ‘maters I’ve left on vine until red, and ‘maters I picked yellow and bagged until red. They were both firm and delicious!
I’ve been picking mine at even a lighter orange and they ripen on my countertop in a day or so.
Pick it! Looks kind of like a Nebraska Wedding Tomato
Where in the world are you? If you are in the northern hemisphere and up out of the tropics, the day lengths are short and fruit ripening slows down.