OK to pick before fully ripe?

SueCT · June 29, 2015

I do it on the counter or kitchen table out of direct sunlight. Putting them in a paper bag causes them to turn red earlier but is the equivalent of "gassing" the tomatoes like they do or used to in order to make grocery store tomatoes turn red for sale when they are not ripe. I believe it is ethylene gas they give off that is trapped in the bag and makes them turn red. That, however, does not mean they are ripe flavor wise. I would find a way to eat them green first.

June 29, 2015	#16
SueCT Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,460	I do it on the counter or kitchen table out of direct sunlight. Putting them in a paper bag causes them to turn red earlier but is the equivalent of "gassing" the tomatoes like they do or used to in order to make grocery store tomatoes turn red for sale when they are not ripe. I believe it is ethylene gas they give off that is trapped in the bag and makes them turn red. That, however, does not mean they are ripe flavor wise. I would find a way to eat them green first.