At what color should greenhouse tomatoes be harvested?
Greenhouse tomatoes have a reputation for being harvested as a "vine ripened" tomato. They should never be harvested at the breaker stage, like most field tomatoes that are picked at this stage and then gassed with ethylene to promote softening and red color after they are shipped. And, of course, they should never EVER be picked green (unless you are selling them for "fried green tomatoes"). They should be picked either at the red stage (if primarily sold retail at the door), or light red stage (if some are retailed and the rest are wholesaled locally). If shipping long distances, they can be picked at the pink stage. Remember, greenhouse tomato growers have a reputation to uphold for raising high quality vine ripened tomatoes. To view the color stages, see the Tomato Color Chart.
Publications
News
RAYMOND, Miss. -- Current and prospective greenhouse vegetable growers can learn about the specialized production method during Mississippi State University’s 2024 Greenhouse Vegetable Short Course on Feb. 27-28. The course will be held at the North Mississippi Research and Extension Center’s Magnolia Building in Verona from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. It is open to greenhouse vegetable producers throughout the Southeast.
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Vegetable growers soon will have two chances to learn about managing pests on produce in greenhouses and high tunnels.
There’s nothing more satisfying than homegrown tomatoes. You don’t have to be a gardening expert to grow delicious tomatoes in your backyard. Here are a few tips that will help you grow the best looking (and tasting) tomatoes out there: