Do you pick or cut tomatoes off plant?

Tomatoes are one of the most popular vegetables in the world due to their delicious taste and versatility in cooking. Whether you're using them fresh, canned or dried, tomatoes are a staple ingredient in many dishes. However, when it comes to harvesting tomatoes from the plant, there's a debate about whether you should pick or cut them off. In this article, we'll explore the pros and cons of each method to help you decide which is best for your tomato plants.

Picking tomatoes off the plant

Picking tomatoes off the plant means exactly what it sounds like – you gently pull the tomato off the stem when it's ripe. This is the most common method for harvesting tomatoes, as it's simple and easy to do. Here are some advantages of picking tomatoes off the plant:

Picking is gentle: It won't damage the plant or other tomatoes.

It's fast: You can quickly harvest a lot of tomatoes at once.

You can pick ripe and partially ripe tomatoes without damaging them.

However, there are also some disadvantages to picking tomatoes off the plant:

It can sometimes leave a small piece of stem attached to the tomato, which can increase the risk of disease or pests.

If you're not careful, you could accidentally damage the plant or other tomatoes while picking.

If you're not using the tomatoes immediately, they may have a shorter shelf life than if you cut them off the plant.

Cutting tomatoes off the plant

The other option for harvesting tomatoes is to cut them off the plant. This means using a pair of scissors or garden shears to cut the stem just above the tomato. Here are some advantages of cutting tomatoes off the plant:

It's a clean cut: There's no risk of leaving a piece of stem attached to the tomato.

If you're not using the tomatoes immediately, they may have a longer shelf life than if you pick them.

You can cut the stem close to the tomato, so you don't have to worry about accidentally damaging the plant.

However, there are also some disadvantages to cutting tomatoes off the plant:

It's more time-consuming than picking.

You have to be careful not to damage the tomato while cutting it off the plant.

It can be harder to judge when a tomato is ripe and ready to be cut off the plant.

Final thoughts

Ultimately, the method you use to harvest your tomatoes will depend on your personal preference and the specific needs of your tomato plants. If you want a quick and easy way to harvest tomatoes, picking them off the plant is the way to go. However, if you're looking for a cleaner cut and want to extend the shelf life of your tomatoes, cutting them off the plant may be the better option. Regardless of which method you choose, be sure to harvest your tomatoes when they're ripe to ensure the best flavor and quality.