Harvesting tomatoes at first blush is all about catching them at just the right moment—when they start to show a hint of color but aren’t fully ripe yet. It’s a simple way to get the most out of your crop, protect your tomatoes from pests, and enjoy perfectly ripened fruit indoors.
Plus, it’s a great way to stay connected to the natural rhythm of your garden, picking each tomato when it’s at its freshest and letting it finish ripening on your windowsill.
What is First Blush
First blush is when tomatoes start to show a bit of color, changing from green to the shade they’ll be when fully ripe—like red, pink, orange, or yellow. It usually starts as a small, light blush on the skin. This is your cue that the tomato is just beginning to ripen and might be a good time to pick it, especially if you want to finish ripening it indoors.
Reasons to Harvest Tomatoes at First Blush
Keep pests and diseases at bay: Picking tomatoes at first blush helps protect them from hungry critters like birds, insects, and small animals that love fully ripe fruit. It also lowers the risk of diseases spreading in your garden, especially in damp or humid weather.
Prevent cracking: Tomatoes that stay on the vine until they’re fully ripe can soak up too much water, especially after rain, causing them to crack. Harvesting at first blush helps avoid this, as the tomatoes won’t absorb as much water once off the vine.
Extend your harvest: When you pick tomatoes at first blush, it encourages the plant to keep producing more fruit, giving you a longer and more bountiful harvest season.
Control ripening: Bringing tomatoes indoors to ripen gives you more control over how they mature. You can make sure each tomato reaches its peak flavor and ripeness without worrying about outdoor conditions.
Protect from sunscald: Tomatoes left on the vine too long, especially in hot, sunny weather, can develop sunscald, which leaves tough, pale spots on the fruit. Picking at first blush reduces the time tomatoes are exposed to direct sunlight, keeping them in better shape.
Identifying First Blush
When tomatoes start to show a slight color change from green to pink, red, orange, or yellow (depending on the variety), this is known as the “first blush.” This is the earliest stage of ripening, and it’s your cue that the tomato is ready to be harvested.
Harvesting Tips
Use pruning shears: If the tomatoes don’t come off easily with a gentle twist, use pruning shears to cut the stem just above the fruit. This reduces the risk of damaging the plant or the tomato.
Pick often: During peak season, check your plants every couple of days for ripe tomatoes. Regular harvesting encourages the plant to produce more fruit and helps prevent overripe tomatoes from rotting on the vine.
Morning harvest: If possible, harvest your tomatoes in the morning when they are at their juiciest and freshest. The cooler morning temperatures also make it easier to handle the tomatoes without them becoming overly soft.
Watch for damaged fruits: Remove any damaged or rotting tomatoes from the vine immediately. This helps prevent disease from spreading to other parts of the plant.
End of season harvest: As the growing season ends and temperatures drop, harvest any remaining green tomatoes before the first frost. You can let them ripen indoors, or use them in recipes that call for green tomatoes.
Check for frost: If frost is predicted, pick all remaining tomatoes, regardless of ripeness. Tomatoes exposed to frost can become damaged and won’t ripen properly.
What to do With Tomatoes After Harvest
Place your tomatoes on a windowsill where they’ll get good natural light, but try to avoid spots with strong, direct sunlight all day. A spot with gentle morning sun or indirect light is perfect. Too much direct sun can make them ripen unevenly or get too warm.
Check on your tomatoes every day. When they reach their full color and feel a bit soft to the touch, they’re ready to enjoy. Depending on the variety and how ripe they were when picked, it can take anywhere from a few days to a week for them to ripen fully.