Hot as hades here with highs 95* and up, for the last three weeks, also pretty dry. Researched how heat affects tomatoes and found that warm night time temps of 75-80* delays tomato ripening? I pick mine usually when they start showing color, but some of what I read suggested to pick when they were a lighter pale green all over, without the dark green shoulders, so I picked a few this morning to give it a try. I've always picked all the green ones when expecting a frost and they will ripen inside.
Never tried it in the summer.
Might be a good way to get the 20+ lbs. all ripe at the same time that you need for canning.
What do you guys think?
I am in some bodacious heat myself and my garden is baking like a hot oven. Mine will ripen on the vines, but I pick when they show color, about half ripe. I have problems with rotting from sun scorch, so I pick early.
Thanks Debbie, it might be a good pic if my fat finger wasn't covering the corner, didn't notice until I posted.
Also, avatar pic shows I had waaay more ripe tomatoes last year than when I got back from vacation this year, last summer here was much more temperate.
This pic is from this year, same week as last, much fewer tomatoes and I have about 10 more plants.
Just when you think you have things figured out, Mother Nature starts throwing curve balls!
@Mauldintiger, it seems gardening has more of a learning curve than ever. What worked great last year, doesn't work this year. The only crop I can consistently grow is weeds.