I made this article for all those who have questions about the harvesting of San Marzano tomatoes. These are my favorite tomatoes to make authentic Italian sauces that I inherited from my ancestors. Continue reading to learn all about harvesting San Marzano tomatoes.
San Marzano Harvest
San Marzano tomatoes are ready to harvest 75 to 90 days after planting. But you should not only count the ripening days for harvesting San Marzano tomatoes. Here’s how and when to harvest San Marzano tomatoes, so you can use them immediately or store them.
When to Harvest San Marzano Tomatoes
Once you have planted your San Marzano tomato plants you should wait 75 to 90 days to obtain San Marzano tomatoes. Of course, the days of ripening will vary according to the weather conditions and the nutrients the tomato plants received. A tomato plant that has had sufficient sunlight, water, and nutrients will not be the same as one that has had a nutrient deficiency.
San Marzano tomatoes can be harvested when they are large and their color is green and yellowish. Like most tomatoes, it will continue to ripen once harvested. You can also let San Marzano tomatoes fully ripen on the vine, but I personally prefer to harvest them a little earlier. Once you harvest your first San Marzano tomatoes, watch the plant daily to harvest the remaining tomatoes. Not all tomatoes will be ripe at the same time.
How to Harvest San Marzano Tomatoes
To harvest San Marzano tomatoes, I recommend not pulling the tomatoes from the plant to avoid damaging them. As not all tomatoes will ripen at the same time, it is important not to damage the plant so that it continues to produce tomatoes.
Use scissors or a knife to harvest San Marzano tomatoes. Before using the tools, disinfect them with alcohol to avoid transmitting diseases to the tomato plants. If you harvest a tomato that is still too green do not worry, place it in a paper bag for a few days to ripen a little more.
A San Marzano tomato plant can produce many fruits, but not all of them will be ripe at the same time. It is best to have several tomato plants to be able to get a good number of tomatoes at the same time and to be able to make a lot of sauce or dishes.
San Marzano Tomato Harvest Time
Harvest time for San Marzano tomatoes is approximately 75 to 90 days. This means that if you plant your San Marzano tomato plants in March you can be harvesting San Marzano tomatoes in June. I repeat that the ripening days of tomatoes can vary due to climatic conditions and soil nutrients.
How to Store San Marzano Tomato
If you have several San Marzano tomato plants you can get enough tomatoes to prepare for example a sauce. But if you don’t have enough tomatoes at the same time, you can store them.
Wash the tomatoes, chop them, and store them in the freezer. With these tomatoes, you can prepare soups, stews, or fillings for tacos. Because the texture is not the same as fresh tomatoes, it is recommended for these types of dishes.
Another way to store San Marzano tomatoes if you have too many is to dehydrate them. Use a dehydrator or dry them in the sun, personally I prefer to use the dehydrator. Every year I prepare a good number of dehydrated tomatoes that I use as a snack.
Final Conclusions
Harvesting San Marzano tomatoes is not difficult at all, but you must be careful when picking them so as not to damage the tomato plant and allow the plant to continue its production. To learn more about the cultivation of this tomato variety I recommend you to read our article about growing San Marzano tomatoes.
I hope this article will be of great help and that you will be able to obtain an abundant harvest of San Marzano tomatoes. Remember that you can store your tomatoes in different ways to enjoy them all year round.
