What Time of Day are Tomatoes the Sweetest?

Who are you going to believe? Martha Stewart or Chinese Researchers?

From the garden e-mail bag, Craig asks: “Hi Farmer Fred. I live in Connecticut, USDA Zone 6b. Is the taste of tomato’s affected by the time of day you pick them? Last night my wife and I found ripe Sun Golds, and when I tried to pick some she told me she had heard that you should not pick them after 9 AM because that affects the taste. Is there something chemically that is happening in the early morning hours? Is this yet ANOTHER thing my wife is right about?”

Sungold Tomatoes. Picked on Christmas Day!

Craig, that is a very good question, and the answer surprised me, too. According to America’s favorite convicted white collar criminal/backyard gardener Martha Stewart, tomatoes should be picked earlier in the day: She (or one of her minions) writes in a September 2023 blog post: “The best time of day to pick tomatoes is in the morning, before the heat of the day sets in. This will help them to stay fresh longer.”

But obviously, “freshness” is not necessarily “sweetness”.

According to peer-reviewed Chinese research, tomatoes have a higher sugar content later in the day. But they have a higher nutritional content in the morning. So, both Martha and the Chinese scientists can claim a victory … sort of.

Here's a summary of the key findings of the Chinese researchers: