Gardeners urged to do 1 task to tomato plants before the end of September
This simple step can boost your chances of harvesting more ripe, flavourful tomatoes before the season ends.
As summer draws to a close, gardeners face a crucial decision that can make or break their harvest. The changing season brings cooler nights and the threat of an early frost, which means when growing tomatoes, not every fruit on the vine will have time to ripen.
Fortunately, an expert gardener has taken to Instagram to reveal a simple task that can boost your chances of harvesting more ripe, flavourful tomatoes before the season ends. Jamie Walton, also known as @nettlesandpetals, shared: "It's time to top our tomato plants, and by cutting off the main growing point of the plant, it redirects its energy to ripening the fruit it already has rather than continuing to grow."
Read more: Robins will flock to your garden all year round if you plant a tree they love
Read more: Garden job you must never do in August to protect birds
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
How does topping work?
Cutting off the plant's top growing point encourages it to channel energy into ripening the fruit that’s already set instead of putting effort into new growth. This practice is especially valuable in climates like the UK, where summers are short and cool, and the risk of blight increases as late summer turns to early autumn.
In his video caption, Jamie further explained: "As I grow crops throughout the entire winter in the poly tunnels, I’ll also need the space in mid-October, so I want as many fruits to ripen before that point.
"If frost isn’t an issue in your area, then you can leave them to grow and they will continue to vine and produce all year round, but unfortunately, here we don’t have that option. However, once the top of the plant is removed, this can result in the plant producing more side shoots, so keep on top of pruning those as well."
When is the right time?
According to Homesteading, gardeners should consider topping their tomato plants about one month before the expected first frost, especially if they are growing determinate varieties.
If you top them too early, the plants will stop producing new growth, and your harvest will come to an end sooner than it should. On the other hand, if you top them too late, the tomatoes may not have enough time to ripen before the freeze arrives.
How to do it
The gardening expert explained: "Grab your pruning shears and ensure that they are clean. Head out to the garden and study your tomato plant.
"Locate the central stem and then work upwards until you’ve identified the highest set of fruit that you want to keep. The best ones are tomatoes that are green but large in size, or have already started to turn in colour. These will likely ripen in time!"
After you’ve identified the clusters of tomatoes you want to save, cut the stem just above that point, leaving a bit of foliage to shield the fruit. Then, scan further down the plant and remove any extra blossoms or tiny, firm green tomatoes you find.
These won’t have enough time to ripen before the frost sets in. By clearing them away, you allow the plant to focus its energy on maturing the fruits that matter most.
