October marks the tail end of the tomato season in the UK. By now, your plants have likely worked hard all summer – but with a little care, you can still enjoy the last of your harvest and set yourself up for success next year. Here are three key ways to take care of your tomatoes this month.
- Protect Your Plants from the Cold
By October, night temperatures in much of the UK can easily dip below 10°C, which can shock or damage tomato plants.
- Move potted tomatoes indoors – to a greenhouse, conservatory, or even a sunny windowsill.
- For outdoor plants, use fleece, cloches, or polythene covers to trap warmth and protect against frost.
- If the forecast looks frosty, harvest all remaining green tomatoes and ripen them indoors (place them in a paper bag with a banana or apple – the ethylene gas will help them turn red).
Tip: Avoid overwatering late in the season; the soil stays damper in cooler weather, and soggy roots can quickly rot.
- Prune, Pinch & Clean Up
At this stage, you want the plant’s remaining energy focused on ripening existing fruit rather than growing new shoots.
- Pinch off new flowers and small fruits that won’t mature before frost.
- Remove yellowing leaves and any that touch the ground – this improves air circulation and reduces disease risk.
- Clear away fallen leaves or old compost around the base to prevent mould and blight spores from overwintering.
Tip: Compost healthy trimmings, but bin any blight-infected material to stop the disease spreading.
- Plan for Next Year
While your current crop is winding down, October is the perfect time to plan ahead.
- Clean and store any tomato stakes, canes, or pots – they’ll last longer if kept dry over winter.
- Save seeds from your best fruits for next year (just dry them thoroughly before storing).
- Consider which varieties performed best this season, cherry tomatoes like ‘Sungold’ or ‘Gardener’s Delight’ often thrive even in cooler UK climates.
- If you have a greenhouse, you can even start a late autumn sowing of hardy indoor varieties for early spring harvests.
Tip: Keep a small garden diary. Jotting down what worked (and what didn’t) this year helps you refine your approach next season.
October tomato care is all about protection, tidying, and preparation. Shield your plants from the chill, tidy up for plant health, and plan ahead for next year’s garden. With a bit of attention now, you’ll end the season on a high and give yourself a strong start for next spring’s tomato crop.
