As tonight marks Bonfire Night, many of us turn our thoughts from summer gardens to warm scarves and spiced drinks. But for those still tending late-season tomatoes, this chilly time of year can make or break the final crop. The beginning of November may feel like the end of tomato season – but with a little care, you can protect your plants and even coax a few more fruits to ripen.
Here are three key ways to look after your tomatoes as the bonfires blaze.
1. Protect Against the Cold
Bonfire Night marks the point when frost becomes a real threat. Even a light frost can damage your plants or stop ripening altogether. If your tomatoes are still outside, bring pots and grow bags indoors overnight or into a sheltered greenhouse or conservatory. For plants still in the ground, use horticultural fleece, bubble wrap, or even an old bedsheet to cover them when the temperature drops.
2. Encourage the Last Fruits to Ripen
At this time of year, sunlight is limited, so your tomatoes may be stubbornly green. You can help them along by removing any new flowers or small immature fruits – this directs the plant’s energy into ripening what’s already there. Another trick is to pick green tomatoes and place them on a sunny windowsill or in a paper bag with a ripe banana (which releases ethylene gas to speed up ripening).
3. Clean Up and Prepare for Next Year
Once your final tomatoes are harvested, it’s time to tidy up. Remove dead leaves and spent plants to prevent diseases like blight from overwintering in the soil. Give pots, canes, and tools a good wash, and add compost or manure to your beds to enrich them for next year’s crop.
As fireworks light up the November sky, a bit of extra care can make all the difference to your tomato plants. Protect them from frost, encourage those last fruits to ripen, and tidy up for the season ahead.
