Q. Is it possible to get more tomatoes on my plants in
the fall? What needs to be done to produce them?
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| Tomato was pruned back in late Summer to stimulate new growth and new flowering and fruit set when the temperature cools below 95F. |
A. Yes, you can get a second crop from the existing
plants by cutting existing plants back or start new plants directly in the
garden from seed. Here’s how to do it.
plants by cutting existing plants back or start new plants directly in the
garden from seed. Here’s how to do it.
Plant Seed
If you
plant seed directly in the garden to replace existing plants do it now. Plant
an early variety from seed such as the ‘Early Girl’. Rake the surface of the
soil to create some ridges and put a group of 3 to 4 seeds, 6 inches from the
base of some existing plants you plan to remove. This is for shade. You only
want one plant to remain from this group when starting them from seed.
plant seed directly in the garden to replace existing plants do it now. Plant
an early variety from seed such as the ‘Early Girl’. Rake the surface of the
soil to create some ridges and put a group of 3 to 4 seeds, 6 inches from the
base of some existing plants you plan to remove. This is for shade. You only
want one plant to remain from this group when starting them from seed.
Cover
each group of seed with a quarter inch layer of sand mixed with compost. Water
the seeded areas by hand three or four times during the day while it’s hot. Reduce
watering to once a day when the seedlings emerge. Remove all other seedlings in
a group except the most vigorous. Lightly fertilize the remaining plant when
it’s 2 inches tall. The Early Girl tomato plant should start flowering in about
50 –60 days.
each group of seed with a quarter inch layer of sand mixed with compost. Water
the seeded areas by hand three or four times during the day while it’s hot. Reduce
watering to once a day when the seedlings emerge. Remove all other seedlings in
a group except the most vigorous. Lightly fertilize the remaining plant when
it’s 2 inches tall. The Early Girl tomato plant should start flowering in about
50 –60 days.
Pruning Back
When
cutting back existing tomatoes make sure they are healthy. Cut them back sometime
around early to mid-September when it’s no longer unbearably hot. Remove the
top one third of the plant by cutting just above aside shoot. Spray the plants
with a liquid fertilizer early in the morning. They should start producing
flowers and fruit in about 3 to 4 weeks.
cutting back existing tomatoes make sure they are healthy. Cut them back sometime
around early to mid-September when it’s no longer unbearably hot. Remove the
top one third of the plant by cutting just above aside shoot. Spray the plants
with a liquid fertilizer early in the morning. They should start producing
flowers and fruit in about 3 to 4 weeks.