What to Do with Tomato Plants at the End of the Season

As the end of the tomato growing season approaches, it's important to know how to properly care for your plants to prepare them for the winter. Proper care will not only help ensure a healthy plant in the following spring but also help prevent diseases and pests from overwintering. Here are some tasks to consider:

Harvest Remaining Tomatoes

If your plants have any remaining mature, green, or partially ripe fruit, pick them before the first frost. Mature fruit can be left on the vine until it's fully ripe, while green and partially ripe fruit can be ripened off the vine in a cool, dark location. Be sure to discard any spoiled fruit to prevent the spread of diseases.

Clean Up Plant Debris

After harvesting all of the tomatoes, remove any plant debris to prevent diseases, pests, and weed seeds from overwintering. Cut down the plants to ground level and dispose of the leaves, stems, and fruit debris. You can either compost the remaining plant material or dispose of it in the trash.

Soil Health

Tomatoes are considered heavy feeders, so ensure your soil is replenished with nutrients by adding organic matter, such as compost or well-rotted manure, before winter sets in. This will help boost soil health and prepare the soil for the following season.

Cover the Soil

Consider planting a winter cover crop or mulching with straw or leaves to help protect the soil and prevent erosion. A cover crop also helps to improve soil health by adding additional organic matter.

Protect Your Plants from Cold Temperatures

If you live in an area with harsh winters, you may want to consider removing the tomato plants and storing them in a cool, dry location to protect them from freezing. If you choose to leave the plants in the ground, protect them with a thick layer of mulch or a plant cover to insulate them from the cold.

Clean and Store Garden Tools

Finally, be sure to clean and store your garden tools properly. Don't forget to sharpen blades, oil moving parts, and disinfect any tools used on diseased plants. Proper storage will help protect your tools from rust and damage, ensuring that they are ready to use again in the following season.

Following these simple steps will help prepare your tomato plants for the winter months, ensuring a healthy start for the next growing season.