August 12 Column: How to Get Big Tomato Harvests

We all love to grow and eat homegrown tomatoes, don’t we? If you live in a short-season climate like I do, it can be a challenge getting the majority of them to ripen before the fall frosts arrive. In this week’s column, I explain my strategies for getting maximum tomato harvests. Here’s a link to it in The Spokesman-Review: Well-timed pruning helps boost tomato harvest.

In it, I actually go back to when I first start my plants and the rationale behind that. Gone are the days when I start my tomatoes way too early! I also discuss their early care.

The really important part of my column is where I discuss my 3-step pruning regimen. The point of it is to eliminate flowers and tiny tomatoes so the plants will devote their energy on ripening the existing tomatoes.

And, of course, if you still end up with some green tomatoes, I explain what to do about them, too. I hope the information in my column will help you get wonderful tomato harvests.

This week’s “Everyone Can Grow a Garden” video is about the first pruning I do to start getting my tomatoes to ripen. There will be videos on the second and third prunings I do so stay tuned for them.