Gardeners should act before the weekend, according to experts.
Health officials have advised Brits to wash their tomatoes (Image: Getty)
Scottish gardeners who grow their own tomatoes are being advised to act quickly before Saturday. According to experts, the expected drop in temperatures this weekend could spell disaster for your homegrown fruit and vegetables.
The number of green-fingered enthusiasts growing their own produce in the UK has grown in recent years. This is believed to be due to the cost-of-living crisis, a growing interest in health-conscious diets, and environmental concerns.
Tomatoes that are still developing or yet to ripen to red may be destroyed this weekend as heavy rain is set to batter the whole of the UK. The public is being urged to carry their umbrellas as wet and windy conditions are expected over the coming days.
Overnight temperatures on Saturday 13 September, are expected to drop below 12 to 15 degrees Celsius, which will negatively impact gardeners’ growth and production. Cold temperatures risk instantly destroying previously flourishing tomato plants, reports the Express.
One concerned gardener posted on Reddit: “So I have hundreds of unripe tomatoes still on plants (Paul Robeson, Black Beauty, Brandywine, many cherries, some Cornu Des Andes), and the forecast for tonight is a four-degree drop with a good chance of frost. Do I leave them or bring them in?”
A gardening expert responded, urging immediate action to bring the plants indoors. They advised: “If you can, bring them in. I overnight mine in shed with a tube heater so temperatures stay above 10C, if they’re fully matured to the right size but just need ripening, I uproot and hang the whole plant upside down in the shed.”
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Another suggested: “Pick 50-60 per cent of them now to ripen inside, see what happens to the rest of them. Maybe lucky some turn orange on the plant, bring them in and repeat, remaining green for chutney.”
Reporting its outlook for Friday, September 12 to Sunday, September 14, said: “Remaining changeable with sunny spells and blustery showers, these frequent and occasionally heavy with a risk of hail and thunder.”
In simpler words, gardeners are being encouraged to bring their tomato plants indoors to protect them from sudden temperature drops. Doing so will ensure successful growth without affecting production.
This simple step doesn’t require much time. It focuses on the health of plants as the weather becomes more unpredictable over the next couple of weeks.
If you want to keep your garden looking bright even when the weather is miserable, experts recently said that September is the perfect month to plant to ensure that your outdoor space springs back to life next year.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) suggests planting daffodils in early autumn, ideally in September, to give your garden a blast of yellow next spring.
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