For Those in Regions That Experience Frost

Warm-weather crops like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants will gladly keep growing and flowering into the cool autumn months, though at a slower pace. The challenge is that none of these flowers will have a chance to set fruit and mature before the plants die back at first frost. I recommend topping your tomato plants about 4 weeks before your first expected frost date. This practice is quite simple and involves pruning or cutting away the growth tips of your tomato vines. This allows the vines to focus on ripening existing fruit rather than setting new fruit. A similar approach can be taken with cucumbers, melons, winter squash, and other vining crops.