The summer of 2025 has delivered the hottest conditions on record, resulting in an extraordinary bounty across the South of England, with tree branches reportedly sagging under the weight of ripening fruit.
At The Vyne in Hampshire, apples and grapes are ready weeks ahead of schedule, with gardener Emma Greenwood describing the yield as ‘absolutely extraordinary’ and volunteer Amanda Leeks calling it the ‘best ever bumper harvest’ she has seen in a decade.
Similarly, on the Isle of Wight, Mike King of the Stockbridge Nuttery is celebrating a record high-yielding year for his award-winning almonds, which, while later than last year, are superior in quality.
This seasonal success, however, brings a new focus to late-season garden care, particularly for tomatoes.
Expert Tracey advises that gardeners must now be bold with pruning shears, recommending that growers ‘top’ the plants by cutting the main stem one or two leaves above a cluster of developing tomatoes, to ensure the plant’s energy is focused entirely on fruit ripening.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) also stresses the importance of removing lower leaves to improve air circulation and allow more sunlight to reach the trusses.
This pruning not only aids ripening but also significantly reduces the risk of fungal diseases like blight, which thrives in damp, stagnant conditions.
Growers must be vigilant in pinching off erratic side shoots that the plant may continue to produce, and fruit must be picked as it ripens to maintain the plant's focus.
At The Vyne in Hampshire, apples and grapes are ready weeks ahead of schedule, with gardener Emma Greenwood describing the yield as ‘absolutely extraordinary’ and volunteer Amanda Leeks calling it the ‘best ever bumper harvest’ she has seen in a decade.
Similarly, on the Isle of Wight, Mike King of the Stockbridge Nuttery is celebrating a record high-yielding year for his award-winning almonds, which, while later than last year, are superior in quality.
This seasonal success, however, brings a new focus to late-season garden care, particularly for tomatoes.
Expert Tracey advises that gardeners must now be bold with pruning shears, recommending that growers ‘top’ the plants by cutting the main stem one or two leaves above a cluster of developing tomatoes, to ensure the plant’s energy is focused entirely on fruit ripening.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) also stresses the importance of removing lower leaves to improve air circulation and allow more sunlight to reach the trusses.
This pruning not only aids ripening but also significantly reduces the risk of fungal diseases like blight, which thrives in damp, stagnant conditions.
Growers must be vigilant in pinching off erratic side shoots that the plant may continue to produce, and fruit must be picked as it ripens to maintain the plant's focus.