There is nothing more amazing than sauntering though my vegetable garden resplendent with an array of plants that seem to be reaching for the sky, laden with fruit and just beginning to show a summer blush. I think of those early moments when delicate seedlings were lovingly placed into the rich, aromatic earth. When I wondered if they would ever survive this exceedingly cool and wet Vermont summer. They obviously did!

Now as the few warm days of August yield to the oncoming Fall, I again need to take a closer look at those magnificent tomato and pepper plants that cannot withstand the possibility of frost which becomes ever more impending as the days slowly begin to shorten. I am dazzled with their growth but also know that now is the time to begin pinching off the flowers that cannot possibly transform into ripe fruit irrespective of the warmth that is now enveloping this region.

Yes, there is much to do with green tomatoes. Wonderful chutneys, pickling, etc. But, here in the north country, we get those green tomatoes whether we want them or not. The benefit of pinching at this stage of the season is to direct the plant's energy to that which is fully developed. To get those green tomatoes, large and heavy, ripe before the season's finale. If the flowers remain on the plant, this energy is diverted to the new fruit forming which have no chance of ripening during these last days of summer.

Peppers also benefit from this strategy. The set fruit grows larger and if you're really lucky, they too will slowly turn from green to red providing you with an outstanding yield of sweet red peppers.

We still need Mother Nature's cooperation. Hopefully she is also enjoying this warm end summer stretch and will keep that first frost at bay. In the meantime, pinch, pinch, pinch! Then fill your garden basket with those wonderful ripe tomatoes and peppers.