I've been giving my chilli plants a final feed to give them a last boost, but I'm careful not to overwater them. While they appreciate the nutrients, the changing weather and increased humidity can lead to damp issues. So, balance feeding with cautious watering to keep your plants healthy.

I've started picking off ripe chillies to encourage the remaining green ones to ripen. If I can’t use those chilli straight away, I’ve been bagging them up for the freezer. By removing the red chillies, you might find this encourages your plants (if you're lucky), tot even produce a few more flowers. Fast-to-fruit varieties (mostly annuum species), like the Vindaloo or the Cayenne 'Ring of Fire', can produce fruit right into October.

For those of you with late-season tomatoes, why not pick them off and use them in a last of the summer salad? If you have loads, like I had with my Tumbling Toms, I slow-roast them with garlic and olive oil. It takes a few hours to ensure they're properly cooked through, but the result is a delicious concentrate that you can bottle or freeze. It'll take your pasta dishes to the next level.

I've been making sure my plants are in the warmest, sunniest spots, and I'd suggest you do the same. In the greenhouse, I give premium positions to the plants that need it most. If your plants are on the patio, ensure they're in sheltered, sunny locations. At night, consider throwing a bit of horticultural fleece or bubble wrap over them to keep the cold and damp off.

Regular inspections have been essential for me. I remove damaged leaves and fallen foliage, and carefully prune broken branches. You should check your plants on a regular basis. Some of the more sprawling species like the baccatums can be fragile when they're laden with pods, so using stakes and ties to support them can make a big difference.

I've decluttered my greenhouse to create more space, prioritising the chilli plants I want to succeed (or have a chance of making it). I'd recommend ensuring there's plenty of ventilation around your key plants by opening the greenhouse door a bit in the morning and remembering to close it in the evening. Keep an eye out for mildew making an appearance.

By following these steps, it’s possible to max out the last of this summer sun and maximise the yield from our plants as the season changes. Good luck.