How to Support Your Tomatoes

5 Ways of Supporting Your Tomato Plants

Stake them. Use whatever stakes you have on hand – wooden stakes, bamboo, metal – just be sure that they're at least 4 feet high. ...
Fence them. ...
Cage them. ...
Cage them – maximum security edition! ...
Trellis them.

Is it better to stake or cage tomatoes?
How do you make support for tomato plants?
When should you support tomatoes?
What can I use instead of a tomato cage?
What is the best support for tomato plants?
When should I put cages on my tomato plants?
What happens if you don't stake tomatoes?
Do tomatoes need support to grow?
Do you tie tomatoes to cages?

Is it better to stake or cage tomatoes?

If you want to grow indeterminate tomatoes in containers, it is best to grow them near a trellis or fence that you can train them up, or use very large pots that will allow large cages. ... Dwarf (or patio) tomatoes never need staking, but they only grow two or three feet tall and produce small tomatoes (cherry size).

How do you make support for tomato plants?

Install wood or rebar stakes at least 6 feet-tall at planting time. As the plants grow, tie the stems loosely to the stakes with twine or strips of fabric.

When should you support tomatoes?

The most important thing is that you're keeping plants off the ground to avoid pests, diseases and rot. Put supports in your garden before or at the same time you plant tomatoes. Tomatoes will be easier to maintain, prune and harvest.

What can I use instead of a tomato cage?

Gardeners who use this method tend to have their own preference of tie-down material, but twine, fabric strips, reusable twist ties, plastic clips, and hook-and-loop fasteners are all sturdy options. By growing tomato plants on stakes, you'll be able to keep securing them as they grow.

What is the best support for tomato plants?

Tomato Cages are among our most popular tomato supports. Choose them if you have plenty of space and little time for pruning and tying vines. Tomato Ladders take up less space, so they're good for compact gardens. By adding height to the stackable ladders, you can still accommodate plants with long vines.

When should I put cages on my tomato plants?

After you first plant your tomato plants, you need to place a tomato cage around it. Setting the cage early will allow the tomato's roots to grow uninterrupted. Placing the cage in the soil when the plant has matured can damage the tomatoes, the roots and vines.

What happens if you don't stake tomatoes?

You'll likely never be able to pick tomatoes while standing up if you grow them on the ground. This may make harvesting take more effort. Some tomato plants may also grow more slowly if you don't stake them. ... Determinate ones are more bushy and plants normally don't vine around or grow forever.

Do tomatoes need support to grow?

In theory bush tomatoes do not need support, but left to their own devices plants can be weighed down onto the ground by heavy fruits, increasing the chances of slug damage, disease and fruit spoil. ... Plant the tomatoes in between the two rows of canes. Lift up the branches and drape them over the canes as they grow.

Do you tie tomatoes to cages?

The stem has to be tied to the stake every 10 or 12 inches to prevent it from breaking when it becomes heavy with fruit. In cages, the suckers are not a liability: as they grow, they fill out the cage, actually supporting the plant and shading the fruit from the sun (and from the birds).