Tomatoes are one of the most popular plants in home gardens, known for their delicious fruits and versatility in the kitchen. However, to get the best yield and ensure the health of your tomato plants, providing proper support is essential. This guide will explore various methods and structures for supporting both determinate and indeterminate tomato varieties.
Understanding Tomato Varieties: Determinate vs. Indeterminate
Before diving into the support methods, it’s important to understand the difference between determinate and indeterminate tomato varieties, as each has unique growth patterns and support needs.
- Determinate Tomatoes:
Also known as "bush" tomatoes, determinate varieties grow to a certain height, usually 3 to 4 feet, and then stop. They produce most of their fruit at once, making them ideal for canning and preserving. Due to their compact growth, they require less intensive support but can still benefit from being kept off the ground. - Indeterminate Tomatoes:
Indeterminate tomatoes continue to grow and produce fruit throughout the growing season, often reaching heights of 6 to 10 feet or more. These "vining" tomatoes need robust support to keep them upright and prevent the vines from sprawling on the ground, which can lead to disease and reduced fruit quality.
Support Structures for Determinate Tomatoes
Determinate tomatoes are relatively easier to manage, but supporting them helps to keep the fruit clean, reduce the risk of disease, and make harvesting easier. Here are some common support methods:
- Tomato Cages:
- Description: Tomato cages are cylindrical structures made of wire or metal. They provide all-around support, helping the plant to maintain its shape and keeping the branches from breaking under the weight of the fruit.
- How to Use: Place the cage around the plant when it is young. As the plant grows, it will naturally spread into the cage. Some gardeners prefer to anchor the cage with stakes to ensure it doesn’t tip over.
- Best For: Small to medium-sized determinate varieties.
- Stakes:
- Description: Stakes are long, sturdy poles made from wood, bamboo, or metal. They provide vertical support to help keep the main stem upright.
- How to Use: Drive the stake into the ground about 6-12 inches away from the plant. As the plant grows, use soft ties or garden twine to loosely tie the main stem to the stake at intervals.
- Best For: Determinate varieties that don’t grow too tall but still need support, such as ‘Roma’ tomatoes.
- Tomato Ladders:
- Description: Tomato ladders are A-frame or ladder-like structures made from wood or metal. They provide vertical support, similar to stakes but with more stability.
- How to Use: Place the ladder over the young plant. As it grows, guide the branches onto the rungs of the ladder. This method provides excellent support and helps to distribute the plant’s weight evenly.
- Best For: Compact determinate varieties.
Support Structures for Indeterminate Tomatoes
Indeterminate tomatoes require more substantial support due to their continuous growth and heavy fruiting. Here are some effective support methods:
- Trellises:
- Description: Trellises are flat, vertical structures made from wood, metal, or plastic. They provide a large surface area for indeterminate tomatoes to climb and spread.
- How to Use: Secure the trellis in the ground behind the plants. As the tomato plants grow, gently weave the stems through the trellis or tie them loosely with garden twine. Regular maintenance is required to train the plants to the trellis.
- Best For: Indeterminate varieties that grow tall and spread, such as ‘Beefsteak’ or ‘Cherokee Purple.’
- Florida Weave:
- Description: The Florida Weave is a staking and weaving technique used for supporting rows of indeterminate tomatoes. It involves placing stakes at intervals along a row and weaving twine between the plants.
- How to Use: Place stakes every 3-4 feet along the row. As the plants grow, weave twine around the stakes, crisscrossing between each plant. This method provides excellent support and is cost-effective for larger tomato gardens.
- Best For: Rows of indeterminate tomatoes, especially in larger gardens.
- Stake and String Method:
- Description: This method involves using a stake for each plant and running a string from the base of the plant to the top of the stake or a horizontal bar.
- How to Use: Secure a stake in the ground and tie a string to the base of the plant. Run the string up to the top of the stake or a horizontal bar and secure it. As the plant grows, wrap the main stem around the string. This method requires regular maintenance to ensure the plant stays on the string.
- Best For: Tall indeterminate varieties with strong central stems.
- Arbors and Overhead Trellises:
- Description: Arbors and overhead trellises allow indeterminate tomatoes to grow vertically and then spread horizontally, creating a canopy of vines and fruit.
- How to Use: Construct an arbor or overhead trellis and train the tomato vines to grow up and over the structure. This method can create a visually appealing garden feature and makes harvesting easy as the fruit hangs down.
- Best For: Large, sprawling indeterminate varieties in a spacious garden.
Here is a short video on growing tomatoes up strings for support
Additional Tips for Supporting Tomato Plants
- Pruning: Regular pruning of indeterminate tomatoes is essential to manage their growth and keep them within the support structure. Remove suckers (small shoots that grow in the leaf axils) to focus the plant’s energy on fruit production.
- Mulching: Mulch around the base of your tomato plants to help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and reduce soil-borne diseases that can splash onto the leaves during watering.
- Watering: Consistent watering is key to healthy tomato plants. Water at the base of the plants to avoid wetting the foliage, which can lead to disease.
Conclusion
Supporting your tomato plants is crucial to ensuring a healthy, productive garden. Whether you’re growing determinate or indeterminate varieties, choosing the right support structure will help you manage your plants, prevent disease, and maximize your harvest. From simple stakes and cages to elaborate trellises and arbors, there’s a support method for every type of tomato and garden space. By investing time in proper support, you’ll be rewarded with abundant, high-quality tomatoes throughout the growing season.