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Growing Tomatoes

How do you support your tomatoes?

8 years ago

I have been raising garden tomatoes all my life...mostly indeterminate. My dad was a huge believer in not staking them. He would just pile the straw under the plant and let them grow where they wanted. He was successful, but it was a real chore keeping it weeded not to mention it looked like a "hot mess."

I like a very clean and organized garden. Straight rows...dress right dress. I have staked them with tobacco sticks, cages and have used hog panel to tie them to. Last year was the first year I tried the Florida Weave. It was "OK" but not all that much better. I am using it again this year, I just put my fence posts closer together so they do not fall over when they get huge at the end of the growing season.

What is your favorite method? Pictures please...

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Comments (10)

daniel_nyc
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago

16 ft. wide, 12 ft. high. Tomatoes grew 15+ ft. high.
catherinet
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I used to just use wooden stakes and I would support the limbs to it with something like strips of torn sheets. But then about 20 years ago I discovered concrete reinforcing mesh and made cages out of them. I anchor each cage with a couple wooden stakes. I love this set-up. As the tomatoes grow, you can gently lift the branches to rest on one of the side wires of the cage. And the openings are something like 4"x4", so it's easy to reach in there to get the tomatoes. I also put straw at the bottom of each tomato, to keep the blight at bay. So my vote is for the concrete reinforcing wire. Yes, they rust, but who cares? :)
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Seysonn_ 8a-NC/HZ-7
8 years ago
I am doing a combination of staking and weaving.

In effect each bed is in a big rectangular cage. Then there is some weaving. The weaving cannot be seen b'c it is covered by the foliage.

Sey
qaguy
8 years ago
I use cages built from 3/4 inch PVC pipe. They're strong and reusable. Been doing this for over 20 years. You can make them any size you'd like. I limit mine to 6 feet because I'd need a ladder to pick fruit.

Here's a link on how to build them

PVC tomato cages
wormgirl_8a_WA
8 years ago
Brian, how did the cages work for you? A lot of people love the homemade CRW cages as described above, or the Texas Tomato Cages. I have seen some gardens that look very neat and orderly that way.
digdirt2
8 years ago
Here are links to just few of the previous discussions on this question all with several photos in them.

cage-alternatives-for-tomato-support-structure

tomato-spacing-and-caging

no-more-mr-cheapy-i-need-sturdy-tomato-cages-that-will-last

There are many more but these will get you started. Personally I use CRW cages.

Dave
daniel_nyc
8 years ago
I always used frames to support tomatoes.

If I was to use cages, I would use something sturdy.

This - by michael723 - is very solid built.
buckeye_brian2
Original Author
8 years ago
Everything I have used has worked. I am just looking for that one "fix" that is crazy good. I also do not want to spend tons of money or spend a lot of time building and taring down at the end of the season. I used 5' hog panels for years...and it worked well. Then last year I saw a video of the Florida weave on Youtube and tried that. It worked...but could have been better if I didn't have my fence posts so far apart. This year I only have 2-plants between posts.

These cages above are awesome...and I know they were expensive...
rgreen48
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I had a roll of CRW around the property for years so I made these cages...

And yes, good idea at the time was to plant beans up the north side as a trellis... note to self... unless a little shading is beneficial under the summer sun, not as good idea as I thought lol. The beans, although planted after, easily outgrew the maters.

So that they can be separated, if need be for storage, 3 panels, each 3 'squares' wide, tied together with tying wire (very easy to take apart and put back together.) The bottom horizontal is removed to create 'built-on' stakes.

keeps the bed tidy and fairly well contained (important when low on space.)

Peppers get half-height cages.
Seysonn_ 8a-NC/HZ-7
8 years ago
@gaguy,
I have seen your cage design before (last year ?)
I have couple of questions"

=== Ho much a 5-6 ft cage cost in material ? pipes + fittings + ?

=== Do they get brittle, after some time ?. I have heard the grey ones used as electrical conduits last longer (Ultraviolet tolerance)
Thanks
Sey

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