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Tomato support

Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
in Fruit & veg

Growing up we had our tomatoes in various cages.  It seemed to work okay, but they are a pain to store and never lasted more than a few years.  In my own garden I've tried staking and home-made wire cages supported on canes.  As I grow mainly indeterminate cherry tomato types, neither has worked well.  They soon outgrow the cages out the sides, and last year the wind blew them all over while I was away on holiday and I couldn't get them upright as they had grown in that position for a few weeks.  

How do you support your outdoor tomatoes?  I need ideas for a new system.  Plants are in a raised bed, about three foot apart in two rows. 

Utah, USA.
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Posts

  • LoganLogan Posts: 2,532
    I use canes and tye them with string
  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,697

    I use canes and when the tomatoes look like toppling over, I construct buttresses with more canes. It can make the late summer veg patch look quite sculptural.

  • Waz200Waz200 Posts: 57
    I stand in front of mine clapping my hands and telling them they're the best and how amazing they are, doesn't do much but at least it's supporting them.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384

    Stout posts, horizontal wire and vertical string down to each plant for me.

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Katherine WKatherine W Posts: 410

    I used different support over the years depending from the situation.

    Isolated tomatoes=tripod of bamboo canes (one cane will invariably topple over). A tom on the sunniest side, and runner beans on the remaining poles.

    Many tomatoes in line=two stout chestnut poles at the ends, a tough string (or wire) pulled between the poles and canes tied to the string at suitable intervals.

    This year I used this system, but with the "spiral poles" they sell at the GC (there was an offer). These are practical because you don't need string to tie the plant to the pole, but at 1,80 m they are definitely a bit short... there is barely 1,50 m out of the soil... so I will have to tie another string further up between the chestnut poles to give the toms' tops a bit more height.

  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995

    Thanks for the suggestions.. sounds like canes are the best option.  Far easier to pick from than cages too.  

    Utah, USA.
  • chickychicky Posts: 10,409

    I use the vertical string method too - a la Beechgroveimage- have found it much easier than canes, and nothing ever collapses that way(have had a few cane disasters in my timeimage

  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995

    What do you attach the strings to at the bottom?  A cane laying down?  A string run horizontal along the bottom?

    Utah, USA.
  • chickychicky Posts: 10,409

    We have punched a hole in the rim of each pot, and tie the string to thatimage.  Although at Beechgrove I think they just bury the string under the roots of the plant.

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