Tomatoes are sprawling, vining plants that produce a heavy crop of fruit. Because their stems are not structurally rigid, providing physical support is fundamental to successful cultivation. While allowing a tomato plant to sprawl across the ground is possible, it significantly increases the risk of damage and disease, ultimately reducing the usable yield.
The Necessity of Support
Support protects the plant and its fruit from multiple environmental hazards. A primary benefit is preventing the main stems and fruit-laden branches from breaking under the increasing weight of developing tomatoes. Without support, the plant is prone to structural failure, especially during strong winds or heavy rain, which can snap entire sections off the vine.
Keeping the plant elevated off the soil is also important for reducing crop loss due to rot and pests. Fruit resting on the ground becomes an easy target for slugs, snails, and other ground-dwelling insects, and the constant moisture contact encourages fruit rot. Elevating the foliage significantly improves air circulation around the plant canopy, reducing pressure from fungal diseases like late blight. Good airflow allows leaf surfaces to dry quickly, making it harder for fungal spores to germinate and spread.
Understanding Tomato Growth Habits
The specific type and scale of support needed are determined by the variety’s genetic growth habit. Tomato plants are categorized into two main types: determinate and indeterminate, based on how the plant terminates its growth and sets its fruit.
Determinate varieties are often called “bush” tomatoes because they grow to a genetically predetermined height, typically between two and four feet, and then stop. These plants set the majority of their fruit within a short window, resulting in a concentrated harvest. Determinate plants are more compact and self-supporting, though they still benefit from a modest structure to hold up the fruit load.
Indeterminate varieties are vining plants that continue to grow, flower, and set fruit continuously until the first hard frost. These vines can easily reach heights of six to twelve feet and require substantial, ongoing support throughout the season. This continuous growth pattern means indeterminate tomatoes offer a steady supply of fresh fruit over a long period, demanding a taller support system.
Choosing the Right Support Method
Selecting the appropriate support method must align with the plant’s growth habit to be effective.
Caging (Determinate)
Determinate varieties, which are shorter and bushier, are well-suited for traditional caging. Sturdy, heavy-duty cages, ideally 24 to 30 inches in diameter and at least five feet tall, provide a framework for the plant to lean on without extensive tying. These wider cages allow the plant to develop multiple stems while maintaining good light penetration and air circulation.
Staking (Determinate and Pruned Indeterminate)
Staking uses a single vertical support, such as a wooden or metal post, driven into the ground near the plant. This works well for smaller determinate varieties or for indeterminate plants aggressively pruned to a single main stem. The main stem must be loosely tied to the stake at regular intervals using soft material, like strips of cloth or specialized plant ties.
Trellising and Weaving (Indeterminate)
Indeterminate varieties quickly outgrow standard cages, making trellising or weaving methods more suitable. The “Florida weave” is a common trellising technique using sturdy stakes placed along a row of plants. Twine is woven horizontally between the stakes and plants as they grow taller, creating a continuous, flexible wall of support. Stakes used for indeterminate varieties should be six to eight feet tall, with a foot or more driven into the soil for stability against the considerable weight of a mature, fruit-laden vine.