Tomatoes are one of the most rewarding garden vegetables, yet their vining growth habit requires careful support to ensure a healthy harvest. Providing a structure to keep the plant’s foliage and developing fruit off the soil prevents ground-borne diseases and improves air circulation around the leaves. This vertical training allows the plant to focus energy on producing fruit, often leading to higher yields and cleaner produce. Several do-it-yourself methods exist for creating this support, ranging from simple stakes to complex trellis systems.
Constructing Traditional Single Stakes
The single-stake method works well for tomato varieties with a more contained growth habit. Suitable materials include sturdy options like metal T-posts, sections of concrete reinforcing bar (rebar), or wooden posts that are at least one inch square. Indeterminate varieties require stakes six to eight feet long, while shorter varieties may only need three- to four-foot stakes.
Sharpen one end of a wooden or PVC stake to drive it into the soil easily. Metal options like T-posts or rebar require a heavy hammer or post driver for installation. The stake must be driven deeply into the ground for stability and requires ongoing attention to ensure the stem is properly secured as the plant grows.
Building Wire Tomato Cages
Wire tomato cages built from concrete reinforcement mesh (remesh) are a robust and durable option. Remesh typically features a six-inch square grid pattern, which is ideal because the large openings allow easy access for harvesting and pruning. To construct a cage, cut a section of the mesh, usually five to six feet tall, to create a cylinder 20 to 24 inches in diameter.
Using heavy-duty wire cutters, bend the piece into a cylinder shape. Overlap the vertical ends by one grid square, bending the loose wire ends around the adjacent vertical wire to fasten the cage securely. For stability, snip off the bottom horizontal wire to create multiple sharp, vertical spikes that anchor the cage deep into the soil. These cages can be reused for many seasons and provide support without constant tying.
Creating Simple Trellis Systems
Trellis systems are ideal for supporting a large number of plants or maximizing the harvest from vigorously growing indeterminate varieties.
Panel and Netting Trellises
One common DIY method involves constructing a simple rectangular frame to support netting or a large panel. This setup requires driving two sturdy anchor posts, such as T-posts, at the ends of a row. Stretch a material like jute netting or a heavy cattle panel between the posts. The panel method uses large, rigid, welded-wire grids secured to the posts with wire or clips.
Florida Weave System
The “Florida weave” system is effective for supporting multiple plants in a row. This technique uses a series of vertical stakes driven along the tomato row, with a plant positioned between each stake. As the plants grow, strong twine is woven horizontally from one end post to the other, passing on opposite sides of the plants to create a supportive wall. New horizontal layers of twine are added every 8 to 12 inches as the plants gain height, sandwiching the stems between the parallel strands of string.
Essential Installation and Tying Techniques
Proper installation is necessary to ensure stability throughout the growing season.
Installation
The support should be driven deep into the soil, ideally 12 to 18 inches, especially if the structure is tall or the soil is loose. To prevent damage to the plant’s developing root system, the stake, cage, or trellis must be placed at the time of planting or shortly thereafter. Position the support approximately six to eight inches away from the plant’s base.
Tying Techniques
When using a single stake or a trellis, the tomato stem must be secured with a material that will not constrict the growing stalk. Soft ties, such as strips of cloth, old pantyhose, or elastic garden tape, are preferred over thin twine or wire. The figure-eight loop is the best method for tying: the material wraps around the stake, crosses over itself between the stake and the plant, and then loops around the stem. This technique prevents the stem from rubbing against the hard support, which can cause abrasion, and allows the stem room to thicken.