Most verities of tomato plants will grow tall and bushy when well taking care of. These plants will often become so heavily laden with fruit that they would bend over and grow on the ground if not supported by stakes (or tomato pant rings). A plant that grows on the ground would be much more susceptible to diseases, pests and mold/mildew, so keeping the plant off the ground is important.
First, it is important to note that there are two basic types of tomato plants, determinate and indeterminate. A determinate plant will only grow to a specific size, depending on the verity, and will produce most of its fruit in a short time span. Indeterminate plants will continue to grow and produce as long as the season allows them to, some growing more than 6’ tall. Both plants require staking, indeterminate just require a little more planning.
How to Stake a Tomato Plant
Once a tomato plant gets tall enough that is will start requiring a stake, push the stake into the ground, as close to the main stem of the plant as possible, about 1 foot deep. Using twice or garden ties make a loop around the stem, leaving a few inches to allow for growth, and tie the loop to the stake tightly. Put a loop every 12 inches on the stake.
The best material for staking tomato plants is bamboo. ½ inch or thicker bamboo rods are strong enough to support almost any plant and they are abundant and highly renewable. A good piece of bamboo should last 2-3 years and they are normally reasonably priced and can be found in any garden center.
Tomato Cages
In many garden centers tomato cages are easy to find. They are also very easy to use. The down side to tomato cages is they are normally not tall enough for indeterminate plants and they can be expensive at times. When growing indeterminate tomatoes, a cage that is coated in a plastic material will work very well and can last many years.
Alternative Staking Ideas
One popular alternative idea is to use the “Florida Weave” Using 1 large heavy duty stake at the beginning and end of a tomato row with smaller stakes in-between each plant, weave a strong twine or polypropylene rope weave around the plants and stakes. Here is a picture of how it would look:
