Garden Help > Vegetables > Tomatoes
This is a summary of what we learned from our 2001 tomato project in regards to tomato staking methods. We grew just over a hundred varieties of mostly heirloom tomatoes at the now closed University of California Bay Area Research and Extension Center facility in the City of Santa Clara.
Wire Mesh Cages
This method is composed of a series of reinforced cement wire mesh cylinders of graduated diameters. Cylinders vary by 6 inches in circumference to enable three or more cages to be nested one inside another for efficient storage purposes. Sizes range from 5–7-foot tall with mesh openings of 6-inch square. Cages are held together by bending over cut ends or tying with wire. Each cage can be anchored at its base by either a 4-foot length of 1-inch x 2-inch wooden stake, metal rod, T-stake, rebar including by cutting the cage’s horizontal wires and pushing remaining vertical wires into ground.
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Cement Reinforcing Mesh Trellis with EMT Electrical Conduit
The materials for this method feature a very strong wire mesh used to reinforce cement. Cut lengths of “EMT” electrical conduit to support this. In order to demonstrate the ability to build trellis structures appropriate to several heights of vine growths, a stairstep arrangement of three 10-foot wide 5-foot, 6-foot, and 7-foot tall sections was constructed prior to planting. These sections were butted end-to-end in a straight line down the middle of a 30-foot row of seedlings.
Each section consisted of the following: a single horizontal 10-foot conduit piece supported by two vertical pieces long enough to be driven 18–24 inches into the ground while still maintaining the requisite 5, 6, or 7-foot above-ground height. The horizontal bar of each section was attached to the two vertical supports with two 18-inch lengths of conduit, bent at right angles using a conduit bender, and inserted into openings of the ends of the three conduit pieces to be joined.
Lastly, a single piece of the concrete reinforcing mesh was cut so as to fit the 30-foot long, stairstepped conduit framework but extending 6” above each of the 5, 6, and 7-foot tall sections. The mesh piece was modified at the shortest 5-foot end by removing a 1-foot by 10-foot section at ground level to facilitate access to the bottoms of the vines. It was attached to pieces to be joined. It was attached to the framework using heavy metal wire clips on the crossbars and a lighter wire on the vertical supports. Flatten bottom of vertical posts prior to installation.
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Recommendation:
- Install trellis structure prior to planting
Electrical Conduit and Vertical String Method
Similar set up to Cement Reinforcing Mesh with EMT Electrical Conduit Method; however substituting twine for wire mesh. Cut lengths of natural fiber twine (heavy gauge) and tie a Bowline knot at bottom of main young tomato stems when plants begin to sprawl. Twirl the twine around the stems to top of plants in approximately 3 cycles. Tie the excess twine to the horizontal conduit using a clove hitch with a slipknot so it can easily be untied in order to gather more of the plant stems as they grow.
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- Install trellis structure prior to planting
Post and Twine Method
This method features 8-foot long, 2-inch diameter post driven into the ground at 10-foot intervals and connected by several horizontally strung rows of natural fiber twine (heavy gauge). A key feature of this method is to “sandwich” the tomato plant between a double-wrap of the twine around each pair of posts. That is, begin and end the first run of the twine on the same side of each post and each plant to be supported. Then string the twine on the opposite side after rounding the second post. The first row of twine is strung about 12-inches above the ground and then continued no more than 10-inch increments as the plant grows.
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- Place posts at 4–6 foot intervals with no more than two plants between posts. This will reduce the stress on the twine from heavy stem and foliage growth.
- Use heavy nylon twine instead of natural jute
Commercial Round Generic Tomato Cage
Lightweight metal, 3-foot tall round cages, with protruding legs that are pushed into the ground.
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- Use for “determinate” varieties of tomatoes and/or pepper plants or eggplants
Texas Giant Tomato Cages
Round galvanized commercial cages which measure 5 feet in height with a 2-foot diameter and mesh openings which measure 8 inches x 16 inches.
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Square Commercial Tomato Cages
Similar to Round Commercial Tomato Cages but store flat.
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Metal Spiral Rod
Uses a 5-foot tall galvanized metal spiral rod which stems are wound around and up. Plants must be pruned to single stems for optimum effectiveness.
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Square Wooden Cage
This method features four wooden 2-inch x 2-inch, 8-foot tall stakes arranged at 4 corners of a square pattern. Twenty-eight mutually orthogonal holes are drilled at 6-inch intervals beginning at 12 inches from the ground. Thin rods (such as bamboo or dowels) are inserted into the holes between adjacent posts such that alternating parallel sides of the “square” have two parallel rods every 6 inches along their height. For robust plants, space posts at least 2 1/2 feet apart.
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- Install trellis structure prior to planting
Traditional One Stake Method
This method features a stake 6–8 foot tall, which is used to tie tomato stems to. Requires pruning out all but about three main stems.
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- Install trellis structure prior to planting
- Keep tomato plant pruned to 1–3 stems
V-Shaped Stand
This 4-foot above ground stand is a heavy gauge wire, prefabricated commercial tomato stand that is in a shape of an open V. Plants grow up into this open V-shape space. Mesh openings in stand allow the tomato vines to snake through.
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Recommendations:
- Install trellis structure prior to planting
- Use for varieties that are heavily pruned
Originally written by Sue Evanicky with Nancy Garrison