Are your tomato plants sagging and wilting all of a sudden? Well, the problem may be that you’re not implementing the right support ideas to help your tomato plants.
In this article, I’ll be taking you through some of my favorite support structures for tomatoes that will keep the plants upright and loaded with sweet, vibrant fruit.
Let’s jump right into it, shall we?
Why Do Tomatoes Need Support?
Like many other fruits and vegetables, tomatoes grow tall and prefer vertical growth. Supporting your tomato plants using a trellis keeps fruit off the soil and away from harmful pests and fungal diseases.
If you have trees or other plants that grow taller than your tomato plants in the garden, sunlight and air may not be able to reach all parts of the plant. A trellis can help with that while making watering, pruning, and harvesting more manageable at the same time.
8 Easy Tomato Support Ideas To Increase Your Harvest
1: Tomato Cages (Simple & Reliable)
Tomato cages are, as the name suggests, for supporting tomato growth in particular. They work very well for bush (determinate) varieties and are super easy to use. Just place the cage over a young tomato plant and you’re good to go!
2: Single Stake + Tie Method
This is a timeless, classic method used by many old-school gardeners. It involves one stake per plant for support. If you notice your stems are loose and constantly tipping over, use soft ties to secure stems as the plant grows.
3: Florida Weave (Great For Rows)
The Florida weave method involves alternating twines between sturdy stakes and letting your tomato plants wrap and grow around them. This support structure is super cheap to make and efficient if you’re growing multiple plants.
4: Trellis Frame With String Or Netting
A trellis frame that’s made with string or netting won’t be as sturdy, but it’s perfect for tall, indeterminate tomatoes. You want to use vertical frames with twine, wire, or mesh for the best support.
5: Tomato Ladders Or Towers
Tomato towers or ladders are typically much stronger and taller than cages, making them an excellent support choice for heavy fruit. You can utilize this kind of trellis for raised beds or small-sized gardens.
6: Hanging Baskets Or Upside-Down Planters
Hanging baskets and upside-down planters are a creative solution for patios and balconies that may be on the more compact side. You don’t need any ground space for this, and gravity does all the work for you.
7: A-Frame Support
The A-frame is another common type of trellis that’s made using two wooden or metal panels connected at the top. They’re great for vertical growing and harvesting from both sides.
8: Cattle Panel Or Fencing Trellis
Cattle panels and fencing trellis both offer strong, reusable support made from livestock panels. These kinds of plant support structures are suitable for large gardens or heavy-producing tomato varieties.
Quick Tips For Supporting Tomatoes Successfully
Conclusion
The conclusion here is quite simple if you ask me: support your tomato plants and do it as early as possible! We already went over the fact that delaying trellis support isn’t the best idea, since your tomato plants can grow too big for it.
If you’re new to the tomato growing space and are confused about what steps to take next, it’s as straightforward as picking the right variety for your region’s climate conditions, supporting it early on to accommodate vertical growth, watering frequently, pruning when it’s required, and enjoying the fruit of your labor when the harvesting season comes around. Good luck!
Very helpful and too the point I got a lot from this thank you
Hi Brent! Thank you! 😊 So glad it was clear and helpful. Wishing you a season full of strong, fruit-loaded tomato plants! 🍅