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Nothing ruins a tomato harvest quite like coming outside to find your beautiful plant sprawled on the ground, branches broken, fruit rotting in the dirt.
Tomato plants NEED support. They’re not designed to hold themselves up once they’re loaded with heavy fruit. Without support, you’ll get broken stems, ground rot, pest problems, and sad, sad tomatoes.
Let me show you how to stake tomatoes properly so they stay upright, healthy, and productive all season.
## Why Tomato Plants Need Support
1. Prevent broken stems
Fruit-laden branches are HEAVY. Without support, they snap.
2. Keep fruit off the ground
Ground contact = rot, pests, and disease.
3. Improve air circulation
Upright plants have better airflow, reducing fungal diseases.
4. Easier harvest
You can actually reach your tomatoes.
5. Space efficiency
Vertical growing uses less garden space.
6. Better sun exposure
Fruit gets more sun, ripens better.
## Support Options: Pros and Cons
### 1. Tomato Cages (The Popular Choice)
What they are: Wire cages that surround the plant.
Best for: Determinate tomatoes, compact varieties, beginners
Pros:
– Easy to use (just place over plant)
– No tying needed
– Support all sides of the plant
Cons:
– Cheap cages are flimsy and topple over
– Not tall enough for indeterminate varieties
– Can be hard to harvest fruit from inside the cage
– Quality cages are expensive
Recommended: If using cages, invest in heavy-duty ones (54-72 inches tall, thick wire). Cheap ones from big box stores are worthless for most tomatoes.
### 2. Stakes (The Classic)
What they are: Tall wooden or metal stakes driven into the ground next to the plant.
Best for: Indeterminate tomatoes, single-stem pruning, budget growers
Pros:
– Cheap (or free if you have wood)
– Very sturdy if done right
– Great airflow
– Easy fruit access
Cons:
– Requires regular tying as plant grows
– Plant must be pruned to 1-2 main stems
– More work than cages
Recommended: Use 6-8 foot stakes for indeterminate varieties. Drive them 12-18 inches deep for stability.
### 3. Trellises (The Space Saver)
What they are: Vertical panels or frames that plants grow up.
Best for: Row planting, indeterminate tomatoes, small spaces
Pros:
– Maximum vertical growth
– Great for rows of tomatoes
– Excellent airflow
– Easy harvest
Cons:
– Requires installation
– Initial time/cost investment
– Plants need tying/training
Recommended: Build a sturdy trellis from cattle panels, wood, or T-posts with wire.
### 4. Florida Weave / Basket Weave (The Pro Move)
What it is: A system using stakes and twine woven around a row of plants.
Best for: Multiple tomato plants in a row, determinate or indeterminate varieties
Pros:
– Supports entire rows with minimal materials
– Very cost-effective
– Good for multiple plants
– Adjustable as plants grow
Cons:
– Requires setup
– Must be adjusted as plants grow
– Best for row planting, not individual plants
Recommended: For serious tomato growers with multiple plants.
### 5. String Support (The Greenhouse Method)
What it is: Twine or string suspended from above, wrapped around the main stem as it grows.
Best for: Greenhouse growing, single-stem training, indeterminate varieties
Pros:
– Excellent support
– Clean, organized look
– Great for intensive growing
Cons:
– Requires overhead structure
– Must wrap/tie as plant grows
– Not practical for most home gardens
Recommended: Only if you have an overhead structure (greenhouse, pergola, etc.).
## How to Stake Tomatoes: Step-by-Step
### Method 1: Using Stakes
Step 1: Choose your stake
– Wood or bamboo: 6-8 feet tall, 1-2 inches diameter
– Metal stakes: 5-7 feet tall
– Rebar: 6 feet tall, 1/2 inch diameter
Step 2: Install at planting time
Drive the stake 12-18 inches deep, 3-4 inches from the plant stem (don’t damage roots).
Step 3: Tie the plant as it grows
– Use soft ties (cloth strips, garden velcro, pantyhose—not wire or string that cuts)
– Tie in figure-8 pattern: loop around stake, cross over, loop around stem
– Tie loosely—stems thicken as they grow
– Add new ties every 8-12 inches as plant grows
Step 4: Prune to 1-2 main stems
Remove suckers to keep plant manageable for single-stake support.
### Method 2: Using Cages
Step 1: Choose a sturdy cage
Minimum 4 feet tall for determinates, 5-6 feet for indeterminates. Wire should be heavy-gauge.
Step 2: Install at planting time
Place cage over plant when small. Don’t wait until it’s huge—you’ll damage branches trying to fit it over.
Step 3: Secure the cage
Drive stakes through the cage into the ground to prevent tipping, especially for tall cages.
Step 4: Minimal tying
Most growth will be supported by the cage, but you can tie wayward branches to the cage if needed.
Step 5: Let it grow
Determinates need little management. Indeterminates can be pruned or allowed to bush out within the cage.
### Method 3: Using a Trellis
Step 1: Build or install trellis
– Cattle panels (16 feet long, 50 inches tall) between T-posts are excellent
– Wood frames with wire or netting
– Install BEFORE planting
Step 2: Plant tomatoes at the base
Space 18-24 inches apart along the trellis.
Step 3: Train plants to climb
– Weave stems through openings as they grow
– Tie with soft ties if needed
– Prune to 1-2 main stems for best results
Step 4: Maintain
Weekly training/tying as plants grow.
### Method 4: Florida Weave
Step 1: Install stakes
Drive sturdy stakes every 4-5 feet along your row of tomatoes. Stakes should be 5-6 feet tall.
Step 2: Plant tomatoes
Space plants 18-24 inches apart between stakes.
Step 3: Add twine as plants grow
When plants are 12 inches tall, tie twine to end stake at that height. Weave it in front of first plant, behind second, in front of third, etc. to the end of the row. Loop around end stake and weave back on the opposite side.
Step 4: Repeat every 8-10 inches
As plants grow, add new rows of twine. Plants are “sandwiched” between twine on both sides.
Step 5: No tying needed
The twine holds plants upright without individual ties.
## When to Install Support
ALWAYS at planting time (or even before).
Why? Trying to install stakes or cages after plants are large risks damaging roots and breaking branches.
Exception: You can add additional support mid-season if your first attempt is failing.
## Common Staking Mistakes
Mistake #1: Waiting too long
Install support at planting time, not when the plant is already sprawling.
Mistake #2: Using flimsy materials
Cheap cages topple. Thin stakes snap. Invest in sturdy materials.
Mistake #3: Not driving stakes deep enough
Stakes need 12-18 inches underground for stability.
Mistake #4: Tying too tightly
Tight ties strangle stems as they grow. Use figure-8 ties and leave room for growth.
Mistake #5: Using materials that cut into stems
Wire, fishing line, and string can slice through stems. Use soft cloth, garden tape, or velcro ties.
Mistake #6: Not securing cages
Tall cages tip over in wind. Drive stakes through the cage into the ground.
Mistake #7: Not pruning staked plants
If you’re using single stakes, you MUST prune to 1-2 stems. Unpruned indeterminates will overwhelm a single stake.
## DIY Staking Ideas on a Budget
Free/cheap stakes:
– Fallen tree branches (strong, straight ones)
– Bamboo poles (often free from neighbors who have bamboo)
– Electrical conduit (cheap at hardware stores)
– Rebar (durable, lasts forever)
Free/cheap ties:
– Old t-shirts cut into strips
– Pantyhose
– Fabric scraps
– Twine (as long as you tie loosely and check regularly)
DIY cages:
– Concrete reinforcement wire (make your own sturdy cages)
– Cattle panels cut into sections
– PVC pipe frames with netting
## Staking Determinate vs. Indeterminate
Determinate tomatoes:
– Shorter cages work (3-4 feet)
– Often don’t need staking at all (but it helps)
– Minimal tying needed
Indeterminate tomatoes:
– Need tall stakes (6-8 feet) or tall cages (5-6 feet)
– Continuous tying/training required
– Pruning recommended to keep manageable
## Supporting Container Tomatoes
Containers add a challenge—stakes can’t go deep into the pot.
Solutions:
– Use cages and stake the cage to the pot or ground
– Use the weight of the pot itself (add heavy stones at the bottom)
– Tie stakes to railings or walls
– Use self-supporting tomato cages designed for pots
## How to Fix a Fallen Plant
It happens. Your plant fell over. Now what?
Step 1: Act fast
The sooner you address it, the better.
Step 2: Assess damage
– Broken stems: Prune them off cleanly
– Bent but not broken: Can often be saved
Step 3: Install proper support
Do it right this time!
Step 4: Gently lift and tie
Carefully lift the plant and secure it to the support.
Step 5: Water and wait
Give the plant time to recover. It’ll likely bounce back within a week or two.
## The Bottom Line
Staking tomatoes isn’t optional—it’s essential for healthy, productive plants.
Quick recommendations:
– Determinates: Use cages (sturdy ones!) or short stakes
– Indeterminates: Use tall stakes, strong cages, or trellises
– Rows of tomatoes: Florida weave or trellises
– Containers: Cages secured to pot/ground
Golden rules:
1. Install support at planting time
2. Use sturdy materials (don’t cheap out)
3. Tie loosely with soft materials
4. Drive stakes/posts deep for stability
5. Prune plants grown on single stakes
Your tomatoes will thank you with upright growth, healthy fruit, and easier harvests. Plus, you’ll avoid that sinking feeling of finding your plant sprawled on the ground at 8am before work.
Now go stake those tomatoes! 🍅
