Ideas for Staking Tomatoes

Staking to Posts

• Posts are a simple, inexpensive and reusable method of staking tomato plants. The posts are raw cut and should not be less than 1 to 2 inches in width and 6 to 8 feet long. To protect the roots of the tomato, pound the post into the earth when you plant the young tomato. Insert the post up to a foot from the central stem of the tomato plant. Pound at least 1 foot of the post into the ground to give the post strength. As the plant grows, tie the upper central stem and the branches to the post.

Staking to Cages

• Tomato cages are another method of staking tomato plants. Tomato cages come in a variety of heights and widths. Most cages have multiple tiers of heavy gauge metal wire crossing vertical supports. But wooden cages are also available. The base of the cage is narrower and has four sharp points that go into the earth. After planting the young tomato plant, insert the four legs at the base of the cage around the newly planted tomato. As the plant grows, pull the branches through the large rectangles in the cage.

Overhead Staking

• When staking a row of tomatoes, consider staking them with string to a single overhead support. Drive two posts into the ground, one on either side of the row of tomato plants. Attach a long pole or post to the top of the other two posts. Tie one end of a string to the central stem of the tomato plant and tie the other end to the overhead post. As the tomato plants grow, tie string around each branch and attach the other end of the string to the overhead post.

Trellis Staking

• Another way to stake an entire row of tomato plants is to place a wooden or metal trellis behind the plants. Insert two or three wooden posts into the ground near the young tomato plants. Attach a wooden or metal trellis to the posts by inserting wire through the trellis and wrapping it around the post. As the tomato plants grow, tie the central stem and the branches to the trellis with twine.