Easy Tomato Stakes

Stake Materials

• Stakes come in a variety of materials, including wood, metal and bamboo. The length also varies, depending on the stake, so it's vital to choose a stake with a length that matches the eventual height of the tomato variety. Stakes of 6 feet or more work well for tall-growing indeterminate tomatoes, while shorter determinate varieties may only need a 4- to 5-foot stake. Use only sturdy stakes that won't break easily under the weight of the plant. Half-inch-diameter bamboo poles, 1-inch by 1-inch boards or metal concrete reinforcing rods (rebar) are inexpensive and sturdy options.

Installation

• Install the stakes before you plant the tomato seedlings in the garden bed. The stake may break or damage roots if you install it once the plants are actively growing. Wind can also blow over stakes if they aren't pushed far enough into the ground to anchor them securely. Push 10 to 12 inches of the stake into the soil. This effectively shortens your stake, so keep in mind that a 6-foot stake is really a 5-foot stake after installation. Place stakes approximately 6 inches behind the tomato plant so you don't have to bend the stem to reach the stake when tying the plant up.

Maintenance

• Although stakes are easy to install, keeping up with the system does require some time and effort. You must tie the main stem of the tomato plant to the stake as it grows. Use cloth plant ties, and tie them on loosely so the ties don't cut into the stem. Tie the stem to the stake once it produces its first flower cluster, placing the tie around the main stem just above the branch with the cluster. Continue to tie the plant as it grows, spacing ties approximately 8 inches apart along the main stem. Always place the ties above a flower cluster and not below; otherwise, all the fruit is stripped from the vine if the stem slips through the tie. Some pruning is necessary so the tomato plant will only develop one main stem.

Other Easy Staking Options

• Use three stakes per plant and garden twine to create an individual cage around the tomatoes. Space the stakes at an equal distance from each other and from the tomato plant. Wrap garden twine around the stakes, working from the bottom to the top, to form a cage. The tomato plant grows up between the stakes, and the twine helps support the fruiting branches. While this is an easy method to use, plants may not produce as well as staked tomatoes. Alternatively, install a stake at either end of a long row of tomato plants. String twine between the two stakes so a length of twine runs down both sides of the tomato row. Add more twine as the plants grow so the twine can hold the entire row of tomatoes upright.