Tomato cages which way up

They will, however, hold up for many years and allow for carefree growing. No tucking or tieing needed, aside from tucking into your wallet, that is. Farmers and advanced gardeners often train their tomatoes to a single vine to achieve maximum production rates. The support structures for type of cultivation can be costly in terms of money and time, but can pay off at harvest time.

In the system below, the plants are supported both vertically by the wooden stakes and horizontally by the twine connecting the stakes. Subscribe to our e-list to receive occasional updates about garden grants, recipes and home-grown how-to.

I do not see what I believe to be the best support method. Related Articles. Article Summary. Part 1. Use metal tomato cages if you don't have a lot of space in your garden. Metal cages are thin and flexible, so you can squeeze them into a smaller space.

This is especially helpful if your tomato plants are planted close together. Get tomato cages that are at least 5 feet 1. If you're growing a shorter tomato variety, like Santiam or Siberia, you can choose a shorter cage. Choose a cage between inches Get a cage with a larger diameter if you're growing a large variety of tomato.

Make your own tomato cages using concrete reinforcement wire. You can find some at your local hardware store. Make sure you can fit your hand through the openings in the wire so you're able to harvest the tomatoes. Cut 3 feet. Attach each end of the wire to a stake and stake the cage in the ground around one of your tomato plants. Get one cage for each tomato plant in the garden. Each tomato plant should have its own cage to grow in. Part 2. Place a cage directly over one of the tomato plants.

Whether the plant is potted or in the ground, you want it to be in the center of the cage. The walls of the cage should be close to the plant; it's normal if some of the plant's vines and leaves extend outside of the cage.

Push down on the cage so the stakes at the bottom go into the ground. Keep pushing down until all of the stakes are fully buried in the soil.

Check to see if the cage is sturdy. Put your hand on the cage and gently push and pull on it a little bit. If it feels like the wind could pull it out of the ground, attach a couple stakes to the bottom of the cage and pound them into the soil for extra support. Cage the rest of the tomato plants in the garden. Repeat the same process, making sure all of the cages are firmly staked in the ground. Part 3. Tie young, low-hanging vines on the plants to the tomato cages.

You can also use stakes or wire pins to anchor the cage to the ground. As the tomato plants grow, direct their branches and tie them to the cage to keep them in place.

Next, center the cage around your plant and firmly press it into the soil, if you have the type of cage with legs. Once the tomato plant begins to fill the tomato cage, you will need to direct the branches on which way to grow.

Then, as your plant gets bigger and bigger, you can tie the branches to the cage to keep them in place. It would be best if you had tomato cages ready to put with your tomatoes when you set them out.

By doing so, the roots will grow around the part you have stuck in the ground. As your tomato plant grows and begins to set fruit , the weight can drag the branches to the ground if unsupported. By putting a cage around your plant, you offer it support from wind, rain, and its weight. You can press into the ground most round tomato cages that have three legs. So, when placing your cages, be sure they are firmly set so that they can offer the most support to your plants.

For example, if you make your cages from four by four, wire fencing, or other material, be sure you stake the cages to the ground to keep them stable. Many disorders can occur in a growing tomato plant. For example, they can get blight , fungus, mildew , or insect infestations. A tomato cage will help you keep your plant off the ground, which will help keep it from getting too wet and dirty. When tying branches to the cage , you can use zip ties, soft pieces of cloth, or anything else you might have.

Tie the branches loosely and give them room to move and grow.