Staking Tomatoes

Tomatoes that are staked offer many more benefits.

Three methods of staking are the cage method, the overhead wire and the individual stake.

The advantages realized from staked tomatoes, far out-weigh those plants that are allowed to sprawl on the ground. Staked tomatoes prevent fruits from touching the soil, which helps prevent fruit rot. Trellis tomato vines are easier to spray since they are more upright and ripe fruit may be harvested with less damage to the plant.

Staking methods to use…

Three methods of staking are the cage method, the overhead wire and the individual stake. The wire cage should be made of 6-inch mesh concrete reinforcing wire. The cage should be 24-inches in diameter and 5 to 6 feet tall. The round cage is set down over the young tomato plant and stakes driven in the to hold the cage down.

An overhead wire,

One end of a strong string is loosely tied around the base of the tomato plant and the other end to the wire. As the plant grows the twine is coiled around the stem.

Wooden stakes…

Wood stakes can be driven into the ground near the tomato plant and the plant tied to the stake as it grows. Be sure to leave some slack in the twine to prevent cutting the stem.

Some suckers should be removed if the overhead wire or stake method is used. Suckers develop at the base of each main tomato branch. Remove suckers before they get 3 inches long. Caged tomatoes can be grown without removing a sucker, however, if main branches spread too much outside the cage they can be pinched back.

For more information on staking tomatoes contact your local County Extension Office.