Tie up Tomatoes

Tomato plants that are staked up and tied will grow and produce better tomatoes that are easier to pick. Untied plants will grow along the ground, causing the plants to tangle and the tomatoes to rot, and can lead to disease. Keep in mind, there are over 25,000 different varieties of tomato, and the appropriate gardening method may depend on your variety of tomato plant.

Traditional Method

 * 1) Choose an appropriate stake. Some people use a narrow piece of wood, at least 6 feet (180 cm) tall for indeterminate varieties or 3 to 4 feet (90 to 120 cm) for determinate varieties, and at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) square, pointed on one end so that it will easily stick in the ground. Others prefer dowel rods, metal stakes or even plastic piping. Still others prefer to set up a trellis or wire mesh cages.[[Image:Tie up Tomatoes Step 1.jpg|center]]
 * 2) Insert the stake immediately after planting. It is best to insert the stake 3 to 6 (7.5 to 15 cm) north of the base.[[Image:Tie up Tomatoes Step 2.jpg|center]]
 * 3) Choose your ties. Cloth knit material, such as yarn or old panty hose legs, make very good ties. Cut or rip the material into strips that are about 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) wide.[[Image:Tie up Tomatoes Step 3.jpg|center]]
 * 4) Wait until the first flowers appear so that the main stem will be strong enough.[[Image:Tie up Tomatoes Step 4.jpg|center]]
 * 5) Carefully tie your plant.[[Image:Tie up Tomatoes Step 5.jpg|center]]
 * 6) * Begin by tying the tomato stalk loosely to the stake close to the ground. Do not pull the material too tightly, but be sure your knot is strong.
 * 7) * Place another tie about 3 to 4 inches (7.5 to 10 cm) up the stake. Because you must continue to tie the leader shoot (the main shoot of the plant) in this manner as it grows, the traditional method can be time consuming. You may need to add ties if your tomato vines become heavily loaded with tomatoes.
 * 8) * Remember, tomato plants break easily, so always treat them gently.

Modern Method

 * 1) Drive metal fence posts into the ground between the tomato plants, about 5 (150 cm) to 6 feet (180 cm) apart. Make sure they are stably fixed into the ground.[[Image:Tie up Tomatoes Step 6.jpg|center]]
 * 2) String several lines of heavy wire or twine between the fence posts above the plants. The first line of twine should be about 1 foot (30 cm) from the ground, and there should be about 1 foot (30 cm) between the layers, weaving between the plants.[[Image:Tie up Tomatoes Step 7.jpg|center]]
 * 3) Attach the tomato vines to the heavy wire or twine using cloth ties or plastic clips. Continue to tie the vines to the wire or twine as the tomato plants grow. Be very careful when handling the vines.[[Image:Tie up Tomatoes Step 8.jpg|center]]
 * 4) * Note: Sometimes ties and clips are unnecessary in the modern method, because the wire or twine is sufficient to keep the plants upright.
 * 5) Finished.[[Image:Tie up Tomatoes Intro.jpg|center]]

Tips

 * Avoid adding too many ties. You need to leave room for the tomatoes to develop and grow. The purpose is simply to get the plant up off the ground.
 * The traditional method may be better if you only have a few tomato plants, but you may choose the modern method if you find that continually tying your plants becomes too time consuming.
 * Consider switching from the traditional to modern method once your plants reach a certain height.
 * Determine your variety of tomato plant. Especially whether your plant is determinate, that is, produces fruit seasonally, or indeterminate, meaning it produces fruit year-round. Indeterminate plants generally need more attention.

Things You'll Need

 * Dowel rod or plastic or wooden stake
 * Trellis
 * Cloth strips or yarn
 * Plastic clips
 * Heavy wire or heavy twine
 * Metal posts

Related wikiHows

 * Make Tomato Plant Feed
 * Grow a Tomato Plant
 * Keep Tomatoes from Splitting
 * Grow Tomatoes in Central Mexico in the Winter Months

Sources and Citations

 * http://www.finegardening.com/how-to/articles/pruning-tomatoes.aspx
 * 
 * http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/new-tomato-trellising-and-training-system-video/