Tomatoes are one of the favorite crops of the summer, providing sweet fruits with an intense aroma, around the middle of the season and in the autumn months. As soon as the new plants planted in the spring start to grow, it is important to give them support to prevent them from falling to the ground. Tomato plants that are prevented from growing on the ground produce larger fruit, with less chance of being infested with insects and rotting on contact with the soil. Tomatoes also receive more sunlight when staked and are easier to harvest. Although methods of keeping tomato plants upright, such as using wire racks or wire cages, require less work, using stakes is a less expensive method that creates the best results. Learning to stake tomato plants will keep your plants thriving all season for a fresh, full tomato crop at harvest time.
Steps
Step 1. Get stakes, ties, and a hammer or mallet to stake the tomato plants
Step 2. Plan to insert the pegs into the ground, when you plant the tomatoes or shortly after, before they grow very tall
If you wait too long, you can damage the roots or stems when you stake the ground
Step 3. Choose a place about 7.5 to 15 cm away from each tomato plant
Step 4. Knock the pegs into the ground using a hammer or mallet
Plant them deep enough so that they are not wobbly or in danger of falling. Control them by moving them back and forth and beat them deeper into the ground if you don't feel safe
Step 5. Begin tying the tomato plants to the stakes as soon as the blooms begin to appear
Step 6. Tie the main stems to the pegs first
Wrap the ties around the tomato plants and pegs, and secure them tightly with a knot.
Step 7. Tie the branches as they grow, as well as the new branches to the main stems, using longer ties, so that there is an opportunity to wrap them around the branches and pegs
Step 8. Check your tomato plants daily to make sure you tie up new growths before they randomly develop or touch the ground
Advice
- Choose stakes 2, 4 to 2, 8 meters long for best results. This will allow for plenty of space to secure them firmly in the ground and to tie up new tomato plant growths.
- Placing the stakes on the north side of the plants will prevent them from getting in the way of the sun.
- You can use different binding materials. Twine, string, not too thick, or strings of fabric are fine.
- When learning how to stake tomato plants, remember to put the stakes in the ground before the plants get too big. This gives you room to work and not to damage the plants. Tying the plants to the pegs while they are still small also gives support to the main stem.
- Check tomato plants several times a week to check for new growth. This will give you a chance to tie up the new branches before they bend or touch the ground.
Warnings
- If you are using wooden stakes to stake tomato plants, do not use treated wood. This could, in fact, transfer chemicals into the soil.
- Don't tie tomato stems and branches too tightly to the pegs. Leave enough space for the plant to continue growing.
- Don't wait for tomato plants to drop to stake them. This will prevent the stems from growing crooked.
- Don't put the pegs too close to the plants. This does not give you enough space to work and can cause damage to the stems and roots of the plants.
