As with many gardener , tomatoes are one of my favorite crops to grow each yr . One of the challenge for love apple growers is finding the right support system for each plant , as no single method is ideal for all tomatoes .
Why Bother With Tomato Supports?
Finding the right support is crucial because it keeps both leafage and fruit off the terra firma , helping prevent rot and potential disease or pest issues . to boot , these support system also protect your plants from wind , pelting and beast price .
Determine Your Tomato Type
Tomato cultivars descend into two growth categories : determinate and indeterminate . Often called bush tomato , determinate plants will reach a rigid top , usually around 3 to 4 foot , and bear their fruit over the course of study of short period of time — typically three or four weeks max . Indeterminate , or vining , varieties will retain to grow and blossom over the course of the entire grow time of year . If you ’re grow Lycopersicon esculentum from seed , the packets are commonly well - denounce to argue determinate or undetermined . When buying glasshouse starts , the short plastic ID cards typically are coded DET ( determinate ) or IND ( indeterminate ) .
Supporting Indeterminate Tomatoes
Indeterminate tomato need tidy sum of sustenance and want pruning and counseling to thrive . The best supports are recollective stakes and homemade tomato plant cages . Do not utilize the traditional telegram cone-shaped tomato cages , as they ’re extremely ill - suited for the height and condition of indeterminate plants .
The dependable coop are homemade cages made from a cut length of cement reinforcing mesh ( 4 ft wide with 4 - inch openings is upright ) . imprint the stuff into a sturdy round John Milton Cage Jr. that can be stake into your garden . There are also some newer commercial square cage that are decent contrive for undetermined cultivar made of heavy - duty telegram that will fold insipid when not in habit .
If you are interested in staking your tomato , the near material are piece of rebar or weighed down duty Grant Wood that are at least 6 feet tall .
Supporting Determinate Tomatoes
Bush tomato plant mixture require less support and less pruning to deal . While some bush smorgasbord could survive with no supports , it ’s still a good mind to protect your tomato investiture . Determinate varieties lean to work best in cages , but they can also be staked if you desire . These thick plants are the only varieties that should be put in the ubiquitous conic telegram tomatoes cage found in virtually every hardware store . While less pruning and support are dainty feature , the overall harvest size of it and flavor tend to be outshine by indeterminate Lycopersicon esculentum cultivar .
