The Best Way to Support Indeterminate Tomato Plants
Tomato plants are categorized into two main groups, based on their growth patterns. Determinate tomato plants are self-topping, and don't continue repeated growth. Indeterminate tomato plants will grow and grow until such growth is thwarted due to factors like cold weather, disease, lack of water or fertilizer or insects. Each category of tomato plants requires its own methods of support. Indeterminate tomato plants may be staked, caged or trellised. Does this Spark an idea?
Staking Indeterminate Tomato Plants
When staking indeterminate tomato plants, get 5- to 6-foot tall stakes--one for each plant. The stakes should be about an inch square. According to the Mississippi State University Extension Service, chemically treated wooden stakes shouldn't be used. Other options include metal stakes and rebar.
Placing one stake about 4 inches from the base of either every plant or every other plant is a good starting point. The plants should be about 18 to 24 inches apart, and the stakes should be placed on the side that is opposite the first bloom. Otherwise the first tomatoes could become stuck between the stake and the plant itself, resulting in wasted produce.
Nylon cord is better for tying the plants to the stakes than twine, since the cord is softer and not as likely to damage the stalk. Tie the cord to the stake first, and the tie a gentle loop around the heavier branches; but not too close to a developing cluster of tomatoes. This could strangle the branch as the tomatoes become heavier. Pruning indeterminate tomato plants is required infrequently after the initial pruning when staking them.
Caging Indeterminate Tomato Plants
Caged tomatoes are often the easiest to maintain. There is no need to tie the plants when they are caged, and there is less pruning to do because the size of the cages allows for lots of ample growth.
Indeterminate tomatoes should be planted about 3 feet apart. The cages should be 5 feet high. They fit over the top of each plant and are easily anchored into the soil with the exposed wire ends. Pruning each plant to five or six main branches will help ensure healthy and hearty tomatoes.
Trellising Indeterminate Tomato Plants
Indeterminate tomato plants are the only ones that may be trellised. The plants should be set in the ground approximately 1 foot apart from each other, and pruned down to the main stem. Building the trellis is one option for tomato plants. Otherwise the trellises may be purchased at nurseries or farm supply stores.
To build a trellis, two support posts must be anchored into the ground, about 20 feet apart from one another. The support posts should stand about 5 feet above the ground once anchored. A length of barbed wire is stretched between the posts, and lengths of nylon cord are tied to the wire above each plant. The bottom of the piece of cord is then tied around the base of each plant. As each indeterminate tomato plant gains height and weight, they can be trained to grow upward by wrapping the branches around these pieces of cord.
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