Stake Tomato Plants
Tomatoes are a favorite crop of summertime, offering sweet, tangy fruit around the middle of the season and into the autumn months. As new plants that are put into the ground in the spring begin to grow, it is important to give them support to keep them from falling over onto the ground. Tomato plants that are kept from growing on the ground by being staked produce larger fruit with less chance of bug infestation and rot caused by contact with the ground. The tomatoes also get more sunlight when staked upright, and are easier to harvest. Though methods of keeping tomato plants upright such as using trellises or wire cages require less work, using stakes is a less expensive method that creates the best results. Learning how to stake tomato plants will keep your plants thriving throughout the season for a crop of fresh, ripe tomatoes come harvest time.
Steps
- Gather stakes, ties and a hammer or mallet to stake tomato plants.
- Plan to insert the stakes into the ground either when you plant your tomatoes or shortly after, before they get very tall.
- If you wait too long, you can damage the roots or stalks when you put the stakes in the ground.
- Pick a spot about 3 to 6 inches (7.62 to 15.24 cm) away from each tomato plant.
- Pound your stakes into the ground using a hammer or mallet.
- Put them deep enough so that they are not wobbly or in danger of falling over. Check them by moving them back and forth and pound them deeper into the ground if they do not feel secure.
- Start tying your tomato plants to the stakes as soon as blooms begin to appear.
- Tie the main stalks to the stakes first. Wrap the ties around the tomato plants and the stake loosely, and secure it firmly with a knot.
- Tie branches as they grow, as well as new growth on the main stalks, using longer ties so there is enough room to wrap them around the branches and the stakes.
- Check your tomato plants each day to be sure to tie new growth before they get unruly or touch the ground.
Tips
- Check your staked tomato plants several times a week to watch for new growth. This will give you the chance to tie up new branches before they droop or touch the ground.
- Placing tomato stakes on the north side of the plants will keep the stakes from blocking the sun.
- You can use a variety of material for the ties. String, rope that isn't too thick or strips of fabric all work well.
- Choose stakes that are at least 7 to 8 feet (2.4 to 2.8 meters) long for best results. This will allow plenty of room to be securely in the ground as well as space to tie off the new growth of the tomato plants.
- When learning how to stake tomato plants, remember to put the stakes into the ground before the plants get too big. This gives you room to work and won't damage the plants. Tying the plants to the stakes while they are still small also gives support to the main stalk.
Warnings
- If you are using wooden stakes to stake tomato plants, do not use treated wood. This can result in chemicals being transferred into the ground.
- Do not wait until your tomato plants fall over to stake them. This can result in the stalks becoming crooked.
- Do not tie tomato stalks and branches too tightly to the stakes. Leave room for the plant to continue to grow.
- Do not place the tomato stakes closely against the plants. This will not give you enough room to work on staking your tomato plants and can cause damage to the stalks and roots of the plants.
Things You'll Need
- Tomato plants
- Stakes made of wood or metal
- Ties (rope, string or fabric strips)
- Hammer or mallet
