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Three Effective Ways To Stake Your Tomatoes
by Eudora DeWynter
An effective way to prevent tomato plants from sprawling over the ground and
onto other garden vegetables is to stake them. When tomatoes are left to grow
without training, as they begin to mature they start to spread and sprawl over
everything, because the vines become too heavy from thee fruit. Climbing plants
such as tomatoes need to be trained; the best way to do this is by staking them
with a strong tomato stake that is made of wood, bamboo or heavy plastic.
Staking tomatoes is a tedious job, and is best done when you first plant your
transplants, being careful not to damage their tender young roots. It's better
to stake them then and look at a few barren stakes for a few weeks than to try
and stake a fully grown plant and run the risk of damage to the vines and fruit.
As you begin staking the choice of what you use depends largely on you and your
garden size.
If you choose wooden stakes (one of the most popular methods), choose stakes
that are at least 2 in. x 2in and 8 ft. long as they will need to be 24 to 30
inches into the ground for stability to give the plant the support that it will
eventually need. As they begin to grow and climb, tie them with string,
biodegradable is good because it can be composted into the soil come fall. Tie
the young plants secure but not so tight as to damage them, they will need to be
checked periodically during their growing period and then daily as they begin to
develop fruit, to make sure that the fruit isn't pulling the vines down. This
method of staking works well in any size garden, especially container gardens.
Another method if staking is far easier than putting wooden or plastic stakes
into the ground. Many people us tomato cages and allow their tomatoes to grow up
into the cage, however as easy and simple as this method may seem, tomato cages
very seldom give the plants the support that they need when they reach maturity
and start bearing fruit.
The last method that is becoming more and more popular is called stringing
tomatoes or trellis staking. This method allows the tomato plants to be trained
to grow and climb onto a string that is attached to an overhead crossbar or up a
trellis. The string must be good and tight with enough tension during the
growing period to support the plants fruit as it develops additional string can
always be added. This method is excellent if you have a small garden with a
limited amount of space. Staking tomatoes will nearly always give you a
successful tomato garden with a healthier and improved quality crop at harvest
time.
Eudora DeWynter offers tips on Three Effective Ways to Stake You Tomatoes on her
blog at http:www.gardentoolguru.com |
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