Supporting the Growing Tomato Plants at the Farm
If you’ve ever grown a vining plant, you know how important it is to provide strong structures to which the vines can cling and climb. Using teepee-like cages in the vegetable garden is an easy way to support these plants, and to add eye-catching texture to the garden beds.
At my Bedford, New York farm, I like to use bamboo and jute twine to build the teepees that hold up the vines. Bamboo is attractive, easy to find, and can be reused year after year. Last week, my gardeners worked hard to set the stakes and secure the fast-growing climbers.
Enjoy these photos of our process.
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- When tomato plants are more than a couple feet tall, it’s time to replace the shorter bamboo stakes with taller ones. This photo was taken at the beginning of the month – these tomato plants grow so quickly.
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- Once it is time to replace the shorter stakes, we bring out the eight-foot bamboo poles. Bamboo canes are easy to buy in bulk and can be found in a variety of sizes. Never use chemically treated wood or other material for staking climbers, as the chemicals would likely run off and go into the soil.
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- Gavin buries each stake about eight to 10-inches deep around each tomato plant to make the teepee structure. The important thing is to place them deep enough, so they remain secure for the duration of the season. Gavin embeds each stake and angles each one slightly so it is directly above the middle of the plant.
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- Each of these tomato plants has three uprights creating teepee-like supports. Once the bamboo canes are secured in the soil, Gavin gathers them at the top and ties jute twine around all the stakes.
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- We use jute gardening twine for so many projects around the farm. This twine is strong, doesn’t slip easily, and is made from an all natural fiber.
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- Gavin wraps the twine around the bamboo several times and makes sure it is taut enough to support the teepee structure.
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- Tomato plants benefit from support, no matter what is used – tomato cages, stakes, or a myriad of other creative solutions. They make the fruits easier to harvest, keep fruits clean and help to prevent plant diseases.
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- Here is a closer look at the twine after it is secured. The twine is wrapped high up on the bamboo teepee to give the tomato plants room to climb.
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- All the teepees are done – they look quite artistic in the garden.
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- Next, Gavin gently ties twine around the bamboo uprights and anchors the taller stems – just tight enough to keep the vine secure, but not break it.
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- Securing the tomato plants is a time-consuming process, but very crucial to good plant growth and performance.
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- Gavin makes one loop around the plant stem and then around the bamboo.
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- To ensure canes don’t get tied too close together, Gavin twists the twine in a figure eight pattern before knotting.
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- We already have many, many growing tomatoes. I am looking forward to a wonderful harvest this season.
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- Next, Ryan gently ties twine around the bamboo teepee uprights to give the plants more direction as they grow.
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- Ryan also uses jute twine. He starts at the bottom and moves his way up, wrapping the twine securely as he goes.
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- The plants will grow through the center and cling to the stakes. If needed, Gavin and Ryan will gently tie more of the vines to the uprights as they develop.
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- Here, Ryan ties the twine tightly around the bamboo – tight enough to hold the weight of the vines when filled with fruits.
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- Ryan also uses this time to remove any suckers — those vigorous stems sprouting in-between a “V” of the stem and side branch. He removes the suckers beneath the first fruit cluster so they won’t slow the development of the fruit. It also keeps the plant open, allowing for good air circulation.
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- We have more than 140 tomato plants this year. These plants look so much better when kept upright and neat. The tomato plants have a lot of room to climb, keeping delicious fruits off the ground.
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- We’re always looking for the most efficient ways to grow our crops. Very soon, we will have many, many delicious tomatoes to enjoy – I can’t wait. How are your tomatoes doing this year? Share your comments below.
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