Supporting My Growing Tomato Plants
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 tall bamboo stakes and strong netting is an easy way to support these plants in the garden bed.
At my Bedford, New York farm, I use eight foot tall bamboo stakes to support my growing tomato plants. Bamboo is attractive, easy to find, and can be reused year after year. This week, my outdoor grounds crew foreman, Chhiring Sherpa, worked hard to stake our fast growing tomato crops.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
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- Despite some uncomfortable hot and humid summer weather, the vegetables at my farm are thriving and the gardens are looking spectacular this season. This week, it was time to focus on the tomato plants and provide some much needed support to their growing vines.
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- Early in June, the season’s designated tomato beds are covered in black weed cloth to cut down on some of the laborious weeding in the garden. We planted our tomatoes in the back of the garden this year – always as part of our crop rotation practice.
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- Our tomato plants were started from seed over the winter and then transplanted in the ground as soon as daytime temperatures were consistently above 65-degrees Fahrenheit. Two-thirds of the plant should be underground, meaning all but the two top most leaf sets should be buried. Planting deeply helps the plant to develop more roots, and more roots mean more ability to take up water and nutrients. If the seedling is already too tall and wobbly, dig a trench instead of a hole and lay the plant on its side. The stronger root system also helps the plant better survive the hot weather. This applies to tomatoes planted in the ground, in a raised bed or in a container.
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- These are the tomato plants just four weeks ago, but with nutrient rich soil and all the warm days we’ve had, they’ve grown quickly. Tomatoes, Solanum lycopersicum, have long been one of America’s favorite garden vegetables. Those bold red, sun-ripened tomatoes deliver the taste of summer with every bite. And, they’re filled with excellent antioxidants and vitamins. We plant many, many tomatoes, but just a handful of healthy plants can produce a bounty of delicious fruits within eight weeks.
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- When they’re still small, we secure the plant with two to three foot tall metal supports. They can be tied gently with a twist-tie or twine – the loop around the plant stem should be just tight enough to keep the vine secure, but not break it.
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- Tomato leaves have serrated, or wavy and pointed, edging along the entire perimeter. Tomato leaves are compound with multiple leaflets growing along a common stem, called a rachis. These leaves are also slightly fuzzy to the touch, which is caused by the trichomes, or multi-cellular hairs, on the plant. When plants are more than two feet tall, they’re ready for taller stakes. 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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- Bamboo canes are easy to buy in bulk, and can be found in a variety of sizes. These canes are about eight to nine feet tall.
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- The first step is to pound the stakes into the ground. This twine provides a guide for pounding the other stakes into the ground, so all are the same height.
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- Chhiring places one eight-foot stake every couple of feet along the center of the tomato beds. He makes the holes about eight to 10-inches deep. The important thing is to place them deep enough, so they remain secure for the duration of the season.
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- Next, netting is drawn from one side to the other along each row.
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- We use netting from the old deer fencing that once surrounded the farm. I save everything I feel can be reused and because these structures are outdoors, it is important that they are strong and secure, so they could hold the weight of the plants and fruits, and any strong winds we may get during the growing season. This netting will be perfect.
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- Securing the tomato plants is a time consuming process, but very crucial to good plant growth and performance. Chhiring starts at the top and uses thin four-inch zip ties, or cable ties, to attach the netting to the bamboo stakes.
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- Fortunately, the netting has good-sized holes – they accommodate the zip ties perfectly.
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- Here, Chhiring is attaching another zip tie to the bottom. Most of the tomato plants are still low, but soon they will be guided to grow up the netted sides.
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- Remember, it’s the yellow flowers produced by tomato plants that must be fertilized before fruit can form. Once fertilized, the flowers develop into tomatoes – small green globes that become visible at the base of the blossoms and then eventually become mature fruits.
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- Here are some of the green fruits already growing on the vines. It’s a a good idea to grow a range of varieties, including at least one or two disease-resistant types, since, of all veggies, tomatoes tend to be the most susceptible to disease. There are several types of tomatoes available, including globe tomatoes used in processing, and for fresh eating. Beefsteak are large, often used for sandwiches. Oxheart tomatoes vary in size and are shaped like large strawberries. Plum tomatoes are usually oblong, and used in tomato sauces. Cherry tomatoes are small round, often sweet and eaten whole. Campari tomatoes are sweet and juicy and of small to medium size. Many of our tomatoes are from Johnny’s Selected Seeds – a source I’ve been using for many years for both seeds and supplies. Among our growing tomatoes this season – ‘Defiant.’
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- ‘Defiant’ was bred for earliness, disease resistance, and flavor. It produces mid-size, six to eight ounce globe-shaped fruits that are smooth and medium-firm with good texture. They are deep red on the outside and inside when ripe. (Photo from Johnny’s Selected Seeds)
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- It takes about 50 to 90 days for tomato varieties to reach maturity. Planting can also be staggered to produce early, mid and late season tomato harvests. This tomato is ‘Valley Girl’.
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- ‘Valley Girl’ is a productive and flavorful tomato that has been a top yielder in numerous areas. The fruits are medium-size, globe-shaped red fruits that ripen uniformly and are firm, smooth, and crack tolerant. (Photo from Johnny’s Selected Seeds)
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- Do you know… 93-percent of American gardeners grow tomatoes in their yards? And, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, most Americans eat between 22 and 24 pounds of tomatoes per person, per year – this includes tomatoes in sauces. this tomato variety is called ‘Ginfiz.’
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- ‘GinFiz’ is a new refined bicolor heirloom-type hybrid. It offers traditional heirloom character plus leaf mold resistance, reduced stem scarring, and tolerance to shoulder cracking. This tomato has a nice balance of sweetness and acidity. (Photo from Johnny’s Selected Seeds)
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- 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. 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 am looking forward to a wonderful harvest this season. How are your tomatoes doing this year?
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