On Thu, 30 Dec 2010 10:44:04 -0500, Notat Home wrote:

EVP MAN wrote:

Since I'm cutting way back on my tomato plants this season, I think
I'll try a different method to support the plants. I use the green
steel fence posts that you buy at any hardware store 5' tall. All the
other years I used a single stake per plant which worked ok but constant
tying here and there is necessary and some branches still break due to
the weight of the fruit. Since I'll have an excess of fence posts this
season, I plan to put 3 stakes around each plant in the shape of a
triangle. I'll run parachute cord from stake to stake at several
different heights. It should work kind of like a tomato cage except
much stronger as each stake will be a foot or more into the ground and
the cross members will be of parachute cord and not wire. Each stake
forming the triangle, I'll place eight or nine inches from the plant.
By doing this, I think that I may be able to get as big a harvest even
though I'm setting out half the amount of plants. When using a single
stake, I would prune the plant in order to have one or two main stems.
I should now be able to allow at least four main stems per plant. I do
realize the size of the fruit may not be as large but the volume of
fruit should surpass the difference. Any opinions on this idea?

Rich from PA zone 5-6

I do something similar. I make a teepee fram from three stakes lashed
together at the top, so each helps support the others, and I don't have
to drive them into the ground as far. Then I use whatever I have to
lash the plants as they grow. Around here the commercial farmers don't
stake their tomatoes at all, but when I let one get too near the ground
the various bugs get into it.

Commercial growers spread about 6" of straw for their tomato plants to
vine on, keeps the fruits off the ground so they stay dry and prevents
back splash onto leaves during rains, less chance of mold. I've tried
that method but there's more bending required and the plants use a lot
more space than staking. I found quality cages work best.