GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post - What is the best way to support tomatoes?

chris French · 04-05-2011, 01:00 AM posted to uk.rec.gardening

In message ,
writes
chris French wrote:
I have used string for melons in the greenhouse, but the tomatoes I tend to
stick with canes. Is there any reason for using string over canes other
than it's a bit cheaper?
Commercially I've seen them lower the plants on the strings, lying down
the lower part of the plant as they grow to get a bigger harvest (I
think Sacha mentioned this)

Interesting. Does the lower part of the plant form roots on the ground?

Dunno. I guess it would though knowing tomato plants. It was a long time
ago I saw this. I don't think that was the point though, and the plants
I saw might have been growing through some sort of plastic sheet mulch
anyway. I think it's just to keep them growing longer and so producing
more trusses and tomatoes for longer.

Although I'm not sure with your* method how you could lie down the bottom
of the plant and then have it going up the string without damaging the stem
at the 'fold'. (* yes, I know it wasn't /your/ method as such)

It's a gradual lowering process, with the plant curving up, rather than
a bend
--
Chris French