Tomato plants are anything but stable. Without support, the shoots crawl along the ground. To ensure that paradise apples thrive he althily and vitally, a climbing aid is essential. How to support tomatoes in beds, greenhouses and containers.
Which supports are suitable for tomato plants?
Bamboo sticks (min. 15 mm), spiral sticks made of plastic or metal (min. 20 mm), wooden sticks (e.g. made of larch or oak, 30 mm), trellises with plant boxes, trellis towers (tomato towers) are suitable for tomato plants up to 2 m) and converted flower obelisks as supports. Ropes can also be used, especially when space is limited in greenhouses.
The best supports for tomato plants
Bush tomatoes are the only variety that can do without climbing aids. All other tomato varieties require support so that the tendrils and fruits do not grow on the ground. The supports are installed in the bed and pot in such a way that the tomato plant winds around them. The following variants have become well established in hobby gardens:
- Bamboo stick, 15 millimeters minimum thickness,
- Spiral rod made of plastic or metal, at least 20 millimeters thick
- Wooden stick, preferably made of larch or oak with a thickness of 30 millimeters
- Trellis with integrated plant box
- Tank tower as a tomato tower up to 2 meters high
- Flower obelisk converted into a tomato support
Wooden tomato supports are the most cost-effective solution. However, they have the disadvantage that they have to be cleaned and disinfected regularly. Otherwise, the cunning late blight spores will use the natural material to cling to it and attack the plant.
How to turn ropes into tomato supports
Where there is a lack of space when growing tomatoes, simple ropes act as practical climbing aids. Experience has shown that the greenhouse is very crowded. Therefore, resourceful hobby gardeners stretch a sturdy wire 2 meters high between the roof struts. Ropes are tied to them at the planting distance from the tomatoes. Tie the other end under the first tomato leaves. Along the respective rope you guide the tendrils upwards as they grow.
The right binding material
Since tomato plants have no adhesive organs, they are tied to their supports. Specialist retailers have a large selection of suitable binding material (€14.00 on Amazon). Alternatively, use gauze bandages, old clothes cut into strips or old stockings to attach tomato shoots to trellises. It is important to note that the material chosen does not cut into the shoots.
Tips & Tricks
Use spiral rods as a support for tomatoes, pay attention to models with right-hand rotation. This orientation creates a stagnation of sap in the tomato plants, which promotes rapid ripening and increases the crop yield.
