Tomato Issues

scbusf 4/5/2010, 12:26 pm

Well, I think I may have made a mistake in choosing tomato plants. I have 4 squares (out of an 8 square box) allocated to tomatoes. I bought plants at a local garden center because I got a slow start and didn't get my seeds planted in time.

I got plants like Better Boy, and 3 others ... I don't recall all off the top of my head. Are these going to be too big for my 4 squares?

And what types of supports does everyone prefer? Cages, stakes, something else? The 4 squares are against my house (long story) and I don't want to build the support netting with metal that Mel talks about in the book.

Sherry

**donnainzone5** 4/5/2010, 12:34 pm

If you do not wish to build or purchase one (although you could paint the metal portion), you might want to consider the tomato supports at Gardener's Supply. They even come with optional height extenders! There's a choice of green or red.

Last year, some of my tomato plants were more than 7' tall, and I was glad I had that type of support structure for them.

boffer 4/5/2010, 12:55 pm

scbusf wrote:
I got plants like Better Boy, and 3 others ... I don't recall all off the top of my head. Are these going to be too big for my 4 squares?

Yes, they will be big, and yes, you will have room.

scbusf wrote:And what types of supports does everyone prefer? Cages, stakes, something else? The 4 squares are against my house (long story) and I don't want to build the support netting with metal that Mel talks about in the book.

As Donna suggested, some type of support is in order. One option that is seldom mentioned on the forum, that worked for me very nicely last year, is an old school wood lattice, purchased or made. I made mine from 1x2 size scraps. Vertical pieces about one foot apart, horizontal pieces about one foot apart. Come to think of it, it almost looks like a grid in a vertical position. I used garden ribbon/tape to support the vines as needed.

Jola 4/5/2010, 1:04 pm

I have been using stakes, or cages and stakes for years. You can buy those very long stakes made of steel covered with green plastic. They will last for years. If tomato plants became too long I just cut them. I cut my tomato plants severely, I must admit, but it have never diminished their productivity.

**timwardell** 4/5/2010, 3:22 pm

I've been using Ultomato cages for 2 seasons now and really like them.
I get them for under $70 each at my local Home Depot (see link below).
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xgg/R-100643901/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

They can be taken apart for easy storage at the end of the season.

Wyldflower 4/5/2010, 3:26 pm

ummmmm... I think you have a typo in the price... $70 for tomato cages??? LOL
(The link says $6.97)

scbusf 4/6/2010, 1:06 pm

Thanks everyone! I have bamboo stakes with the plants for now. I saw that the Ultomato ones can be added later if needed. So I think I will see how my stakes do and then figure something out later if I need to.

Sherry

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