multiple varieties of tomatoes on trellis?

stevenfstein 11/24/2020, 11:26 am

Have been growing vegetables for a number of years but this year will try square foot. In the past I have set up a trellis and planted one single tomato plant for each one and just let it grow, weaving it between horizontal string for support. This year I plan on using vertical twine with tomato clips and just keeping the main stalk, pruning out the suckers. Couple of questions. Trellis will be 6 feet high and 4 feet wide. Will probably have three plants on each. Is that about right? How many strings would I need for each plant using the clips? Do you have different varieties on each? For instance, a yellow cherry growing up the same trellis as a red cherry. Anything I'm missing?

Much appreciated.... Steve

OhioGardener 11/24/2020, 1:10 pm

Steve, you can plant trellised tomatoes at one per square foot, so in a 4' long bed, you can have 4 plants. If you are training to a single stem, you only need one twine to tie them to. You may be surprised to find that they reach more than 6' tall, though. Mine almost always reach up ti 8', or more. It won't hurt to have multiple varieties next to each other - they are self-pollinating, and don't mind neighbors or a different type. I intermix cherry tomatoes with beefsteak tomatoes all through my beds.

Tomato clips such as the one's Johnny's sells are great because they lock on the twine and don't slide up or down, holding just where you put them:

https://www.johnnyseeds.com/tools-supplies/trellising-crop-supports/tomato-trellis-clips-100-count-9624.html?cgid=crop-supports#start=1

stevenfstein 11/24/2020, 3:42 pm

OhioGardener wrote:Steve, you can plant trellised tomatoes at one per square foot, so in a 4' long bed, you can have 4 plants. If you are training to a single stem, you only need one twine to tie them to. You may be surprised to find that they reach more than 6' tall, though. Mine almost always reach up ti 8', or more. It won't hurt to have multiple varieties next to each other - they are self-pollinating, and don't mind neighbors or a different type. I intermix cherry tomatoes with beefsteak tomatoes all through my beds.

Tomato clips such as the one's Johnny's sells are great because they lock on the twine and don't slide up or down, holding just where you put them:

https://www.johnnyseeds.com/tools-supplies/trellising-crop-supports/tomato-trellis-clips-100-count-9624.html?cgid=crop-supports#start=1

Much appreciated. I've been using something similar to this from Home Depot and it lasts two or three growing seasons. Never tried with just a single line. Think this is strong enough? I purchased some clips and they lock on very tight to what I have so not too worried about slipping down. Was going to run a horizontal line at the bottom of the trellis and attach the lines to that but I've seen videos of people tying to stakes and also just loosely wrapping around the plant. Your thoughts??
Steve

Everbilt 3/16 in. x 100 ft. Assorted Colors Polypropylene Diamond Braid Rope with Winder-70664 - The Home Depot

OhioGardener 11/24/2020, 5:17 pm

IMHO, that cord would be an overkill. All you need is a nylon or polypropylene string, not a rope. Place a pipe getween two 8' stakes, tie the string to the pipe every 12" to 18", drop the string to the ground, and at the ground wrap the string either use a large nail or the base of the tomato plant. As the plant grows, use a clip to attach it to the string. One of the main things to ensure, though, is that the 8's stakes are sufficiently supported so they can stand a strong wind storm and will not be blown over.

stevenfstein 11/24/2020, 5:23 pm

OhioGardener wrote:IMHO, that cord would be an overkill. All you need is a nylon or polypropylene string, not a rope. Place a pipe getween two 8' stakes, tie the string to the pipe every 12" to 18", drop the string to the ground, and at the ground wrap the string either use a large nail or the base of the tomato plant. As the plant grows, use a clip to attach it to the string. One of the main things to ensure, though, is that the 8's stakes are sufficiently supported so they can stand a strong wind storm and will not be blown over.

My plan is to sink two feet of 1/2" rebar into the ground and have two feet above. Will then have 3/4" EMT metal conduit slipped on top of that with cross piece on top. If this gets blown over than it's time to move :-)

Sponsored content

multiple varieties of tomatoes on trellis?

multiple varieties of tomatoes on trellis?

Re: multiple varieties of tomatoes on trellis?

Re: multiple varieties of tomatoes on trellis?

Re: multiple varieties of tomatoes on trellis?

Re: multiple varieties of tomatoes on trellis?

Re: multiple varieties of tomatoes on trellis?


	Hello Guest! Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum. There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.