Re: Tomato support systems

OhioGardener 6/24/2021, 9:01 pm

For several years I was using Texas Tomato Cages, which were pretty good, but last year a couple of them collapsed under the weight of the tomatoes when a strong storm popped up with nearly 70 mph winds.

This year I built some new tomato cages out of cattle panels which should hold up anything either the tomatoes or the weather throws at them. The cattle panels are 4 gauge Galvanized wire, which is very strong. I used the video below as a guideline for building them, but I used 8' of the panel length instead of the 6' recommended in the video. With those 8' panels, they have 16" in the soil to support them, and 80" (6.7') height above ground.

has55 6/24/2021, 10:57 pm

I have used both the cattle panel method and the concrete mesh method. I found I needed to support them with a rod iron or wooden stake approx 2 1/2 feet long for support against the wind. With the added support they were no problem and was tall enough for their growth like you commented, but I still had to cut them out at the end of the season. Actually that why I borrow the hanging system idea from mettilider and the commercial growers. This way I just cut the string or unravel it and it just slides out. I'm still lazy. Very Happy

**sanderson** 6/26/2021, 2:22 pm

I use the overhead support system and also nylon mesh attached to frames for tomatoes in the beds.

Here is a photo of in-ground tomatoes supported with stretchy green garden tape tied to 5 1/2' tall EMT frames. I use cages for support at the beginning and, when I have selected the stem and suckers to remain, attach the reusable tape.

For tomatoes in the beds, a simple tall 1/2" PVC frame to tie the tape to, or nylon trellis mesh to tie the stems to.

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