What is the best type of trellis for tomatoes?

From our experience, the two most effective tomato trellising techniques are using sturdy, square cages and using twine weaved between plants . We use both techniques in our garden, but for different situations. Using cages to trellis tomatoes is a great technique for several different situations.

What is the best way to support tomatoes in the garden?

Just drive a 6-foot redwood or cedar 2×2, a length of sturdy bamboo, or a metal T-post about a foot into the ground and plant your tomato about 6 inches away from the stake.

How to make a homemade trellis?

6 Easy Steps to Build Your Own Trellis Step 1: Select your branches. Scout out branches in your yard that are about 2" thick. ... Step 2: Clean up branches. ... Step 3: Choose your metal wire. Step 4: Wrap branches together. Step 5: Position trellis. Step 6: Weave plants into place.

What are the techniques for tomato trellising?

Strong cedar or hardwood stakes, or metal T-posts, should be driven into the soil at the end of each row, and between every other plant. Start each row with a post, skip two plants, drive a post, and keep driving a post every two plants all the way down the row.

What is the best height for a tomato trellis?

To build the trellis, sink poles or 4-inch wooden posts into the ground about 10 feet apart. Be sure that they are deep enough and properly anchored to support the weight of all the tomatoes when laden with fruit. The tops of the posts should be 5 or 6 feet high .

How do you vertically trellis tomatoes?

Use a thin rope or twine to tie the stem to the trellis . We recommend using natural fibers that are biodegradable like sisal or jute. String the plant in multiple areas, leaving an inch or two of space in between. The goal is to make sure the tomato plant is propped upright and is in proper position to grow vertically.

How do you stake tomatoes cheaply?

Use the single-stake method in a small garden . As the plant grows, tie the main stem to the stake using strips of cloth (cut up an old t-shirt) or commercial tomato ties available at the garden center. Tie the tomato stem in a loose figure-8 with the stake in one loop and the stem in the other.

Do coffee grounds help tomatoes?

Compost for tomatoes – When mixed with leaves or sawdust, compost made with coffee grounds provide essential nutrients for tomatoes while combating fungal diseases . Incorporate compost into the soil or use as mulch around tomato plants.

How to stake tomatoes without cages?

You can pound a metal fence post or stake a few inches from the main stalk when you plant the tomato. As it grows, tie the main stalk to the post. You may have to support the stems and branches as they get heavy with fruit. You don't want them to break off.

How do farmers support tomato plants?

Many large-scale growers use the string-weave system . Sturdy metal stakes are pounded at the ends of the row. Wooden or metal stakes are placed between every other plant. Weather-resistant sisal or nylon twine is tied at the end stake.

Is it better to cage or trellis tomatoes?

Using a single pole or stake to support the main stem is the best way to keep these plants upright, maintain airflow, and allow for easy access when harvesting . A piece of rebar, a metal stake, or a strong pole will work as vertical support.

How tall should a trellis be for tomatoes?

To build the trellis, sink poles or 4-inch wooden posts into the ground about 10 feet apart. Be sure that they are deep enough and properly anchored to support the weight of all the tomatoes when laden with fruit. The tops of the posts should be 5 or 6 feet high .

8 DIY Tomato Trellis Ideas to Provide Support and Style in Your Garden (2024)

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Annie Burdick

Annie Burdick is a writer, editor, and gardener who has been covering a range of topics for publications like PEOPLE Magazine, Food & Wine, Apartment Therapy, and MyDomaine for the past several years.

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Updated on 06/01/23

Quick Tips for Growing Tomatoes on a Trellis

Indeterminate vs. determinate tomatoes: These are the two varieties of tomato plants. Determinate plants have a set maximum growing height and stay relatively small, making them suitable for a classic tomato cage. Indeterminate varieties continue to grow and produce fruit throughout the season, only stopping at the first frost. They can yield massive harvests and require more space in the form of a trellis system to support them as they grow (up to 12 feet).
Choosing tomato varieties: For small-space or container gardeners, smaller determinate varieties are a safe bet. If you have a large garden with plenty of room, you can ultimately get a much greater yield with indeterminate varieties.
Why pruning matters: If you're aiming to grow massive, long-fruiting indeterminate tomato plants, regular pruning is essential, ensuring greater harvests and less risk of disease to your plant. As your plant matures, prune lower leaves to allow the plant's energy to focus on producing fruit.

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See Also
How to Make the Best DIY Tomato Trellis (Stake Weave Hybrid)
Create a Wire Grid

Fairly simple and efficient to pull off, this method involves creating a sequence of grid trellises alongside each row of plants, allowing them to grow upwards.
- Space out two metal stakes and insert them deeply into the soil.
- Wrap wire horizontally and vertically between the stakes to create a grid structure that offers great support to your plants.
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Combine Poles and Twine

For this method, you can combine some more common hardware store supplies, like long narrow poles (in this case they're about 6 feet long), a connecting piece of wood, plus some compostable twine.
- Brace two poles together in an A-shape and attach with twine.
- Do the same on the opposite side, then add a support pole or wood beam across the center.
- From that center beam, hang lengths of twine and then clip your plants to the twine as they grow taller.
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Create an A-Frame With Bamboo Poles

This method uses a classic A-shape as well, but uses bamboo poles for support beams. These are also available at most hardware and gardening shops, and should come in multi-packs to make it even easier. You can still incorporate twine, as is done here, but can also add a lower level of poles for extra support at the base of the plants.
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Get Creative

If you're going to DIY a trellis, why not get creative? This gardener opted to build simple ladder-style structures to accompany tomato plants—and even added bold colors for vibrancy.
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Opt for Overhead Support

This gardener's DIY trellis combines similar supplies as others—wood planks, long metal stakes, and string or twine. They created a rectangular trellis around their tomato patch, with a larger, structured grid of wireframe overhead. Strings can be dropped and clipped to tomato plants, leading them upwards.
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Use Clips for Added Support

Tiny clips can secure your tomato plant to twine or string on your trellis, and this string will guide your tomato in growing higher and stronger. You can pick up a pack of 250 clips on Amazon for a massive tomato patch.
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Try PVC Pipes for Support

Another sturdy method combines metal stakes with simple PVC pipes.
- Place stakes at the ends and middle of your patch and top them with PVC pipe. This creates an overhead support beam which you can run your twine from.
- Then, clip tomatoes to the twine as they grow for continued support.
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DIY With Sticks and Plastic Cups

This ingenious gardener got inventive with items common items. Their support beams are long, gathered sticks, lashed together in a similar A-frame. Extra support for young plants comes within plastic cups placed over seedlings.

FAQ

Is it better to cage or trellis tomatoes?

If you're growing determinate varieties, cages work just fine. For larger gardens growing indeterminate tomatoes, cages won't be tall enough for the potential height of your plants, so a trellis system is best.
What is the best height for a tomato trellis?

Indeterminate tomatoes can grow 10-12 feet tall with the proper climate, care, and trellis. However, a trellis of 5-8 feet works well and still lets your tomatoes grow tall and strong.
Do tomatoes grow better with a trellis?

Yes, a trellis provides crucial support to tall, long-growing varieties. They also help keep leaves off the ground, preventing disease and providing crucial airflow throughout your plant.
What happens if you don't trellis tomatoes?

Without any support, most tomato plants will become too heavy, falling over sideways and reaching the ground, where their leaves will become food for bugs and pests. This means you might end up killing your plant, or at the very least, it will have a minimum growing and producing ability.

8 DIY Tomato Trellis Ideas to Provide Support and Style in Your Garden (2024)

Quick Tips for Growing Tomatoes on a Trellis

Create a Wire Grid

Combine Poles and Twine

Create an A-Frame With Bamboo Poles

Get Creative

Opt for Overhead Support

Use Clips for Added Support

Try PVC Pipes for Support

DIY With Sticks and Plastic Cups

FAQs

What is the best type of trellis for tomatoes? ›

Is it better to cage or trellis tomatoes? ›