staking tomatoes

little bee

Hi can anyone help I have potted on my toms into there big container a couple of weeks ago but dident put my stake in they have grown to around 2ft and now need help is it too late to put the stake in up against the main stem or will I damage the roots

BobTheGardener

Best not to risk damaging the roots by putting it next to the main stem.  You could slide the stake down the side of the container which would be less risky, or put up a horizontal support and tie lengths of soft twine to it, then wrap that around the stems.  As the plants grow taller, you just gently twirl the plant around the twine.  This sort of thing:

http://tonythegardener.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/winding-up-tomato-plants.html

 

little bee

Thanks bob thats just what I thought I have put a cane down the side of the pot but doesent seem very stable I cant use the string method as I grow them indoors but it looked impressive

BobTheGardener

What I've done before is put 3 canes around the outside of a pot and tied them together at the top, like the sort of wigwam used for runner beans, then tied loops of twine around all 3 canes at various heights which gave enough support for the trusses of tomatoes.  Would something like that work for you?

little bee

Hi bob I think I will go with your last idea that sounds sturdy I wont forget next year to put my stake in when I plant on a lesson well learned

Welshonion

The damage to the roots will be minimal if you put the stake in now. Better that than the plant falling down and getting damaged.

Steve 309

If it's growing fast I'd say it can probably stand a bit of root damage - if you have to.

ImpHosta

If you are growing them in the greenhouse and they are in their final position then loosely tying some twine round the bottom section of the tomato plant and "twisting" the string gently round the stem works - you then tie the string round one of the greenhouse metal sections and as the tomato plant grows you continue to gently twist the stem to grow round the string.

I've since bought the big metal 'twisty canes' (for want of a better description!) that do a very similar job but are a bit less fiddly! 

little bee

Thanks for all the useful info my toms are now staked in there own little tpee with twine round the edge at different levels they are coming on fine.

rosie28

My problem with growing tomatoes is knowing when to stop removing the side growths.  I have grown the plants in pots  (with wigwams) - but suspect that I let them get too big.  Do these things  matter, please?

little bee

Hi r28 I always take out the side shoots we tend to get more fruit that way this year when they have got up to the 6ft tpee we are going to nip out the top too good look with yours and heres to a healthy yeald