Tomatoes grow best in warmer seasons and flower in spring and summer. They usually need firm support as they grow taller. Tomatoes are happy to grow every which way – right-side up, upside down, left and right. Therefore, there are multiple ways to ensure that they get adequate firm support for them to survive longer.
Here are a few easy ways to support your tomatoes.
Lay your tomato plants
When tomatoes grow taller than 100cm and begin to fruit, the weight of the fruit becomes heavy for the stem and the plant start to tilt and wilt and eventually die. To save your tomatoes from tilting and over-burdening the stem, ensure that the roots are strong. A surprising fact about tomatoes is their roots also grow from the side of the bottom of the stem. Therefore tilting your tomatoes to the side can assist the tomatoes have a sturdier grip as the bottom roots grow firmer and woody.
Staking tomatoes
Staking plants and trees is a time tested tool to support plants. Use whatever stakes you have on hand wooden stakes, bamboo or metal. This isn’t the easiest method because you need to keep tying the plant up over the course of the season, but it works and is cheap.
Plant tomatoes near the fence
If you already have a fence structure in your garden, you can use it for supporting tomatoes or other climbing and those that need support. Plant your tomatoes near the fence for maximum support.
Cage your tomatoes
The most effective cages to use for tomatoes are the square tomato towers. Tomato towers give tomatoes more space to breathe and grow with support around them.
Trellis your tomatoes
Trellis are a popular way to support climbing plants and plants. There are also a variety of trellis designs that can be created or bought to support your tomatoes.
Tomatoes thrive then they are supported they firm structures that allow them space to grow. Make sure you give your tomato plants enough support to survive many seasons by laying the on their side to grow extra rooting support, planting them near the fence, staking them or getting them a trellis.
ALSO SEE: How to get your own tomato seeds
Written by Thimna Matika for Garden&Home.
Feature image: Pexels
