Summer is officially here, which means tomatoes are in. Here’s some food for thought on how to manage and maintain your plants.
Advantages to Staking your Tomatoes
•Space. Staked tomatoes grow upright, rather than sprawled, which saves garden space.• Bigger fruit. Staking allows more light to blossoms and leaves. In addition, some gardeners prune staked plants. The plant invests the extra energy into the fruit.
• Earlier fruit. Staked tomatoes have more leaves open to the sun, which allows the plant to manufacture more energy sooner. Blossoms have energy they need to set fruit earlier.
• Healthier fruit. Staking keeps tomatoes off the ground. That makes it more difficult for pests to attack plants and keeps fruit from rotting as easily.
• Better air circulation. By staking, you allow air to move in and around branches, which keeps diseases from spreading.
• Accessibility. Staked tomatoes are easier to pick.
Disadvantages to staking tomatoes
• Time. Staking, tying, training, caging, and pruning are labor-intensive.
• Cost. Initially, stakes, cages, and ties are added expenses, although they can be used over and over each year.
• Mulch. Staked tomatoes grow upright. Exposed ground retains water best when mulched.
• Water. Staked tomatoes are erect and more vulnerable to wind, drying, and sun scald. They need more frequent watering.
Ways to stake tomatoes
• Tomato stakes: posts or poles inserted next to tomato plant to which branches are tied for support.
• Tomato cages: pre-made or formed wire mesh cylinders that encircle and support tomato plants.
• Tomato trellises: wires or rope dropped from a line between posts which provide support.
• Tomato spirals: heavy gauge steel wire that provides support through an upward twisted coil.
