How to Trellis Tomatoes

Tomato plants are categorized as either determinate or indeterminate. Determinate plants grow to a certain size and then expend energy on producing fruit. These types are described as compact, bushy or patio-sized. Depending on the variety, determinate tomatoes can benefit from caging, staking and trellising. Popular determinate tomato cultivars include 'Celebrity' and 'Better Bush.'

On the other hand, indeterminate varieties have a naturally vining habit and tend to produce fruit throughout the season. Heirloom varieites like 'Brandywine' are indeterminate. Other indeterminate favorites include 'Better Boy' and 'Goliath.' 'Super Sweet 100' is an indeterminate cherry tomato variety that produces fruit from summer until first frost.

Tip: Growth habit is noted on plant tags and online product information.

The best time to trellis your tomato plants is before they need it. For this reason, go ahead and set up your trellis system, tomato cages or stakes when you plant. When hot summer days arrive, tomato plants grow at a rapid pace and it's far easier to train a tomato vine through a trellis than make a trellis fit over a floppy vine.

Sometimes, though, the trellis doesn't make it to the garden at an ideal time. If this is your situation, start by pruning your tomato vines to fit on the trellis. Trim the "suckers" near the base. Eliminating these branches opens up the plant and allows for optimal air flow.

Tip: You can compost the clippings from your tomato plants. When you stick a long tomato stem in rich garden soil, the stem will root and produce a new plant.

Trellises come in a variety of shapes and sizes. For tomatoes, look for tomato cages or A-frames. Some gardeners make DIY tomato cages out of durable cattle panels.

In the Garden Center and online, look for garden stakes and twine to make your own trellis system. To save time, try jute trellis netting designed to support the growing plants and is sized for easy harvesting of the fruit.

Tip: When installing trellis stakes, insert them deeply into the soil near the plant's stem.

Next, use twine or plant ties to tie the stem to the trellis. Experts recommend using biodegradable fibers like sisal or jute.

Tie the plant in several places along the stake, being sure to leave open space at the base for airflow.

Tip: The goal is to make sure the tomato plant is supported and positioned for vertical growth.

Florida weave is an efficient method for trellising tomato plants. Also called basket weave, it's a commercial tomato growing technique that can be used in your home garden. Florida weave is inexpensive and adaptable to your garden's needs.

The Florida weave supports a growing tomato vine with strings of twine interwoven between stakes. The twine securely holds the plants in place and creates maximum airflow.

Like most trellising systems, it's best to set up the Florida weave when you plant. Experts recommend setting the stakes in place at the time of planting (or before) and adding rows of twine when plants are about a foot tall.

Florida Weave Trellising Technique Steps:

• Place stakes 4 to 6 feet apart, along the rows in your tomato garden bed. Suggested stakes: plastic garden stakes have grooves to hold the twine and come in a variety of lengths. You can also use wooden fencing stakes or metal fence posts.
• You can trellis between two or three stakes. Beginning about 8 inches above the ground, tie a weather-resistant twine like jute twine on the end stake.
• Run the twine along the row, pulling the line taut as you go. Loop the twine around the intermediate stake (if using). At the end stake, securely loop the twine and then weave back along the other side of the plants. Tie off at the starting stake.
• As plants grow, add a new row of twine every six to 10 inches. Tuck the new tomato branches and leaves securely between the two lines of string.
• The lines can sag as the plants grow in the season. Pull the lines taut to keep the plants upright.
• As your tomato plants grow, prune suckering stems at the base of the plant. This helps the plant focus energy on developing fruit.