How to Stake Tomatoes

The traditional tomato plant (Solanum lycopersicum) is a naturally sprawling vine related to bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara), a viny weed. Tomatoes are not like the cucumber (Cucumis sativus), a true climber with tendrils that allow the plant to grab onto objects and scale them.

Traditional tomatoes sprawl across the ground unless you take the trouble to train them onto a supporting structure. Supporting tomatoes calls for stakes or a metal cage and fasteners. Read on to learn more about how to stake tomatoes, including the differences between staking "determinate" and "indeterminate" types of tomatoes.

Why Stake Tomatoes

Tomato vines look messy when allowed to run along the ground. But the reasons for providing support for them go way beyond aesthetics:

• Letting them grow along the ground invites diseases, and the fruits may rot if they lie on wet earth.
• Unstaked plants make the fruits more accessible to pests like groundhogs and insects that will eat them.
• A tomato plant growing vertically will be easier to care for. You will not have to worry about stepping on its vines to gain access to the fruit, and you will not have to bend over so far to prune the plant or inspect it for diseases and pests.
• Training tomato plants to grow vertically saves space in the garden.

One of the few downsides to training tomatoes to grow vertically is that the plants need more water. Tomato vines rambling along the ground put down roots that soak up additional water, which they will not get when suspended from a support. Make sure to water tomato plants regularly.

Caging vs. Staking Tomatoes

You can choose between caging or staking your tomato plants. Staking works well with limited space because it keeps the vines and fruit off the ground. Staked tomatoes are easier to pick from the vine and can be harvested sooner.

Caging is common, especially for shorter, determinate varieties. Whether wood or metal, these cages are durable and can last season after season. Be aware that cages may restrict airflow and light more than stakes, leading to pests and disease.

When deciding on cages vs. stakes, consider the number of tomatoes you'd like to grow in your space.

Types of Tomatoes to Stake

The first step in supporting tomatoes is to find out whether you are growing a determinate type or an indeterminate type. Read the label on the seed packet or tomato pot to find out if a particular variety is determinate or indeterminate.

Determinate Tomatoes

A determinate plant grows to a predetermined size and bears all its fruit during a period of about two weeks. Several modern hybrid tomato varieties are determinate. Not as much help is necessary to support the determinate kind, so a tomato cage or smaller stake would work. The vine will be a smaller one, something compact enough that it could be grown in a container on a patio. Additionally, because they stay more compact, you will not have to bother pruning out suckers. Stake determinate tomatoes when they're fairly young and have reached a height of about 12 inches.

Indeterminate Tomatoes

Supporting indeterminate tomato plants is more difficult because they get bigger and heavier. However, a traditional indeterminate tomato plant grows larger and produces more fruit. It will continue producing fruit with proper care until the first frost. While you can use a tomato cage to support an indeterminate plant, you will need a large one. A stake may be best to support the amount of fruit that will eventually be harvested. Wait to stake indeterminate tomatoes until they're between 10 and 12 inches tall to avoid damaging the roots. Do not wait until they're falling over or swaying downward.