Comprehensive Tomato Staking Diagrams
4 Major Reasons to Stake Tomatoes:
-Tomatoes that are staked ripen sooner than unstaked ones.
-Tomatoes that are staked produce less fruit, but the fruit that is produced is larger as a result.
-Tomatoes grow upward, and they need assistance in guiding their growth in this direction.
-Tomatoes that are staked have increased air circulation and less disease as a result.
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4 Steps to Staking Tomatoes:
Step 1: Staking
Plant the tomato plant in its desired location. Insert a 6-8' long, pointed stake into the ground parallel to the tomato plant. This stake should be 1-2" wide, and the stake should be placed 3" from the plant in a parallel position.
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Step 2: Tying
Using a sturdy, weather resistant tying material, the plant should be tied to the stake at intervals of 12-18".
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Step 3: Pruning
The plant should be kept to a single stem, and this goal can be accomplished by removing the lateral buds that could potentially become competing stems.
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Step 4: Pinching
As the plant reaches the top of its stake, the plant should be pinched to prevent it from growing past this point. This step will encourage faster ripening and larger sized fruit.
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Information Source:
Home How To Guide: Stake Tomato Plants: www.ivillage.com