In many parts of the country, tomato plants are getting to the size that they need some support of a stake or trellis. Keeping the fruit off the ground prevents the tomatoes from cracking, getting eaten by slugs, attacked by fungus or black mold and just makes for a neater plant appearance.
Doug Green, from his blog and web site (which I read on an almost daily basis), shows how to build a pyramid support out of bamboo stakes but I have used straight tree branches and 2x2 finished lumber also. Doug’s site has the most how-to, hands on, useful information of any garden site on the net. I highly recommend bookmarking it. Plus he is just a damn fine person and fellow rowdy at the Garden Writers conferences.
Hydroponics Dictionary
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Hello Doug,
If you have a moment can you please take a look at my web-site at http://www.veggiecage.com. On the left collum click on the video tag and look at the Tomato Ring in action. Please e-mail me back and let me know what you think. Myself and my partner Rob are a couple of inventors that came up with two tomato and plant support that we are trying to promote. I promise you that the Tomato Ring will be the last tomato support you will ever purchase.
Michel Paille
michel.paille@veggiecage.com
I wish I were Doug Green. He gets millions of hits on his web site. (And he is a good friend and great member of our rowdy posse at Garden Writers conferences) but I was summarizing a post on his site with a link to it. Go to Doug’s site ( http://www.douggreensgarden.com/ ) and you can see more.
I live in a rural forested area and use tree trimmings for my tomato stakes. I guess I am a cheapskate.