Do you tie/support your tomato clusters?

lakelady · July 11, 2012

I have never had this problem before really. This year I have many plants with clusters of tomatoes that are breaking the vine/stem they are on. One is pulling the branch right off the stem! I guess there are some pretty heavy tomatoes growing there and I was wondering if it is typical for folks to tie their clusters up somehow to the stem, or stakes? With the cages it seems pretty simple, I can tie them right up to the closest opening. The stakes are another story.

Big Zac is the one literally pulling off the stem as it has 5 tomatoes on it that are getting a bit large. Sandul Moldovan is another that comes to mind, but there are more.

I just hope this doesn't mean a delay in ripening because they are not getting the full amount of nutrients they need. Or cause the dreaded BER.

TightenUp · July 11, 2012

i tied up a cluster just cause it looked like if i left it alone it would break. i think 5 but maybe 6 tomatoes all over 8 ounces. at another location so cant get a photo right now

sprtsguy76 · July 11, 2012

I tie or zip tie lots of stuff. It all depends on what I have handy. But yes generally speaking there is usually something to tie up on any given indeterminate plant at some point.

Damon

lakelady · July 11, 2012

Well, I never really grew great tomatoes in the past, so I'm actually thrilled that this is a "problem"

. I just never thought of doing it before because there was no need. Now there IS a need or I'll damage the fruits/plants. I'll figure out something, my son just threw out a bunch of old tshirts so they'd be nice and soft for the tomatoes !

July 12, 2012

I've never experienced the problem before, but I had a number of trusses with multiple large tomatoes break and drop to the ground this year. In most cases the tomatoes were still green and would have grown larger. I don't intend trying to support them in the future because the act of supporting one truss can cause a different truss to break. They never seem to be close to the outside of the plant where they are easy to tie up.

Ted

FILMNET · July 12, 2012

2 clusters from years ago

FILMNET · July 12, 2012

This is why i grow only 18 different plants i did see a garden a few days ago with 12 same plants, all needed to be tied up. They had a large stick in the middle but the plants were not tied up and it was so tight i could not see inside the plant. Well this is how learned from old gardener friends, 1 stem if you can, tied tight to stick, clear bottom leaves off and keep plant open for sun. I will cut a branch in 1/2 or all off if it has no fruit, or has heavy leaves blocking sun to fruits.

amideutch · July 12, 2012

Here are some tomato truss supports that are commercially available. Ami

http://hydro-gardens.com/growsup1.htm

**carolyn137** · July 12, 2012

Most of the many plants I've grown have been grown by sprawling, in which case no support for tomato trusses is ever needed.

And I've also grown some varieties by caging and have never had to support any trusses, ever. Never had any branches break from the weight of the fruits.

So I can't speak to those who stake their plants, use trellis systems or any other of the several methods that I know some folks do use.

I grow strong plants, I guess.

July 12, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by amideutch

Here are some tomato truss supports that are commercially available. Ami

http://hydro-gardens.com/growsup1.htm

I had no idea they even make some of those gardening aids.

Ted

July 12, 2012

Lakelady,

For some reason, my mind always has a hard time remembering the word "truss" as it relates to tomatoes. A few years ago, I imprinted a visual image of the supports which hold the roof and ceiling of my house up when I want to remember the word and I now can remember it.

Here is a photo of my Limbaughs Potato Top plant this season. The photo was taken after a few trusses had already broken and dropped to the ground.

This is how I prefer to support the trusses. The Prue tomatoes seem happy supported by the cage.

Ted

lakelady · July 12, 2012

Ah, trusses! I tried searching several keywords earlier and couldn't remember what the word I was looking for was, thanks Ami!

I never knew there were so many different tomato gadgets out there, but of course, I learn something new here every day.

Carolyn, I was thinking of you and your sprawling plants when I was looking at those bent and torn stems! If I had more space, it definately might be worth a shot

Many of my bigger tomato varieties don't have too many tomatoes on a truss. A few however, do. The Big Zac is the one that tore the stem. I guess they are pretty heavy tomatoes there. Thanks everyone for the suggestions and I'll have to give several methods a try.

FILMNET · July 12, 2012

Velcro tape

BigBrownDogHouse · July 12, 2012

I know I have cradled a few big groups in the past. I guess it all depends on how the stem is looking. However, going back through the pictures of the big guys last year, I guess I left them hanging on their own.
From last year:

beatpoet · July 12, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by FILMNET

Velcro tape

I use that stuff as well. Love the fact that I can reuse it year to year and easy to adjust if things need moved around.

July 11, 2012	#1
lakelady Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: northern NJ zone 6b Posts: 1,862	Do you tie/support your tomato clusters? I have never had this problem before really. This year I have many plants with clusters of tomatoes that are breaking the vine/stem they are on. One is pulling the branch right off the stem! I guess there are some pretty heavy tomatoes growing there and I was wondering if it is typical for folks to tie their clusters up somehow to the stem, or stakes? With the cages it seems pretty simple, I can tie them right up to the closest opening. The stakes are another story. Big Zac is the one literally pulling off the stem as it has 5 tomatoes on it that are getting a bit large. Sandul Moldovan is another that comes to mind, but there are more. I just hope this doesn't mean a delay in ripening because they are not getting the full amount of nutrients they need. Or cause the dreaded BER. __________________ Antoniette

July 11, 2012	#4
lakelady Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: northern NJ zone 6b Posts: 1,862	Well, I never really grew great tomatoes in the past, so I'm actually thrilled that this is a "problem" . I just never thought of doing it before because there was no need. Now there IS a need or I'll damage the fruits/plants. I'll figure out something, my son just threw out a bunch of old tshirts so they'd be nice and soft for the tomatoes ! __________________ Antoniette

July 12, 2012	#8
amideutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Germany 49°26"N 07°36"E Posts: 5,041	Here are some tomato truss supports that are commercially available. Ami http://hydro-gardens.com/growsup1.htm __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘...Holy Crap .....What a ride!'

July 12, 2012	#9
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	Most of the many plants I've grown have been grown by sprawling, in which case no support for tomato trusses is ever needed. And I've also grown some varieties by caging and have never had to support any trusses, ever. Never had any branches break from the weight of the fruits. So I can't speak to those who stake their plants, use trellis systems or any other of the several methods that I know some folks do use. I grow strong plants, I guess. __________________ Carolyn

July 12, 2012	#11
tedln Guest Posts: n/a	Lakelady, For some reason, my mind always has a hard time remembering the word "truss" as it relates to tomatoes. A few years ago, I imprinted a visual image of the supports which hold the roof and ceiling of my house up when I want to remember the word and I now can remember it. Here is a photo of my Limbaughs Potato Top plant this season. The photo was taken after a few trusses had already broken and dropped to the ground. This is how I prefer to support the trusses. The Prue tomatoes seem happy supported by the cage. Ted Last edited by tedln; July 12, 2012 at 12:03 PM.

July 11, 2012	#2
TightenUp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Jersey Posts: 1,183	i tied up a cluster just cause it looked like if i left it alone it would break. i think 5 but maybe 6 tomatoes all over 8 ounces. at another location so cant get a photo right now

July 11, 2012	#3
sprtsguy76 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: Santa Clara CA Posts: 1,125	I tie or zip tie lots of stuff. It all depends on what I have handy. But yes generally speaking there is usually something to tie up on any given indeterminate plant at some point. Damon

July 12, 2012	#7
FILMNET Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: North Charleston,South Carolina, USA Posts: 1,803	This is why i grow only 18 different plants i did see a garden a few days ago with 12 same plants, all needed to be tied up. They had a large stick in the middle but the plants were not tied up and it was so tight i could not see inside the plant. Well this is how learned from old gardener friends, 1 stem if you can, tied tight to stick, clear bottom leaves off and keep plant open for sun. I will cut a branch in 1/2 or all off if it has no fruit, or has heavy leaves blocking sun to fruits.