Do you tie/support your tomato clusters?

[lakelady]

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]

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]

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]

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 !

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]

This is why i use a large stick in the middle stem first when i plant it, if the stem grows left or right, sideways or is 2 stems early .At least 1 stem, the biggest is tied to the stick. Sometimes the stem will be away them the stick but will be back as the plant grow. The stick is wood, for clusters they are on the bottom only on my plants. i look for the biggest fruit and hold this one up to the stick with the green stuff i have from lettuce i buy in stores. I use a stapler on the wood stick to hold it to the stick. Holding 1/2 of the fruits up, should be OK for the others on the cluster. Everyday if i go to this plant i will look at my work have a staple with me, just staple up higher to the stick if it all is getting bigger. This way the stem will not be broken, the cluster will be stapled up to the stick. This is why i use a 1.5 by 1.5 wooden stick very hard wood 8ft tall they sell this for $3, last for many years. i have a cluster growing i will shot this soon.

[FILMNET]

2 clusters from years ago

[FILMNET]

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]

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

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

[carolyn137]

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.

[lakelady]

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.

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

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

[FILMNET]

Velcro tape

[BigBrownDogHouse]

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: