Why I Will Only Grow My Tomatoes Up Strings From Now On!

Last year I supported my tomatoes with string, rather than bamboo canes or stakes.

It was so easy and effective that I would never go back to using stakes. Here's why.

Easy To Setup

Getting your supports set up and ready is really simple with string.

You just need something at the top of your greenhouse/polytunnel or even outdoor bed which you can tie some string to.

In my polytunnel, I run a length of string across the top from one side to the other, I then tie a string to this dropping it vertically for each tomato plant.

You can then tie the string round the base of your tomato plant once it is large enough to need support.

Easy To Train Your Tomatoes

Training your plants to follow the string is really easy. You don't need to tie them in as you do with bamboo canes or stakes.

Just twist the plant around the string as it grows. That's it.

If your plant doesn't feel properly secure, then you can obviously tie it in, but I often found that I didn't need to.

Provides a Lot of Support

Growing your tomatoes up string provides them with a lot of support.

Because they become entwined with the string they are supported by it incredibly well.

There is no chance of them breaking free from the support, as can sometimes happen with canes/stakes.

Can Lower Your Plants

This is a little trick that commercial growers use a lot.

As the tomato plants begin to reach the top of the greenhouse, they will reduce some of the tension on the string.

The plant then starts to bend at the bottom, giving it more room to grow vertically.

This can be done a lot, leading to plants where the bottom is almost laying along the ground.