Tomato plants are not only easy to grow, but can also be grown almost anywhere. While it is a great delight to harvest sweet and juicy tomatoes in the summer heat, growing healthy plants require staking. When you stake a plant, the purpose is to have the tomatoes hanging in the air, rather than lying on the ground. The process of staking is necessary, as tomato plants need some support, before they become heavy with fruit and sprawl out of control. If the plant is not staked, tomatoes would remain on the ground and rot eventually. Read further to get tips on staking tomato plants.
How to Stake Tomato Plants
Things Required
- Wooden stakes
- Wood preservative
- Twine
- Tomato plants
Directions:
- The first step is to get a wooden stake, which is 6 foot in length and 1 inch in width.
- Wood is accustomed to rotting, so you need to paint the stake with wood preservatives.
- Keep the stake on the north side of the plant. It should be placed at a distance of about 3 inches from it.
- Next, set the stake 10 inches deep into the ground.
- When the plant grows, tie it to the stake, with the help of a twine. Tie a square knot around the stake so that the twine is secure and won't slip.
- Tie the remaining twine to the tomato plant, using another square knot.
- When the plant grows, tie additional knots every 12 inches along the stem.
- Keep trimming the plant, as it grows, to one or two stem. Continue to prune the other shoots as well.
- As the plant reaches the top of the stake, pinch out the growing part of the shoot. This will allow the plant to focus energy on the tomatoes.
