How to Train a Tomato Plant Up a Trellis

Secure tomato vines above flower clusters to keep stems from breaking.

The word "trellis" often conjures up an image of roses climbing up a white fanned frame against the side of a shed and is usually constructed of light wood or plastic. A trellis used to train tomatoes is different, as it is designed to provide support for several plants at different stages of their development. There are numerous designs for tomato trellises, including wire or mesh fencing stretched between posts and teepees built of long bamboo poles. Whatever system you use, the tomato vines must be attached properly to keep the fruit-bearing blossoms up and off the ground.

Things You'll Need

• trellis system
• trowel
• narrow cloth strips
• cotton twine
• pruning shears

Instructions

1. Dig holes for tomato plants roughly 3 to 4 inches from the base of the trellis.

2. Space plants at least 12 inches apart in rows along a fence-type trellis system, or place one plant at the base of each bamboo pole used in a teepee system.

3. Use a cloth strip or cotton twine to attach the top stem of the tomato plant to the first part of the trellis system it reaches as it grows.

4. Tie the main stem loosely to the trellis support, being careful not to cut into the tender stem.

5. Prune any excess branches from the plant, leaving about three or four strong ones. Tie these loosely to the trellis as they grow.

6. Repeat Step 4 as the plant grows. Prune any new growth, called suckers, that emerge where a leaf stem joins the main stem. Suckers drain the plant of nutrients needed for tomato production.

7. Attach blossom-bearing stems to the trellis at a point above the blossoms so the weight of the fruit doesn't pull the vines down.

Tips & Warnings

• The stems and branches on new tomato seedlings are extremely tender, so try not to attach them at the very tip. Select a spot roughly 4 to 6 inches from the top of the main stem and from the tips of any other stems you are leaving on the plant. Tomato plants grow at a rapid rate in the first few weeks, which will mean regular staking and training until they start setting fruit, which is roughly 60 to 80 days depending on the variety you are growing.

• Tomatoes do best in bright direct sunlight in a well-ventilated area. Wet, humid conditions can be deadly to a tomato plant, as they set the stage for many diseases that are minimized by providing adequate support.

References

• Mississippi State University; Staking and Training Tomatoes; October 2010
• University of Illinois Extension; Tomato; 2011
• College of the Virgin Islands; Staking and Training Tomato Plants; John M. Gerber; March 1979