make-do tomato supports

[Zoe Girl]

So I have in 7 tomato plants! Yeah, I had cages for 2 of them and the others I can't buy this week, just not more important than food and actually a counseling session that is essential. So my yard has a million sticks from this giant tree. I probably pick up more sticks than mow the yard. I set up one stick with each tomato plant for now, they are 4-5 inches high. I am wondering if others have advice? I can use more sticks easily and make a teepee style support with yarn. I hate to buy a bunch of metal cages when I have materials all over my yard already!

I did figure out the bean plant location in the back of the yard next to a chain link fence, that should be perfect for support. I wonder if I can mix those with some wildflowers to be pretty? There is a strip of really decent soil that used to have flowering plants. in a drought year I want to mostly water food plants.

[ToomuchStuff]

My father did cages for a while growing up. He then went through a period where he would use some small tree sticks when they were little (stopped after one year found out the tree was infested, and had the tree removed). Then would use old broken tool handles, or 2x2's, furring strips, etc. with string (picked up a roll at a garage sale). Sticks and string will do quite a few things. You might keep your eyes out for a free circular saw (or ask a neighbor), as free wood tends to get posted on CL all the time, and could be cut down to the width you need. (and a saw on a shelf isn't much space taken for a handy tool)
Hope it gives you some idea's.

[Tradd]

My dad always used some kind of sticks and my mom's old pantyhose to stake the tomato plants!

[Tussiemussies]

I always used old soft rags that were DH's Tee-shirts at one oing to tie the plant to the stick. When the plants were small I used that cheap old fashioned white fencing to hold them up.

[puglogic]

Zoe Girl, check this out: http://www.thecraftycrow.net/2012/04/make-a-tomato-cage-from-sticks.html

I find that really beautiful. Go for it!!

[kevinw1]

If you have your tomato plants in a row, you can do a Florida Weave support with sticks and string-like-stuff (I use cut-up sweatpants).

http://www.gardenbetty.com/2011/08/trellising-tomatoes-with-the-florida-weave/

[Zoe Girl]

Those ideas are good. I can make the cage type with the multitude of sticks I have and not disrupt what i already have in the ground

[goldensmom]

T-posts and page wire fence. Weave the tomato vines through the wire as they grow, the tomatos hang from the fence, never get on the ground and can be picked from a standing position. I used the same method with cucumbers.

[Birdie]

You can use T-stakes and the sheets of concrete reinforcing wire that are 4' x 7'. If you pound the stakes in at an angle, zip tie or wire the wire sheets to the stakes and lean the tomatoes against the wire. Then you can tie the plant to the wire as it grows. There is a green plastic tie that comes on a roll that works well. Or if you have an old trellis lying around, you can do the same.

[RosieTR]

Lots of great suggestions on the tomato staking. Did you do the wildflowers with beans? I threw some wildflower seed in my yard and they are *fantastic*! Some orange poppies, blue flax, and daisy-looking things so far. The sunflowers haven't opened yet. I thought somewhere I'd read that the Native Americans used to plant beans with sunflowers as well as, or alternatively to, corn. That way the beans rise up the stalk of the sunflowers as their support. However, I have not actually tried this. If you are planting now you'd probably have to water them to get them started.

[Gregg]

I just used metal fence posts pounded into the ground and then cheap twine tied between them about every 6". Never done this before so I'll keep you posted. but I do have less than $15 invested to stake 21 plants. Plants look quite a lot like grape vines in a vineyard. That is kind of cool.

[RosieTR]

The only issue with those, Gregg is getting them back out. OTOH, they would be bomber in high wind!

[Gregg]

Yea Rosie, easy to cut the twine and yank the plants. I did a lot to amend my soil so its pretty soft and the posts should pull out easily. A person of smaller stature with hard clay might have more problems. My yard is very sheltered from the wind, but on the days when it really wails the tomato plants just kind of sway a little. I'm happy with that part.