Harvest Protection Strategies for Tomatoes in July-August: 5 Immediate Measures to Secure Your Crop Yield
In the world of gardening, caring for indeterminate tomato plants requires a thoughtful approach to staking. Here are some essential tips to ensure a healthy and bountiful harvest, while minimising stem injury and disease risk.
Firstly, the choice of stake is crucial. A sturdy, tall stake (6-8 feet) should be deeply embedded in the soil to provide stable support. To prevent plant stress and damage, it's important to use a thick stake that can withstand the weight of the growing tomato plant. Tie the plant gently to the stake with soft materials like old nylon stockings or fabric strips. The ties should be loose enough to avoid strangling the stem and checked regularly as the plant grows.
Tying plants loosely and regularly adjusting ties is also key to preventing constriction and stem injury as the plant grows. Pruning suckers (side shoots) on indeterminate tomatoes can help redirect energy into fruit development and improve air circulation around stems, reducing the risk of diseases like Phytophthora.
Spacing plants at least 3.5 to 4 feet apart maximises airflow between plants, further benefiting the plants' health. Using mulches and maintaining even soil moisture can also prevent soil splash and reduce humidity around stems, lowering the risk of soilborne diseases like Phytophthora.
For sprawling plants, cage netting can be an effective solution. A metal netting with a 10x10cm mesh should be installed around the plant, and a chicken wire cylinder of 30-40cm diameter should be formed and buried 15cm deep for wire cages. Cage netting allows the plant to support itself without the need for re-staking.
Tall tomato varieties should always be staked, and short varieties should be staked if there is a risk of them falling over. Avoid staking wet tomato plants after rain, as this can cause the stems to break.
For open ground, single plants, stakes and "soft loops" can be used. In the case of an umbrella-style trellis, a string should be dropped to each plant and tied around the stem (not too tight). In mid-summer, when tomato staking becomes necessary, plastic clips can be used to secure plants in the umbrella-style trellis.
Wire cages are suitable for robust plants in open ground, and the "50cm rule" suggests adding new support levels as the plant grows 50cm. Using wire or fishing line for staking can cut into the stem, so it's recommended to use cloth, soft string, or clips instead.
Lastly, it's essential to avoid contact with soil by tomato plants, especially in wet summers, as this can lead to a disease called Phytophthora. Indeterminate varieties of tomato plants are more prone to bending towards the ground, so branches should be threaded through the mesh as they grow for cage netting.
By following these guidelines, you can effectively stake your indeterminate tomato plants, promoting a healthy growth and reducing the risk of disease. Happy gardening!
[1] Gardening Know How [2] Garden Myths [3] Burpee [4] The Spruce [5] Mother Earth News
Choosing the right stake is essential for a healthy home-and-garden lifestyle, as a sturdy, tall stake can provide stable support and minimize stem injury for indeterminate tomato plants. Loosely tying plants to stakes and regularly adjusting ties can help prevent constriction and stem injury, as well as improving air circulation around the plants, which can reduce the risk of diseases like Phytophthora.
