I've taken a new tack with the tomatoes this year. Tomato tee pees.
They seem to be working well so far. I decided to do it this way for a few reasons. One is that we have a few bamboo groves around the garden so we use bamboo for most of our vegetable trellising, fencing and other basic structural needs and unlike regular tomato stakes, they are slippery and smooth and don't take to normal methods for tomato staking and supporting, the other is that I don't have to sacrifice perfectly good stockings at that time of the year when I'm least like to care. This year i planted more tomato plants than we have tomato stakes so a new method of providing structural support was required. Ive got tomatoes everywhere; in pots and in the ground.
As tomatoes apparently love to be free, hang loose and don't really appreciate trying to be fully productive under restrained circumstances (being adhered to a stake) I tried a tomato tee pee method this year. This tee pee approach allows for movement of the plant in a breeze and apparently encourages growth and development due to some molecular/biological function in the stems that I quite frankly cant be bothered looking up and explaining. As I also hate having to tie up tomato plants periodically during growing season, this method looked very attractive as it requires just one major time investment.
A tee pee of bamboo is erected over each plant and secured at the top with twine or wire. A piece of twine is then tied to the base part of the major tomato stem and then tied to the top of the tee pee. The new growth at the top of the plant is then 'twirled' around the twine as it gains height, which takes about 2 seconds a plant to swing around the twine. Soooo easy to do and it allows for that movement. No gagged and bound tomatoes at Chez Pan this year.
11 comments:
Looks neat! What do you do about all the side shoots that keep growing everywhere?
they just get supported by the posts, tucked in behind an opposite- its working so far ...may have to sacrifice a stocking or two late summer...
Hi Kel,
Im going to try a litle experiment .
I will get one of those reusable shopping bags, poke a hole in the bottom and insert a tomato seedling. Fill it with good soil ,water and hang it up.
I have read about it but have never seen it done.
May work for strawberries and cucumbers too
Phil
Looks interesting, I will be looking out to see how it goes. I suspect I am going to be struggling with this problem later in a few weeks.
Kind Regards
Belinda
Great idea. I'm very jealous of your bamboo groves. I've been considering planting some bamboo but have hesitated due to lack of space. I'd love to have enough bamboo to try making a raised woven garden bed. I'm not sure what they are called - but they look lovely.
Nice garden of tomatoes. I like how you put support on the tomato plants. I've learned new things to you. Good job!
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you have a magic hand Kelly. I like the way you put the bamboo to support your tomatoes. I love planting too, that is my passion every time I got stressed.
Wonderful photo! I love planting. very healthy your tomatoes plant.
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Healthy Plant and nice looking. I appriciate your effort. Good Job!
Locksmiths
Healthy Plant and nice looking. I appriciate your effort. Good Job!
Locksmiths
The beauty of this growth of tomatoes. Easy simple plant care easy to live easier to harvest
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