How do I stake tomato plants that are falling over from the cages?

Question

This is my first year with tomato plants and I used cages while they were still little. But now my cages have fallen over and I need to raise them. Any suggestions? Is there anything I can do that doesn't harm the roots?

Answer 1

the cages shouldnt have fallen down if they were stuck in the ground, if you dont want to try the cages again use some small stakes and some yarn to hol it up...

But it would use the cages again and stick them deep into the ground use stakes to help keep it in the ground...

Answer 2

I use fencing material to make my cages which have holes large enough to get my hand through to pick tomatoes and make them about 2 - 3 feet wide circles securing the ends with wire to hook them together.  the materail comes in rolls and is about 3 ft high.  Then I secure the fencing to the ground with stakes wood or metal rebar as it is very windy where I live.  but those tomato cages you buy from the store are a joke and have neve worked for my tomato plants.

Answer 3

You should be able to just get a stick or rod that is long enough to support the cage. Just stick it in the ground and tie it if necessary. Sounds like your gona have lots of tomatoes, yum

Answer 4

I do not quite know what you mean by cages. Tomatoes like to be planted about 12 inches apart and each one tied to a stake ,firmly in the ground. You need to take out side shoots as they grow, from the side brsnches, and keep tieing up as plants grow. Water regularly if in a greenhouse. Feed with Tomorite once a week when fruit is beginning to set. They will not do any good if they are falling over. I hope you can save them.

Answer 5

I have the same problem. My cages are 4 feet tall but my heirloom tomatoes have grown taller than that and some were pushing the cages over. I have them in containers so I pushed them against the fence and zip-tied them to it. But I ran out of fence space, so I got 4' wooden poles (around 1" x 1") and drove them into the container right next to the cage. I then tied the cage to the stake. Some of my plants were heavy and I needed to use 2 stakes.

Here are some ideas of what you can do in the future if using cages again,



1) Use metal U-stakes to hold them in when you first place them over the tomatoes, drive the U-stake over the last "rung" when it is flush with the ground

2) Make sure you cage is the right size for your plant, there are various sized cages that you can buy. I should have gotten the larger ones but it was okay to push them against the fence, but check the varieties that you are planting and how big they will get so you get the right size cage.

3) Add wooden poles when needed as the plants grow up.

Good luck!

Answer 6

I just add stakes.  Did you push your cages into the ground though?  Why did they tip over?  You have a ground hog nearby or other varmit staking out their territory?  You can smell their p**s if you do.