Place cages over tomato plants early in their growth. Each cage can support one tomato plant. Anchor cages firmly to the ground with wooden stakes to prevent them from toppling over as the plants grow. Suckering or pruning the plants is not necessary when you use cages.
When should I put tomato cages on? It's always a good idea to get supports in place as soon as seedlings are planted. For garden-grown tomatoes, you can wait until plants begin to branch two to three weeks after setting out, but no later. Set cages on pot-grown tomatoes right after you plant them.
Tomatoes planted from May onwards should ideally be given some kind of support as soon as they are planted. This also prevents damage to the roots and shoots, which could easily occur if the plant is given a tomato cage or trellis at a later date.
No matter where you garden, if you don't stake or cage your tomato plants, you'll end up with tomatoes on the ground, where they may rot or be eaten by small animals. Plus, an unsupported tomato plant that's allowed to sprawl can take up lots of space in a garden.
What is your critical low temp. for covering tomatoes? My rule of thumb is to cover plants if the temp. is expected to be below 50 degrees F. I have heard that some growers do not cover plants until it gets below 40, and still others claim they do not cover unless there is a frost.
Another temperature to keep in mind: tomato plants will not survive in temperatures below 35 degrees Fahrenheit, and will not thrive at temperatures below 50 degrees. Gardeners can use a frost date calendar to note their region's average dates of last frost in spring and first frost in fall.
The plants grow quite tall in summer and I often notice bunches of green tomatoes that I know won't ripen in time. That's when I cut the top off the tomato plants. This is a great way to keep the plant from growing even larger and instead ripening the fruits. I cut them when they grow to around my shoulder.
A better choice is to stake your tomatoes. There are stakes available as long as 10 feet. They come in different materials like wood, bamboo, plastic and metal.
Soil that contains a lot of sand doesn't hold water well and dries quickly. Because of this, tomato plants growing in sandy soil may need to be watered more often, about every three or four days. Clay soil, on the other hand, holds water well. Plants growing in clay soil usually only need to be watered once a week.
TOMATO WATERING TIPS
Water in the morning to the keep the soil moist through the heat of the day. Always water at the base of the plant — watering from above invites disease. Check tomatoes growing in pots often since they dry out quickly. Be consistent — fluctuations in water supply lead to cracking and blossom end ...
Plan to feed every 7 to 14 days.
In theory bush tomatoes do not need support, but left to their own devices plants can be weighed down onto the ground by heavy fruits, increasing the chances of slug damage, disease and fruit spoil.
Benefits Of Using A Tomato Cage
Tomatoes are prone to diseases, many of which originate in the soil. Tomato cages hold foliage off the ground, reducing contact with the soil, which in turn limits disease and insect damage.
Plants may need support if they grow quite large. Also, if they carry a heavy crop of tomatoes, the side-shoots may start to droop or be at risk of snapping. If so, simply add short vertical canes when and where required, tying in the shoots loosely.
Place cages over tomato plants early in their growth. Each cage can support one tomato plant. Anchor cages firmly to the ground with wooden stakes to prevent them from toppling over as the plants grow. Suckering or pruning the plants is not necessary when you use cages.
To install cages, center the cage around the plant and press down firmly to set the tines into the soil as deeply as possible. For larger cages, stakes may be driven into the ground and tied to the cage to add stability.
Styrofoam Ball : used size #6. Tomato Cage : used a 42” and 20” Plastic white tablecloth.
Ghost Cherry tomato plants produce fruits that are slightly larger than the average cherry tomato. Their 2- to 3-ounce (60 to 85 g.) fruits are a creamy white to light yellow color, and have a light fuzzy texture to their skin. As the fruit ripens, it develops a light pink hue.
Support plants with stakes or cages to ensure proper fruiting. Be sure to monitor water, as containers dry out more quickly than plants in the ground. Plant tomatoes in the ground 24 to 36 in. (60 to 90 cm) apart in rows.
For indeterminate tomato plants, like these cherry varieties, you'll need a big cage to get good results. All of this organized spacing and support is great in a perfect world, but if you are cramped for space, you still have options.
– Growing and pruning to a vertical stake may be not be an option for this year, but both determinate and indeterminate varieties benefit from removing the lower leaves to keep soil-borne diseases from splashing up onto the foliage.
Some gardeners recommend you “pinch off” the flowers on your tomato transplants during their first weeks of growth, claiming that removing early blossoms: Directs more energy into establishing a strong root system. Results in a larger, sturdier, and potentially healthier tomato plant.
Once the plant starts forming flowers, you will want to open the top or unwrap the cage entirely during the day to allow pollinators access. If night temperatures are still cool, you can rewrap each evening. Tomato cages wrapped in row cover fabric.