The Easiest Tomato Trellis Method EVER!

Tomatoes can be a nightmare to manage if you don't know how, so in this video @jacquesinthegarden and I share 2 of our favorite trellising methods that are - quite simply - the easiest and cheapest way to keep your tomatoes under control.

IN THIS VIDEO

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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Intro
00:19 - Building The Trellis
01:57 - Spacing The Tomatoes
02:43 - Screwing The Eye Hooks
02:55 - Planting & Wrapping The Twine
07:06 - Tomato Clips

DISCLAIMER

[epicgardening]

One improvement we would make here in the future - take (2) 2x4's and flip them to the short side, put them together and run them across the top - far more stury and less bowing as tomatoes put on weight. This method we show still works quite well and is cheap + requires no fancy tools or parts!

[Shofar_On_The_Horizon]

If you can remember for next year. You can pinch the tops of the tomato plants when they’re little and get a double leader on each plant to maximize production in a smaller space. It helps when you only have a few of your favorite varieties started for whatever reason. Like having two plants for the price of one.

[brichter]

I used the plastic tomato clips this year, and they work great to support the main stem and additional branches. Another easy method is to use tomato trellis roller hooks. The tomato roller hooks are very affordable and are a game changer raising and lowering indeterminate tomato plants. Just make sure to build the height of the trellis within easy reach. Secure 2 eye hooks the width of the roller hook into the beam at the top and hang the tomato roller on them. There is already string on the roller, and it is so easy to squeeze the side trigger on the roller to release the string to raise or lower indeterminate tomato plants since they can grow very tall. Lowering the tomato plant makes for easy picking of the tomatoes at the top, and then you can raise the plant again.

[ceecee-thetransplantedgardener]

I do a similar method with 2 x 2's across the top. Less weight at the top but sturdy enough to handle the weight of the plants. Although - at your spacing of the main posts (4x4's), the 2 x 2's would bow. But for me, the 2x2's are lighter and easier to manage when it's only me. Also - eyehooks - 100%. So easy. With those, I uses the hooks with spooled twine. They slide into the eyehooks easy peasy - and no worries about knots.

[derwynmdockenjr]

I used 2x4s for the posts and hammered them 2ft into the ground from a ladder with my maul. They ain't Movin! Just be sure to level check after every few poundings. And if you want to save on eye hooks too drill a hole and push the string through and tie it on top so it doesn't slip back through.

[Richard-ugel]

I've used this method for a couple of years now.
A few tips. If you use twine, it will weather and break eventually. You'll need to replace it each time you plant a new plant. I use builders string now, it lasts a LOT longer.
The plastic rings also weather quite quickly in the sun. They will just break off after a couple of months. You won't be able to reuse them, but they're super cheap so that's not really a big deal. Just get them off the plants before they disintegrate, or you'll be looking for little bits of plastic in your garden for ever :P

[luthietin]

I do the same thing over my raised beds, except I build the support using EMT conduit pipe and connectors from Maker Pipe. Then I use metal zip ties to attach a cattle panel over the supports. This way I can put plants that can be trellised this way anywhere in my raised beds and if I decide to do a double stem option, I can hook the strings in any direction so the 2 stems can be grow in opposite directions so they don't get tangled up with each other. So far I have used it to support tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and melons! It is more expensive but it also will last forever. I just pound some rebar into the ground and slip the EMT pipe over the rebar to hold it in the ground where I want it. Way easier than digging a couple of 2-3 ft holes. :)

[chinaskibukowski]

Just a quick heads up for people watching, it's always a good idea to lightly break the root ball up a bit before planting. Help the roots shoot in all directions which in turns makes the transplant shock a shorter period.

[LIZZIE-lizzie]

Firstly, thanks for all your videos!!
A friend was looking for the velcro post "ties", at Lowes but they didn't have them. He likes them much better than these. As older folk with bad knees and hands the velcro is much easier on his fingers 💪🏼😁

[sirbixalot]

I use the orange bailing twine, I like the thicker gauge of it. I think it is easier on the plants. I tie it as a single half hitch to the base stem and tie it to the conduit at the top and wrap the tomato when it gets taller. I prefer the t-post and conduit method as I move my tomatoes every year. I had a problem one year with disease after multiple years in the same location.

[jennifersiegrist]

Those trellises work great, I built one a few years back, storm came and took a tree down right on top of it all 😢 but I never quit trying, this year I’m using cattle panels. ❤❤

[Jpiggye]

@epicgardening Could you do a trellising video for those of us who are stuck container-only gardening & limited in patio space? Like what if I want to grow grapes in a 15 gallon container... would I bury a trellis with soil in the container? Or are there better ways?

[mneraasen]

I’m using 4x3x8 $5.88 at lowes, landscape Timbers and using firing strips, I chose 30 inc length, to go across the top, then you put the eye hook on each side for a double row trellis. You put in your post and the top should meet in the middle of the middle post. Make sure they are not bowed or twisted! I have some on the outside of a 6x4 raised bed. With one on the other side and a cattle panel trellis arched in between. There is some overhang because the post is 8 ft, but it looks so pretty. You can hang a basket or trellis single stem cucumbers or a wind chime. The possibilities are endless 🙌🏻

[brechy]

Love the tip about how the clips work! I have never used them and I really want to use them next year. I’m so over using tomato cages :(

[katd]

Great video! You should really remind folks on these digging projects to call 811! Watching you dig 2'-3' with a post holer and no locates was making me squirm! Could save someone from a very expensive or dangerous accident!

[scuttlezebra]

Highly recommend the brown clips. My clear ones always break at the end of the season. My brown ones are on season 3, and I’m lazy so I just leave the ones I’m not using yet laying around outside most of the year 😂.

[dan]

For the vertically challenged amongst us: use a taught-line hitch instead of a clove hitch. You can keep the knot lower down and won't have to climb a stepstool to undo the clove hitch every time you make an adjustment.

[Yupppi]

Siberian hitch is a lovely one, because you get the slipknot built in so you can open it any time by pulling on the working end. And tying it is very easy, basically just a twist of hand.

[acatinthegarden]

I chose this string trellis method over the Florida weave this year and I’ve noticed far less disease and pest pressure. Super cheap too which is a nice bonus.

[dustyflats]

I’m waiting to see if Amish paste is better than SM as the flavor wasn’t there. A 4x4 costs about $20 here and before I’d use it for tomatoes I’d use it for shade cloth. James Prigioni uses a string release thing at top which works well with clips.
With all the watering in this drought I think I already surpassed the $80 tomato so I’ll stick with found items like hog wire and T-posts.
I let tomatoes do their thing last year in a cage and they were healthy compared to pruned. Spacing and wet weather are important. Even watering, air flow, shade if too hot and if it’s humid and wet in your climate space them out.
If that line busts in a storm their done.