In my 25+ years as a gardener, I believe that I’ve tried every possible way to stake my tomatoes. Wooden stakes eventually break and/or rot, so that’s like throwing money away. My plants get too big for tomato cages and fall over. Bamboo tripods work great and look beautiful, but if you grow as many tomato plants as I do, that can get pretty pricey.Several years ago I staked my tomatoes with metal fence posts. They are perfect and range in size from four feet (one meter) up. They don’t fall over, not even in August when the plants are heavy with fruit. Plus, they’ll last a lifetime.
Whatever you decide to use, staking tomatoes increases the yield and cuts down on waste. And your local turtles can still reach the lower tomatoes on the plants.
Until next time.....
I've been spending a lot of time in the garden lately. Last week was dedicated to staking and suckering tomatoes. It's a late year for tomatoes around here. We've yet to eat our first ripe one. I've had a strange song, or should I say chant, in my head. Maybe it's from being in the sun too long. But I keep singing over and over and over again.....Hot Tomato, Hot Tomato. Imagine if you will, this being sung to the beat of a Western Swing song.
The necklace in the first picture, which is named 'Hot Tomato', has since been oxidized. The beads are from the Miriam Haskell collection. Tomato-y red. It's in my jewelry shop. 
Until next time.....
