Supporting Tomato Stems??

[rayj]

I have just noticed this morning that a lot of the stems bearing fruit on my Tomato plants (mostly the Shirleys), are bending under the weight. How can I best support these to avoid the loss of the fruit??

[Capsid]

Tie them to bamboo stakes?

[terrier]

If I'm growing toms outside, I normally use long bamboo wigwams(same as runner beans). In the greenhouse I suspent the laden trusses from the roof with twine.

[Alice]

Ray, the fruit bearing branches on tomatoes do hang down. Stake the main stems well and let the fruit branches trail.

[amandaandherveg]

Alice, are those your toms and are they growing outside? If so, I'm moving an hour down the road.

[Wren]

Fantastic result you have there Alice!!

Wren

[rayj]

Thank you Alice - They are in a Greenhouse and the main stem is well supported with a bamboo and then each bamboo for each plant tied from one end of the Greenhouse to the other to stop them from drooping. I just thought that with the fruit bearing stems, that if they were bent, it would stop the "good" getting to the fruit?
I was just complaining tonight about what I considered to be a lack of taste and the soft skins on the tomatoes - however it may be my taste buds!!

[Alice]

Yes Amanda, that's my toms and they're growing outside in Coupar Angus.
I think they're not bad

[rana]

The fruit on tomatoes can be easily heavy enough to break the plant stems and even strong canes. In the greenhouse I provide support with wires suspended from the roof. Outside I found that canes were just not enough (particularly in windy weather) so at the begining of the season I construct a 'tomato fence'. This comprises a row of stout posts driven into the soil around 1M apart, connected by horizontal hazel or willow poles tied in and weaved through the posts. As the tomatoes grow just tie them in regularly. You can even grow climbing beans on the fence as a catch crop before the tomatoes mature. This seems to work well and prevents plant collapse, particularly in windy seasons - like this year. Why reference books always say use canes I do not know, as a little extra effort early in the season will give you a reliable sturdy support.