Toms- what do YOU use??

**Snadger** · 21-07-2010, 06:01 AM

Hemp.............

**Patchninja** · 21-07-2010, 06:47 AM

I've got some lovely pink raffia!

**ninjajane** · 21-07-2010, 06:55 AM

computer cable ties that were lying around at work looking like they needed a new purpose in life...

**Florence Fennel** · 21-07-2010, 07:01 AM

Soft garden twine and sometimes when they get really big and awkward, I use old tights.

**womble** · 21-07-2010, 07:03 AM

Originally posted by Nicos View Post

Just bouncing off a thread by Deltz...

This got me wondering- what do you use to fasten up your toms when they are growing??

I've tried various different ways and things to hold up tomatoes.
In the end I always come back to good old natural string from Wilkinsons (buy one a year, 99p well spent) and a cane made of some sort of wood.
Tie up often and they shouldn't flop over.

I work with computer cables all the time and it's amazing how many things in the garden have Cat5e cable supporting them

for a start the raspberries have lovely blue Cat5e supports.

**Bren In Pots** · 21-07-2010, 08:42 AM

Originally posted by Florence Fennel View Post

Soft garden twine and sometimes when they get really big and awkward, I use old tights.

I use tights as well, it didn't take long to cut them into strips and they're reusable after a quick wash in the bucket.

**taff** · 21-07-2010, 09:31 AM

I use those twisty poles, plain canes, and odds and sods lying round to main support, but I've been tying on with natural twine for the most part.
I've seen some weird looking [but I want some] tomato supports on the net when I was wandering round. They look like a metal ringed bucket, so I'd imagine they have 4 prongs to fix in, then individual circles of wire going up in extending circles fixed to those. They'd perfect for bush tomatoes.
sort of like this but smaller and squatter
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_biaGDCD8_i...%2B2%2B002.JPG

**rustylady** · 21-07-2010, 10:00 AM

Don't grow many tomatoes outdoors cos of blight, but I've put a couple in daughter's veggie patch. They each have a stout cane and are tied in with garden twine (the cheapo green stuff)

**Bigmallly** · 21-07-2010, 11:27 AM

When on holiday last year in Greece, I got talking (in a fashion) to the hotel gardner. He used old rags ripped into 1" strips to fasten all of his veggies. He made a cage type structure around the veg then tied the strips of material to the canes then the branches. It appeared to be very kind on the plants as it did not dig into the flesh. I must admit, it was cucs that he was fastening up but I suppose the same principle would work with other veggies.

**Brengirl** · 21-07-2010, 12:39 PM

I use plastic shower curtain clips for most things round the garden. I buy them when at car boots, charity shops ect.

**Bountyhunter** · 21-07-2010, 12:49 PM

Originally posted by Nicos View Post

Just bouncing off a thread by Deltz...

This got me wondering- what do you use to fasten up your toms when they are growing??

Some of my tomato plants have got a bit heavy and the stems have bent over the string/twine supporting them.
Maybe I've not tied them up high enough regularly enough???
Maybe strips of fabric would cut into the stems less?

I tend to use a mixture of canes, metal spirals and natural thick stems of sweetcorn or bramble( spesh variety) as the main supports

Your thoughts and ideas please!!!

(I'm really thinking about outdoor varieties which are more exposed to the wind)

Hi, have a look at my blog and it shows you how i have done it, sort of lol. All mine are fruiting now and some will reach about 8ft, even with the tops pinched out! I have used green garden string to tie them in. I have also wound them in and out of the canes this year to give extra support.

Normally i have just added canes as they have grown but this never works out right. There is no way my babies are going anywhere this year

**gojiberry** · 21-07-2010, 02:57 PM

I always use natural string tied every couple of inches, that way at the end of the season every thing can be stripped of the cane and composted.

Ian

**Bountyhunter** · 21-07-2010, 03:06 PM

Originally posted by gojiberry View Post

I always use natural string tied every couple of inches, that way at the end of the season every thing can be stripped of the cane and composted.

Ian

You cant beat a bit of garden string. I find that the string allows the stems to grow without strangling them. If i leave the plants for a whole week i find the stems have done their own thing which isnt my thing. Yep, every few inches works well.

**salilah** · 21-07-2010, 03:19 PM

Green garden string, attached to an overhead frame (outside) or poles by the roof (in the greenhouse). Other end is attached to a tomato leaf (outside) or a short cane (greenhouse). I wind the tomatoes around the string for support - greenhouse ones have mainly reached the roof, outside are shorter (I put too many in, and don't water as much)
S

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