How We Prune and Stake Our Tomatoes For Maximum Production and Health
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- Опубліковано 12 чер 2024
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Thank you all so much for watching and Grow BIG! - Навчання та стиль
Great video, Luke. For my stakes, I go into the woods near my house in early spring--before the leaves come in--and take the straightest saplings I can find. Most of them are over 7 feet tall. It's free and organic. Happy Gardening. 😃
Not everyone has that option, but that's awesome that you can do that!
We have a bamboo patch that we use for this purpose. Makes a great building material and the spring shoots are edible. Just make sure you have a way of containing it, if you decide to grow it, as it can get invasive.
That what I plan to use this year. Tall t posts are running close to 9$ for one. Too pricey for me.
I also do something similar, I keep nice long, sturdy branches from my trees when I prune them, and I let them dry out. Then, when I need one to stake something up, I just go grab it, put it in the ground to support my plant. Especially some peppers I have growing which are falling over because they’re getting very tall.
Thanks for sharing. ❌⭕️🙏🏽♥️
@FrozenWolf150 I've thought very seriously about doing this as I exclusively use bamboo for my cucumbers as a sort of teepee. They are too weak for the tomatoes, though. How long did it take you to develop the bamboo patch?
I’ve used pantyhose for years! Never buy them brand new, get them at a thrift shop, then wash them (enclosed within a pillow case, pinned shut). It isn’t necessary to cut them in strips. Cut off the toe area, then, folding them lengthwise cut in about 1” wide pieces. This makes the hose into a natural circle which you can slip onto your arm, where they’re ready to use. Interlocking each circle is simple, this makes great lengths, which you can control how long you wish to make the chain of pantyhose circles. Some folks may be too germaphobic and not like using second hand hose…no biggie! Just call me “Secondhand Rose”, lol!
I like to cut strips from old t-shirts. Easy to do when I'm relaxing with a TV show. If I use 100% cotton, I know it will break down in the compost or soil.
Just appreciate your heart, vision, passion for helping others become better & learn. My grandmother had me in the garden with her as a toddler & I am now 50. I have essentially been gardening my whole life. I still have learned from and just plain ole enjoy your videos. Thank you for all you do.
Thank you. I was just staking my indeterminates when I figured I had no clue what I was doing. You answered my questions. Thank you.
I cut up some worn leggings recently into approximately 1.5" strips and used them for tying up sunflowers at our church preschool. Like t-shirt fabric, if you stretch them they roll into a tidy but flexible "string". I tied them in such a way that I can remove them without cutting. I anticipate using them for my tomatoes also if they get away from me (I usually weave them through cattle panels.).
I bought this elastic string from you and really appreciate your demo of how to use it… It is very timely and useful! God bless you for blessing others with your knowledge. I am a new subscriber from California.
I love the cute doggie. I take old t-shirts and make yarn. Recycle and reuse!
When I plant my tomatoes, I strip most of the leaves and lay the plant on its side with the remaining leaves above the soil. I immediately place the stake on the other side of the plant from the roots. That way I can put the stake closer without hurting the roots. But I learned from this video that I need to treat the determinates and indeterminates differently. Thanks!
Great explanation. I recommend your videos to all my gardening friends.
Ok, but can we talk about the Australian Shepherd!???!?
Great video, thanks. Perfectly delivered information. My tomatoes are going to be so much better now.
😂 I just pruned and staked all my tomato plants yesterday for 3 hours before the rain today. My cousin has bamboo unwanted growing in her yard so I cut stalks for stakes and use old hay bale twine for support.
I'm digging this rain!
@@cbass2755 Ditto!
Love your videos Luke. I like to grow my indeterminates with two leaders twisted up a tall wooden pole. It works great, still have plenty of air flow, loads of sets, rarely have to tie up and the two leaders help to slow the climb and provide shade for the tomatoes as they ripe.
I also grow my indeterminates with 2 leaders but attach them to cattle panels as they grow. Works great.
I use old nylons to tie my tomatoes up. Works amazing and free for me.
I was taught the opposite 😮 to leave the suckers and take the extra leaves, so it puts more effort into fruiting.
I'll have to try it this way
We are trying cattle panels for our tomatoes this year for the first time. I am getting ready to tie mine up, so I appreciate this video.
Thank you for this. I wasn’t sure how to treat my semi-determinate tomato variety as most other videos only mention two different varieties. Now I know! I can’t wait to put my seedlings in the ground!
I was a bit shocked by how many horn worms were on my plants one night until i realized my elastic glowed like the tomato worms!
It's always nice to see the pupper in the videos!
Please show how you prune & stake the plant as it gets taller.
Hi, I am new to your channel and just watched this video. The information on different varieties of tomatoes is so helpful, we did not know this. In the past we would buy indeterminate tomatoes and staked with tomato cages. What a mess! We will be changing up our tomato plant varieties and staking with your method here. Thanks for all you do. Liz
Great job as always
You're the first person I've seen talk about the forks in the main stem! I never know what to do! Thank you for justifying my eeny-meeny-miny-mo method!
Thanks for post idea.
I use leftover yarn and do a loose chain stitch.
I am new here.
I am growing tomato plants in plant pots inside my tiny apartment that doesn't even have a proper inner windowsill.
The first few tomatos started ripening and turning red a couple of days ago.
It's my first time.
Circumstances - far from perfect, but i am actually getting fruit.
Couldn't be more happy.
Thank You for sharing valuable information.
Thank You for Your videos.
cattle panel and velcro strap....its da' bomb. Jetstars ftw
I also use the t-posts but I put them in the garden before I plant the tomatoes so there's no root issues. I also run 10 foot sections of conduit across the tops of the posts (supported by 2" PVC tees on the top of each post) this way I can tie a 10 foot row of tomatoes without the need to have a stake at each plant. Trying your new yorker seeds this year, looks great so far, thanks for all you do.
LOL the dog was an entertaining sideshow
Newbie.. great video.. I’ll be planting tomatoes this year..
Great video as always Luke. I started using the narrow elastic several years ago but have switched to the 1/2” wide elastic last year. It seems to work better for the big beefsteak tomatoes that get very heavy with tomatoes. It doesn’t narrow down as much when it’s getting pulled tighter. 😊
Can you tell us where to get this???
Finally some rain
Thank you Luke. We enjoy your thought out presentations. Convinced me to try your seed service. Hoping our first order ships soon!
Great info!!! Thanks for sharing
Once again, thank you Luke!
Great video!
I’m new to migarderner. Really enjoy.
My daughters love to garden with me since they were babies. My oldest loves to grow peas the most 😊 They’re so easy to grow and produce abundance. It’s awesome!
Another great video! Thank you for explaining things so simply.
Great video! I'm trying again to plant tomatoes in fabric pot. I'm so amazed at myself. I planted 9 tomato seeds in water jugs in the Fall and I have 9 out of 9 seedlings. All are Semi-Determinate and until your video I thought I'd have issues but now I'm glad and happy with my first time planting. Pretty much plant, cage ocassionally fertilize and forget... YESSSSSSS. Now I'm so excited. Thank you Luke for your help in explaining it in such simple terms
So helpful. New to this channel and new to gardening so learning lots from your videos.
New viewer from mid-MI. Love your channel.
For tying plants to stakes I use cut-up strips of compost bags, about one inch wide and maybe a foot long each. They are free if you buy compost or potting soil in bags, and the plastic is stretchy and good for tying loose but still able to hold a simple knot that can be untied. Some of these ties last many years.
Thank you for this idea! I have so many potting soil bags I just can't bring myself to throw away 🙃
@@LivinDeadGirl420 The best ties are probably 2" wide that I fold to 1" wide doubled-over. The tie stays wide and thus gentle on the plant, is strong and can hold a loose knot that doesn't strangle.
I always learn so much from your informative videos. Thanks for all you do.
This is great advice, and I do it with my tomatoes. Success every time!
Luke that's some great information I well definitely remember that
Have you ever grown any tomatoes from the dwarf tomato project? Have you considered carrying the seeds? You are my go to for fertilizer and most of my seeds. Blessings. Blessings blessings to you and yours.
As someone learning to grow tomatoes this is super helpful! Thanks so much!
I’m new! I have gardened for years but so appreciate more insight!,
I’m doing exactly this with firring strips! Such a simple way to support my toms!
After watching dozens of videos and reading about staking and pruning techniques, this was the best and easiest video I have seen on the basics of growing tomatoes. I'm a sophomore gardener and this is my first try at indeterminate tomatoes.
Great info Luke.
Thank you! Great tutorial.
Good video but if you came back in two months and 4 months to compile a large single vid of how you do it would be better.
New follower here!!!
Great informative video. Easy to follow and understand and to the points. I’m heading out to tend my tomatoes the right way now. Thanks!!!!
I have tried individual “T”-posts with 60-inch tall cages, but have switched over to “T”-posts on 4-5 foot centers, topped with 1 1/2” PVC slip “tees” with 1/2” EMT “conduit” through the PVC the length of the row. The trellis system is put up before the plants go in the ground for less root disturbance.
Individual indeterminate plants are trained on jute garden twine from the base of the plant to the conduit “top-rail”.
I am able to put a wire-arch row cover over the fresh transplants for several weeks before they get trained on the twine to protect from our late spring hail storms. Then I trim them up, prune the suckers. Last year I started “buzzing” the flowers every day with a cheap, dedicated garden Oral B electric tooth brush, and am getting 90% blossom set.
Now if the summer hail storms will cut me a break, I will get a good harvest.
Luke, I just bought some Patio Tomato plants and am going to try them with smaller T-posts I get at Tractor supply. Thanks for sharing about tying up tomatoes.😊
Oooh this vid was especially helpful! I knew about determinate vs indeterminate, but didn't know how to prune (or not!) and stake/cage them accordingly. Thanks for clearing this up in such a straightforward way! Also didn't know that semi-determinate is a thing, so moving forward I'll look for that too.
Very timely video since I just pruned most of my tomatoes last night! I just got a pack of those giant crimsons after seeing your series on them!
Great video. Growing Hillbilly Tomatoes for the second year. Bought seeds from you last year and loved them! Great video! We did the FL weave with these last year but I may try this. Thanks!
Your Australian Shepard is cute!
Great video! I typically use pasture fencing and weave my plants through but this year I'm trying it with string so we'll see how that goes. Thanks for all the videos 15:52 15:52
Very helpful video! There is so much to learn about tomatoes. I defiantly over pruned my last determinant tomato plant,
Great video! Thank you
To avoid damaging tomato roots, growers can install their support posts early in the season before planting the tomato seedlings, then plant as close to the post as they wish to.
Not that I'm comparing size Luke but my tomatoes are bigger than yours XD !! Love the channel man, to be fair your videos are the reason mine are so big! Thanks for what you do.
We had such a late start due to garbage weather in the beginning.
I kept the elastics from all the face masks that were thrown away around me… I’ve got a ton and it works great !
I have used surveyors tape to tie up tomatoes and many other plants. It has stretch, Super cheap and you can get at any hardware store. Another thing I like about it is it’s about 1 inch wide which helps prevent cutting into plants. You can get in colors to maybe attract bees or just decorate the plantsz
Great garden amazing ❤
Thank you for specifically addressing the semi-determinate varieties. Is there a video on cherry tomatoes coming up?
Nice video bro...most stuff you say works for me bro..thanks for sharing
I’m new to gardening and your channel. I live in Michigan and hoping to learn to grow my own food ❤
Love your videos!❤🎉 been here a while. Don’t have a garden at the moment. In an apartment.
Will it hurt a determinate tomato plant that is SUPER bushy to remove some inner leaves (not suckers!) just for airflow? Mine are just so DENSE!
Truly helpful! I'm not only a fairly new gardener, but last summer we moved from a 9b gardening zone to a 4b. Yowza! Talk about a double learning curve.
(what the heck is your dog eating???)
At my dollar store they have plant clips that have pretty large ring that work great. I have 6 foot bamboo poles that I got from the nursery and use these to stake my tomatoes for a very low cost.
YES, I would like to know what type of soil mixture you use to put in your planter box and what do you use to build up the soil at the base of the box??? e.g. broken pieces of wood or chips??? do you leave the bottom of your box open to the ground or is it covered with a weedmat??? It would help to have a response. Thank you!!! And I'm from New Zealand!!!
I followed your advice, as always, in staking up my tomatoes. However, this year I used cattle panels in the garden beds. I’ve just been putting the vines through the grid of the panel. It’s working out super great.
And speaking of giant Crimson… I hope you and Sindy enjoyed the giant Crimson tomato I sent you. Please let me know how you liked it. I was so proud of that first tomato and happy to send it to you guys.
God bless you. Thanks for all your help. ❌⭕️🙏🏽♥️
Can you help? How can you tell the difference between determinate and indeterminate? Still learning.. I just hoped to get a better understanding?
@@raineeredman6874you need to know the name of the tomato to know if it is determinate or non determinate. You can’t tell the difference by looking at them.
@joesqudy this is what I have but what do you do when they reach the top of the cattle panel? Mine is sideways so about 4' tall.
@@raineeredman6874
A determinate usually only grows to a “determined” size. While an indeterminate can continue to grow very large. Usually needing staking and pruning. Hope this helps.
❌⭕️🙏🏽♥️
@@joshua511
If they get taller than 4’, you could continue to stake them up, prune and get a greater harvest OR you can top them off at the top. But I don’t know what would happen. I’m assuming your production will slow down and stop?? 🤔 I’ve never topped mine. Hope this helps.
❌⭕️🙏🏽♥️
Luke how far apart should you plant tomatoes ?
Heirloom tomato girl. It's hard to manage those really tall stakes when you're 5'5". Any suggestions? Perhaps you can develop a telescoping stake ???
I missed one of those bottom branches on my indeterminate and wondered why the heck that area was so bushy- turns out I had TWO of them growing there. Probably a good idea to double check those lower areas, even if I think I pruned properly weeks ago..
Cut it and plant a new one
@@thomasgellos1732 No space, sadly.. I have to grow my tomatoes in a greenhouse.
My husband is worried our tomatoes and peppers especially are small, saying last year it seemed they were bigger by now. Thank you for posting an update on yours.
Same here! I am in zone 5B, upstate NY, night time temps were consistently cool in the low to mid 40s until mid June, so I am sure that is why. Hopefully they catch up now that night time temps are consistently in the 50s and 60s.
@@Nikki-mx5my Im in Illinois zone 5b as well. Yeah, they suddenly started to grow this week for me. It was getting worrisome there because we weren't sure if bugs were getting them, the soil was not good, or what 😅
Super information! I'm growing tomatoes for the first time and I am trying to learn the do's and don'ts. Can you explain to me what would make a tomato crack? I want to avoid that. 😊
Luke, you mentioned you would post the next best thing in comments since you dont have the fantastic elastic. Can you please post again?
Thank you, Luke. As always, very good growing and maintaining tips. Long time watcher of your channel. Used many of your tips.
This year I started my tomatoes plants in my garage during the winter. I live in Central Texas.
My bad luck was Spider Mites. They totally wiped out my plants.
I tried dawn dish soap, peppermint soap, and no help!
Any tips on how to prevent these things? Thanks, Cory.
Thank you for talking about semi determinate tomatoes. I’m familiar with determinate and indeterminate. This is the first year I’ve grown them and there isn’t much information out there on them.
Great video!! Did you have to start over or is this your original planting? Seem kinda small. Just wondering.
Idon;'t know what my tomatoes are other than romas I was given a Prarie Fire (never had it before, can I put it in a pot? It's pretty small at the moment. I also just wanted to say I love your channel you are very inspiring to keep trying and not give up, and mistakes are ok.
I use old t-shirts cut into strips to tie up my tomatoes.😊
Panty Hose can usually be found at your local Dollar Store.
How can I tell the difference between determinant and indeterminant type by looking at the plant?
What kind of wood to you use for the bed borders? How does it hold up? Was it treated with anything?
Maybe it's my OCD but you need to level and plumb those T posts. Try using a T post driver available from any farm store, then pull them around as needed to plumb them up each direction, north south east west. Good info BTW, been using your info for years with great success.
Old t-shirts cut into strips for tying up plants. You will always have more.
Hi Luke im growing some tomato seeds i ordered from you! So far so good! What would be a natural spray to prevent blight? Thanks very much!!
We just use old material strips to tie up our tomatoes. We use tomato cages for cucumbers and zuchinni.
Can I prune off lower leaves & suckers on a drizzly day?
Sure you can!
I have put so many tomatoes in my garden this year but I’m not sure if they are determinate or indeterminate. Is there a way to tell the difference?
Enjoyed your video we just use electric fence post and twine 😂