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Video: How to Build a Tomato Trellis

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | May 9, 2020 18 Comments

Last updated on July 5th, 2020

Want to build a tall/tan/handsome tomato trellis on which your indeterminate varieties can cheerfully grow? I have good news for you! The trellis in question is very easy to make. The only required tools are a hammer and some some wine. I mean twine. To watch me build this structure — my tenth in as many years — just click the “play” arrow up top. Then scroll down for additional pictures and notes.

Tomato Trellis: Pictures and Notes

As mentioned, I use inexpensive 1″x 1″x 8′ pine posts for all of my trellises. The posts are hammered 12 inches into the ground. (Pine posts can be reused for at least 3 years if stored in a shed, basement, or garage during the winter months.)

And why do I trellis my tomatoes instead of caging them? Because common wire cages are poorly soldered. One year, Mr. Fox nearly poked an eye on a loose wire as he bent down to pluck a caged tomato. Furthermore, even the expensive “Texas” -type cages are too short for indeterminate varieties. A 7-foot trellis admits plentiful air circulation and sunlight, two factors that promote healthy plants. A trellis is good for the gardener, too. I can tie the vines to their posts, prune off suckers, and harvest fruit with only minimal bending.

green velcro tapeOh.  As mentioned in my Tomato Planting-and- Growing Guide, I use green Velcro tape to secure vines to their trellis posts. The tape is both inexpensive and reusable. Nylon stockings — such as the black fishnets I wear on Saturday nights — are great for vine-tying, too.

a freshly-picked tomatoIs a wooden tomato trellis in your future? Or do you prefer some other type of support system? Speak your mind in the comments field below. (I hope the video up top was helpful to you in some small way.)

xKevin

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Comments

  1. 1

    Gretchen says

    May 9, 2020 at 5:03 pm

    Great video. I’m a little unsure about where to place the tomato plants in relation to the post bases. Please clarify as I’m eager to try this in my garden. Thanks!

  2. 2

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    May 9, 2020 at 5:55 pm

    Hi Gretchen – Since I grow my tomatoes to a single stem (a/k/a “leader”), I plant either directly in front of or behind the posts. If you’d like to allow some side-shoots to grow on your own tomatoes, feel free to position each plant between a pair of posts. Thanks for watching the video!

  3. 3

    Julie Culshaw says

    May 10, 2020 at 9:02 am

    I used bamboo poles like this last year and they worked okay, not as sturdy as your pine posts, but can’t get those at the moment. I also didn’t realise I should be pruning my tomato plants more than I was, so this year I will prune off a lot of the side branches which get quite large.

    By the way, how is your winter sowing coming along? have you posted about those yet? I would like to see your results (mine have been pathetic unfortunately).

  4. 4

    Mary says

    May 10, 2020 at 9:23 am

    Thanks for this suggestion. I’ve been looking for an alternative to the Florida weave method of trellising. This looks much sturdier and would add much more visual interest to the garden!

  5. 5

    Tania Cutler says

    May 10, 2020 at 9:28 am

    Looking at your mature plants, how do you provide air circulation and what do you use at the base of the plant to keep the soil from filtering up to the leaves when it rains as prevent measure to delay any fungus/virus.

  6. 6

    Nancy says

    May 10, 2020 at 9:35 am

    Thanks for posting this video. I am going to try this in my raised bed garden.

  7. 7

    Carol says

    May 10, 2020 at 9:47 am

    HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY, MOMS!!

    Hahahaha! Good morning Kevin and again, thank you for the chuckle.

  8. 8

    Justine says

    May 10, 2020 at 10:54 am

    So, in a 4 x 8 foot raised bed how many plants do you plant, using your pruning method? Thanks!

  9. 9

    HollyRae says

    May 10, 2020 at 11:03 am

    Thank you for this great instructional video! I like the no power tools or screws or ribbons or candy approach, lol. Also like the vertical visual effect. We usually use cages which seem reasonable when the plants are young but by August are falling over.

  10. 10

    Patricia Mersman says

    May 10, 2020 at 11:56 am

    And where do you go on Saturday nights, pray tell, to show off your fishnet stockings? Please post them on your next video, okay?

  11. 11

    Patricia Sylvester says

    May 10, 2020 at 12:30 pm

    Kevin, Have you tried butternut squash on your trellis?
    Do you put on any crosspieces for additional support or do you just train the plants up the ten wood poles?
    Thanks

  12. 12

    Frederique Jennette says

    May 10, 2020 at 12:54 pm

    Great idea, looks good!

  13. 13

    ArtistryFarm says

    May 10, 2020 at 9:20 pm

    Since I farm, there are multiple scraps of farm fence around and I’ve turned them into round tomato towers which work great and can be fastened to each other whether set in rows, along a side fence of the garden or like this year, next to each other around one side of the swimming pool.
    The plants just need to be trained straight up in the towers.
    I trim most the bottom branches to allow air circulation.

  14. 14

    Pam in Virginia says

    May 11, 2020 at 6:53 am

    Hi, Kevin!

    Tall, tan, and handsome – we know who that is . . . What a timely presentation for something to hold up tomatoes; ours are already in the ground. Thanks!

    Pam

  15. 15

    Connie says

    May 13, 2020 at 8:26 am

    Hi Kevin,
    Thank you for the video. I’m loving the idea. You mentioned you do squash. Can you please explain further how to support the squash? Do you think these supports would hold small melons?
    Thank you.
    Connie

  16. 16

    Lise says

    May 25, 2020 at 8:55 am

    hi kevin, this reminds me when i was in my 40’s. I used to make my trellises the same way . I loved it, so when i see you making these trellises, it reminds me of the days that were full of joy, of my accomplishments of the trellis, as i knew i could grow beans, tomatoes, etc.. I am now retired, i cannot do these as i have had surgery on my right foot stopping me from either digging, or getting up on a ladder, so my love is now into making shade gardens with my partner. Kudos to you for completely these, and for making a video. Thank you so much!

  17. 17

    shirl stepp says

    May 26, 2020 at 2:55 pm

    Kevin. i watched the video and LOVE the trellis. next spring this is what i will use. it was too late for me to do it this year, so one more year w/the hated cages 🙂 the one you built is awesome…looking forward to it next year. ant that cattle trellis for the squash is amazing!!! love that too 🙂 your videos are so good, funny and so pleasant to watch…you are great on video 🙂

  18. 18

    Carla says

    June 3, 2021 at 7:56 pm

    Great advice on the single stem, I will definitely go this way for my Very northeastern state of IL. 15 minutes from the WI/IL border on the shores of Lake Michigan!!

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