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.
Oh. 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.
Is 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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Gretchen says
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!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
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!
Julie Culshaw says
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).
Mary says
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!
Tania Cutler says
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.
Nancy says
Thanks for posting this video. I am going to try this in my raised bed garden.
Carol says
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY, MOMS!!
Hahahaha! Good morning Kevin and again, thank you for the chuckle.
Justine says
So, in a 4 x 8 foot raised bed how many plants do you plant, using your pruning method? Thanks!
HollyRae says
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.
Patricia Mersman says
And where do you go on Saturday nights, pray tell, to show off your fishnet stockings? Please post them on your next video, okay?
Patricia Sylvester says
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
Frederique Jennette says
Great idea, looks good!
ArtistryFarm says
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.
Pam in Virginia says
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
Connie says
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
Lise says
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!
shirl stepp says
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 🙂
Carla says
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!!