Say Goodbye To Tomato Cages: Here's A Better Way To Grow Them In The Garden

When left to their own devices, many tomato plants tend to sprawl along the ground. Unfortunately, this leads to disease and ruined fruit. Tomato cages may seem like the obvious support system. They're affordable, widely available, and extremely simple to set up — you just have to push the cage into the ground around your tomato plant. But if you've ever actually used one, you're likely aware of the drawbacks. It usually doesn't take long at all for your indeterminate tomato plant to outgrow its flimsy support, sprawling over the top of the cage or pulling the cage to the ground with its weight. You may quickly find yourself needing to repair your tomato cages. Fortunately, you don't have to use a tomato cage if you want to grow tomatoes. Far better ways to support and stake tomato plants exist. You can create one of the best options, the Florida weave, with just some sturdy posts and string.

While the Florida weave method, also known as the basket weave, requires a bit more effort to set up than a tomato cage, it more than makes up for it thanks to its strength. It's also an ideal way to support multiple tomato plants simultaneously. In fact, the Florida weave requires multiple tomato plants to work correctly. If you're growing just one, you may instead want to tie your plant to a single sturdy stake for support. 

To create your Florida weave system, you'll need multiple strong support stakes that are tall enough that your tomato plants won't outgrow them. Don't forget that some tomato varieties can grow 10 feet tall. Metal T-posts are the best option. You'll also need sturdy string or twine to create your weave. To support tomatoes using a Florida weave, it's essential to grow your plants in a straight line, spacing them about 18 to 24 inches apart. 

Drive one of your T-posts into the ground on either side of your row of tomatoes. The other posts should be spaced along the row with a post every few plants. Once your plants reach about a foot tall, tie your string to one of the end posts and begin weaving the string back and forth between the tomato plants. When you reach the end of the row, tie your string to the final stake. Then, tie a new piece of string and again weave back and forth between the plants until you reach the original stake. 

The tomato plants should be sandwiched between the weave, with the string supporting them on either side. Continue adding to the weave as the plants grow, putting the next level of string about 6 to 8 inches higher on the posts and plants. With your tomatoes being supported, you can find a new use for your old tomato cages. They can be perfect for supporting smaller plants like peppers, or you can DIY a charming bird bath from the tomato cage.