Garter of tomatoes in open ground. All options for gartering tomatoes in open ground

Under natural conditions, tomato fruits do not reach the same size and weight as under the careful supervision of gardeners. For this reason, in nature, these plants do not need additional support; it is important to tie up tomatoes, both in a greenhouse and in open ground, which cannot be said about home shoots. Heavy fruit clusters can break thin nightshade branches or bend shoots all the way to the ground. This leads to spoilage of vegetables or death of the crop. To avoid such a set of circumstances, farmers resort to gartering tomatoes. This must be done correctly, taking into account certain characteristics of the varieties and growing conditions. There are different methods and subtleties, we will talk about them in this article.

Rules

Only the right garter will be beneficial for tomatoes. This will simplify further care (weeding, breaking), ensure proper distribution of light between the shoots and protect the fruits from, preserving their presentation. When growing tomatoes in open ground, special fasteners are required, to which the tomato will be tied in the future. The main thing that must be observed is the timing. The best time for the first garter of tomatoes comes after the seedlings have taken root well and produce 2-3 new leaves in a new place. It is also important to take care of the tools and supplies needed for this procedure in advance. Supports and frames to secure the shoots must be installed in watered, moist soil so that the soil does not crack and damage the thin roots. and in open ground it should be done in two stages: first, strengthen the main shoot, and after the formation of the first fruits, provide support for the fruiting branches.

Read about how to properly water cucumbers.

Tall tomatoes (which are most often planted in greenhouses) are tied up literally 4-6 days after planting the seedlings. For low-growing varieties, the garter is carried out a little later, when the first ovaries appear.

Methods for gartering tomatoes

There are many methods of gartering and their choice depends on a number of factors. When choosing, you need to take into account the height of the bushes of the variety you are growing, the place where the tomatoes are planted, your capabilities and the funds available to you. Think in advance about what method you will use in order to equip the necessary foundation and prepare materials in the fall (it is much easier to stretch trellises or nets in an empty greenhouse).

Outdoors

The need to garter tomatoes after is also explained by the need for protection from wind and other mechanical damage. A traditional garter attached to pegs stuck into the soil is perfect. To do this, you need to securely fasten sticks of suitable length in the hole, and then tie the stem to them at different heights. Calculate the height of the stakes according to the height of the bushes, so that even the highest branches can be fixed on them.

Garter to pegs

The stakes should not be inserted too close to the shoot, as this can damage the fragile roots of the tomato. The support is strengthened in the soil at a distance of at least 10-15 cm from the bush.

The second, more progressive and reliable method is tying it to a wire frame. With such a garter, reliable support and protection from many external factors are provided, but harvesting becomes inconvenient. You will need a large mesh wire mesh, which you need to dig around the bush, along the perimeter of the hole. Both the main stem and the clusters with ripening tomatoes are attached to such a frame.

In the greenhouse

Conventional film greenhouses, as a rule, are not very tall and the method of gartering must be selected according to the capabilities of your designs. For small structures, the most suitable method is linear top fastening. This frame can be used for several seasons. In order not to damage the bushes, organize the fastenings before planting the seedlings. Above each row, just below the level of the upper branches, you need to stretch a rope or wire. In the future, plants will be attached to the stretched guide using garters. and tomatoes makes it possible to receive more light, which stimulates the formation of ovaries and increases the yield of bushes. After gartering, be sure to carry out.

Read about gartering cucumbers in a greenhouse.

You need to pull the wire or rope as tightly as possible so that it does not sag under the weight of the grapes. For the same reason, you should choose the most durable materials, and fix them directly to the supports of the greenhouse itself.

Tie up in a polycarbonate greenhouse

Today, polycarbonate greenhouses are very popular. For such structures, gardeners also came up with their own ways of tying tomatoes. The most common method is to fix bushes on vertical trellises. The trellises themselves are attached to the metal frame of the greenhouse itself directly above each hole. This method is suitable for fastening tall tomato bushes. The advantages of this method include its high strength and reliability; well-attached trellises will serve you for a long time.

Read about growing onions in a greenhouse in winter.

In polycarbonate greenhouses, plants are tied to trellises

The trellis type of garter requires constant breaking and pinching of tomatoes. Heavily branched bushes will not stay on the trellises and you will have to install additional support for fruit-bearing shoots.

Another method is vertical mounting on a mesh. The basis will be a large-mesh mesh made of plastic or wire, which should be installed between the rows of holes. The mesh is installed in such a way that there is an equal distance from all the bushes to it and it does not interfere with approaching the bushes (along the bed, if there are passages on both sides). You can attach both stems and fruiting branches or brushes of tomatoes to the base.

Tools for tying tomatoes

All tools and materials for gartering should be taken care of in advance so that there are no difficulties in the future. The selection of equipment depends on the method of support fixation you choose. Give preference to natural materials or, in extreme cases, nylon or plastic.

The best material for garters are scraps of fabric. They do not cut the plant and are easily cut with scissors.

You can use:

• wooden pegs are best suited for supports; when used over several seasons, they only become stronger (don’t throw them away after cleaning);
• the stems and shoots need to be fixed using strips of fabric (preferably cotton), at least 5 centimeters wide;
• choose a coarse mesh with dense, wide wire (thin wire can cut the stems);
• for fixation, you can use special plastic clips, which you can buy at any gardening supply store;
• You can use twine, but this is only permissible for thick and heavy branches that will not break under its pressure.

All materials and tools must be pre-treated. It is recommended to wash and dry fabric strips and ropes thoroughly (especially if they are used more than once). Wooden pegs also need to be trimmed and dried.

Video

conclusions

A garter is necessary to ensure proper growth and preservation of the fruit during the ripening period. This event (tying up a tomato) is carried out in the first stages of tomato growth, preferably a week after planting (or at the moment when the plant gets sick after replanting). This procedure greatly facilitates the work of vegetable growers, creating convenient conditions for caring for the crop. It is worth thinking about the methods and methods of gartering and devices as early as possible, and starting to arrange the garter structures in the fall. A garter is equally necessary for both greenhouse plants and those planted in open ground. The methods depend on the conditions in which you are going to grow tomatoes and on the characteristics (height of the greenhouse, openness to the wind and others) of these conditions. Do not forget about the importance of pinching for a large harvest.

Read how to plant tomatoes correctly in.

After planting tomato seedlings in open ground, one of the points of plant care is tying them up. Tomatoes are tied up both tall and low growing varieties. How to do this correctly and what material to use for this are questions that concern many summer residents.

Gartering tomatoes gives a lot: the fruits will not break the bush from their weight, the plant will not waste vitality on supporting its bush, at a height they will not be able to rot from touching wet soil (from watering or rain), they will not be dirty, and there will be no need. The tomatoes will grow well, warm up, ventilate, and hilling and spraying will become much more convenient.

You can tie tomatoes in different ways and with different available materials. Use metal or wooden stakes and fittings. To tie tomatoes, it is better to use twine, fabric or unnecessary nylon tights; such material will not damage the stem. The width of the strips is at least 3 cm. The dressing material must be new every year so that the plants cannot become infected with last year's diseases. You can, of course, remove the material annually and boil it to disinfect it, but would you want to do this? Do not use fishing line, thin rope or wire, as they can damage the stem.

Methods for gartering tomatoes

• With stakes that are deepened by 20-30 cm, moving 10 cm away from the shoots. The height of the stakes is 1-3 m, depending on the variety of tomatoes. The trunk of each plant is tied to its support with a thick rope (twine).
• When planting, make a trellis with a vertical support of 2 or 3 m. Deepen the stakes along the edges of the bed and stretch the wire between them in the middle and at the top. Ropes are tied to the top line along which the plants will climb. The lower end of each rope should correspond to a separate bush, securing it to the trunk. You can make several rows of wire horizontally () and tie the bushes to them.

• It is very convenient to use specially made cages for gartering tomatoes. Metal circles are made and connected with reinforcement (2-3 pieces are enough). Thus, we planted a tomato bush, dug a cage around the bush to a depth of 20-30 cm and then just tie it up as it grows.

• From metal stakes (reinforcement) they make caps like a wigwam, like a pyramid, which are also installed when planting plants. To do this, dig a stake and make 3-4 tension wires around it. Tomato bushes are planted between the corners of this structure. Thus, one such structure becomes a support for several plants at once. Make the distance between such pyramids 1-1.2 m.

The tomato stem (upper part) is connected to the support, tied 2-3 times and only then tied.

If the binding is done with twine, then in the form of a figure eight.

When tying tomatoes, do not overtighten the stem; as it develops, it becomes thicker, and in the place of tying it can be damaged.

There should be some free space between the stem and the support.

As the bush grows, make additional garters; in total you will need 3-6 of them per season.

The proposed methods for gartering tomatoes can be used when growing both in open ground and in greenhouse conditions.

Almost all summer residents and gardeners who grow vegetables devote a significant part of their garden plot to planting tomatoes. But in order to grow tomatoes and get a good harvest, you need to correctly apply all agricultural techniques. One of which is tying up tomato bushes.

Pros of tying

There are many arguments in favor of tying:

• – if the bush is not tied up, under the weight of the fruit it can lie on the ground, and after the first rain the risk of disease will sharply increase. Fruits lying on the ground begin to rot. Due to direct contact of stems and leaves with wet soil and poor ventilation of the bush, late blight and other diseases quickly develop;
• – little light falls on the leaves and fruits of lying bushes, as a result of which ripening is delayed and the yield decreases;
• – without a garter, the stems may not withstand the load of fruit and break;
• – tied plants are easier to water correctly so that water does not get on the leaves, and it is easier to spray the bush on all sides against diseases and for feeding;
• – Carrying out all plant care techniques, such as pinching, pinching, and also harvesting is much easier on a tied plant.

As you know, there are low-growing varieties and tall ones with unlimited growth. Tall bushes need to be tied up, otherwise it will not be possible to grow them. And short ones need to be tied up selectively. In the southern regions, if there is no rain in the summer, they may not need to be tied up at all, since diseases spread mainly in a humid environment. In more northern regions, all tomatoes, including low-growing ones, need to be tied up. The only exceptions are standard varieties. These are varieties with thick stems, the bushes of which hold the crop in an upright position. And even if they bend toward the ground (this often happens to them, because while their stems are strong, their root system is weak), then they still retain the shape of the bush.

Methods for gartering tomatoes in open ground

You can use the same tying methods as in greenhouses. The difference is that in greenhouses, the frame of the greenhouse can be used as a supporting element, but in open ground, supports must be installed. The main methods of gartering tomato bushes are: on stakes, on a trellis, linear garter, on a net, in a cage.

The simplest and most common method is garter to wooden stakes. Its essence lies in the fact that each plant is tied to its support. The length of the stakes should be equal to the expected height of the tomato bush, plus 20 cm for the stakes to be driven into the ground. They need to be driven no closer than 20 cm from the bush to avoid damage to the roots. Usually the stakes are not hammered in immediately when planting, but after 15-20 days. By this time, the soil will be compacted and they will stand more firmly. The number of garters per bush depends on its height. If the height is more than 60 cm, the rope must be secured in several places. If the bush is spreading and the fruits are large, you need to tie up not only the main stem, but also the shoots. Any material can be used as a garter. The main requirement for it is that it should not be thin and hard. Therefore, it is not recommended to use wire or fishing line; as they grow, they can cut into the stem and prevent further development of the plant. Twine, strips of natural or synthetic fabric, and special plastic garters are used as garters. It is recommended to use them only for one season; used garter materials can become a source of infection. If used for more than one season, they must be disinfected every year by boiling for at least 30 minutes. There is an opinion that it is undesirable to use natural fabric for garters, because it rots quickly and infection accumulates in it to a greater extent than in synthetic materials. But practice shows that natural materials can and should be used. They are soft, support the stem without damaging its surface, and can last two seasons. Of course, for natural materials, disinfection must be carried out. Despite its simplicity, tying it to pegs is a very labor-intensive method. If you grow a lot of tomato bushes, you need to hammer in a lot of stakes every year. In addition, their underground part will rot and they need to be replaced every 2-3 years.

More reliable and less expensive trellis method. They make a trellis like one for grapes. To do this, two strong metal pins are driven into the ground along the edges of the tomato bed, 0.5 m outward from the outer bushes. A wire with a diameter of 2-3 mm is pulled between the pins. For low-growing varieties, pins are driven in every 2.5-3 meters, two rows of wire are pulled and stems and shoots with fruits are tied. For tall varieties, you need to hammer in more powerful pins or install concrete posts along the edges of the bed. Between them, intermediate weaker pins are driven in every 4-5 m. The wire is pulled in several rows, the distance between them is about 0.5 m, and the lashes of tomato bushes are tied to the wire. To prevent the tomato bushes from pulling the outer pins inward, guy wires are made from the same wire. This design has great advantages. In addition to being durable, it can also be used for many years, as it is made entirely of metal materials.

A modification of the trellis method is linear tying. Just as with a trellis, two outer supports are installed, but only one wire is stretched between them at a height of 2 meters. Each bush is tied to it with a rope. One end of it is tied to a wire, and the other with a free loop to the tomato bush in its lower part. As the bush grows, it is wrapped around a rope. This method is more favorable for plants, since they are supported throughout their entire height. But it requires a large number of ropes (which need to be disinfected every year) and more powerful outer supports. It is not very suitable for growing tall varieties with large fruits; under their weight, the wire becomes tight and can even burst. For varieties with large fruits, the trellis method is more suitable.

Exists mesh tying method. This is also a variant of the trellis method, but instead of wire, a coarse mesh made of plastic or metal is stretched between the pins. It is more convenient to tie branched tomato bushes to it, in which it is necessary to tie not only the main stem to the support, but also the side shoots with fruits.

"Cage" method less common, because to implement it you need to use a lot of material, but it can also be used. For each individual bush along the entire height of the plant, make a cage from reinforcing wire or wooden blocks. The plant is located inside the cage and is tied to the structural elements as it grows.

There is also Chinese tying method. It is not suitable for tall varieties, but low-growing varieties can be tied up very quickly with it. To do this, tomato bushes are planted in a row and pegs are hammered between them. The bobbin with twine is held behind the back. At the end of a wooden block, a hole is drilled of such a diameter that the rope moves freely in it. Take the block in your hand on the side opposite to the hole, thread the twine into the hole and tie its end to the first peg. Then they walk along the row, make a turn around the peg and circle the bush. After passing the row, they go from the opposite side, making a turn around the pegs again, and circle the tomatoes on the other side. Each bush is caught between the ropes. This method is good for everyone, the only drawback is that, as with the usual method of tying to pegs, a large number of pegs are also needed here.

When tying up tomato bushes, you should not tighten the ropes (twines) tightly, because as the plant grows, the stem will thicken and the loop of the twine may cut into the stem. To prevent this from happening, in the place where the plant is tied, you need to make a large loop of such a size that two fingers fit into it.

When gartering, you need to take into account the fact that the tomato is growing. And the side stepsons will appear higher after a while. This especially applies to ties to horizontal wires. Therefore, you need to tie to the wire that section of the stem that is not at the level of the wire, but 5-10 cm below it.

As soon as the first spring sun warms up, the summer cottages become lively - someone is loosening the soil, someone is digging. Everyone wants to reap a rich harvest in the fall. Amateur summer residents do everything possible to grow tomatoes. This works out differently for everyone - some people collect tomatoes in large quantities and don’t know what to do with them, and some people have only a few fruits per bush.

Why is this happening? The opinion of many people is based on the fact that tomatoes are “loved” or not by the place and the person who cares for them. Actually this is not true. To grow this unpretentious garden crop, it is important not only to prepare the soil, but also to feed the plants, water them frequently, because tomatoes are 80% water, and also to plant them in time and tie them up correctly. The future harvest depends on how correctly this part of the work is done.

Why do you need to tie up tomatoes?

Most gardeners theoretically know and even adhere to some rules for growing tomatoes. Most people manage to harvest a good harvest, but you can make an effort, set aside a little time and pay more attention to growing tomatoes. If everything is done correctly, then, starting from the beginning of August and ending in late autumn, you can harvest a good harvest of tomatoes.

If we have already become familiar with how to properly grow seedlings and plant tomatoes, then not everyone knows how to properly tie up tomatoes.

Why you need to tie up tomatoes:

• it is important that the fruits do not fall to the ground or touch it;
• It is necessary to tie up not only tall, but also low-growing varieties of tomatoes;
• When tying a plant, it is not advisable to use thin rope, fishing line or wire, as they can damage the delicate stems of the tomatoes. It is better to use nylon tights or cut an old sheet into strips;
• You cannot leave garter material from last year to tie up tomatoes next year - this can infect the plants.

Why else is it necessary to tie up tomatoes? According to experienced summer residents, even if you have a low-growing variety of tomatoes and the bushes are not tall, then when you tie them up correctly, you can enhance the growth of the root system. This means that she will become stronger, receive more nutrition, which she will then pass on to the fruits.

An important rule that it is advisable not to miss at the first stage - planting tomato seedlings. As soon as you plant the seedlings, prepare the stakes in advance. They need to be installed at a distance of 10 cm from the future bush, and then immediately make a garter in the form of the number “8”. In addition, when tying, you can use trellises, then there is a chance to save on the consumption of garter material (rope or fabric strips).

And yet, properly tied tomatoes will bear fruit well, the bushes will become stronger, but will not break. Those plants that mature and are supported by stakes will be protected from slugs. In addition, if the summer turns out to be rainy, then tomatoes can be saved from rotting. The garter is also very important to ensure normal ventilation of the plants - they will be well ventilated and warmed up evenly, and you don’t need to put in a lot of effort to spray them to protect them from late blight.

How to properly tie tomatoes can be seen in the photo:

Material for gartering tomatoes

A support for staking plants can be a wooden peg, an ordinary strong stick or trellises. You can also use metal reinforcement as a support.

Most often, summer residents prefer tying tomatoes on a trellis. This is a support specifically designed for tying up climbing garden and vegetable crops. The design may differ - these can be vertical supports made of metal or wood, between which a plastic mesh is stretched. By the way, the mesh can be different, metal or woven independently from a strong rope. The mesh can also be replaced with wooden pegs that are driven into the ground. But the best option is still a ready-made structure for growing tomatoes on a trellis.

By the way, you can adapt and grow tomatoes right next to buildings, for example, plant tomatoes near a greenhouse, and use one wall as a support. To do this, you need to stretch a trellis plastic mesh onto the wall of the greenhouse on one side, and on the other side, if you planted tomatoes in several rows, install support pegs and also stretch the mesh.

As a “dressing” for plants, you can use old linen, sheets, or use nylon tights. This material will last 1 season, or maybe several. If you plan to use the same material for gartering tomatoes in the new season, then it must be processed. To do this, the tapes are washed in hot water with laundry soap or simply boiled for several minutes. This is necessary in order to prevent pests from infecting young tomato bushes, since they reproduce very quickly and the larvae can remain on the tape for a long time.

How to make a simple trellis design yourself

There is nothing complicated about gartering tomatoes. The main thing is desire and some free time.

What materials will you need:

• wooden supports;
• slats;
• nails;
• wire.

First you need to prepare 3 supports, this can be a wooden post or a metal one. The height of the support above the ground is 3 m. The posts are installed in 1 row at a distance of 4 m from each other. If you have a large tomato plantation, then you need to prepare more columns.

We will also need wooden slats to connect the top of the supports and the nails. We nail the slats to the supports as tightly as possible.

The end of the wire is secured to the outer supports. We do this kind of work further, in increments of 1 m. If we took 3 pieces of supports, then we should get 3 wires, in the lower part it will pass at a distance of 20 cm from the ground.

That's all, we have prepared the frame for the trellises. Now the next stage is installation of the frame. We will need soft wire, rope or nylon thread. The material needs to be cut into equal sections, 4.5 m long. Now let's get to work - you need to secure the free end of the rope to a support and twist it on the wire once so that the rope does not move. Every 20 cm we wind the next rope on the cross wire to the very bottom. Our task is to “weave” a grid that will have identical cells. In total, we will need about 6 such woven “panels”.

This part of the work can be done in the fall, when the harvest has been harvested and the soil needs to be prepared for the new season. Just at this time, you can dig a small trench (approximately 60 cm wide), the depth of the trench is half a meter. Don’t throw the soil we are digging far away, we will need it.

Now our actions are as follows: we take 6 identical parts of manure (preferably horse) and mullein, 3 parts of pure wood ash (without impurities) and goat droppings and 1 part of chicken. We combine all this, mix it and place it in the prepared trench to the edges. Now all we have to do is cover our natural fertilizer with soil. Just over the winter, the trench will squat a little and in the spring you can begin work.

What we do in the spring: prepare a ditch for planting tomato seedlings. The depth of the groove is approximately 15 cm. We plant tall varieties of tomatoes directly through the trellis.

Caring for the plants is simple - as they grow, they are directed upward so that they curl around the rope or wire. In order not to hill up the soil, the beds can be covered with leaves or dry chopped straw.

As a result of this garter of tomatoes, you can collect a bucket or a little more tomatoes from 1 bush. As a result of growing vegetables on a trellis, you can get rid of many diseases, the bushes will be well ventilated. In addition, harvesting is a pleasure.

Advantages of the trellis method of gartering tomatoes:

• you can walk between the rows to care for the aisles and harvest;
• the tomatoes will be well ventilated, which means the leaves (especially the lower ones) will not “sweat” and rot;
• mold spores (late blight) will not multiply, since there are no favorable conditions for the growth of bacteria;
• the tomatoes are in plain sight and are clearly visible, and harvesting will be much easier, since you don’t need to turn and tilt the branches.

How to tie tomatoes on support stakes

Metal fittings, a plastic pipe or a wooden stick are suitable as support pegs. The height of the support depends on the variety of tomatoes. For tall plants, 2 m of length (sometimes 3) is enough, and for short plants, 1 m will be enough.

The pegs need to be driven into the ground so that they hold firmly and do not become loose, since as the plant grows, the load on the support will increase. Therefore, we dig pegs to a depth of 20 cm. The distance between plants is 5 or 10 cm. The pegs need to be driven in simultaneously with planting the seedlings.

Next, after the supports are installed, you immediately need to tie a clothesline (fabric) to the support or make ribbons of the required size from an old sheet. We wind the rope crosswise around the support and the tomato bush, and then fasten it to the support so that it does not come undone.

Garter of tomatoes on linear trellises

Mark the location of the future garden bed. Install supports on both sides (these can be stakes, tubes or thick wooden sticks). The height of the support is 2 or 3 m. Between the supports you need to install a crossbar or pull a rope (not thin so that it does not damage the stems of the plant). We tie a rope to the crossbar so that each plant has its own support, along which the tomatoes will curl as they are pulled out. The lower end of the rope must be tied to the stem of the tomatoes.

How to tie tomatoes in a greenhouse

Tomatoes need to be tied up in a greenhouse a little differently. For example, you can install metal rods at each edge of the bed once for many years in a row. Then connect them together with wire or other durable material.

Next, a dressing material is tied to each bush on one side and to the wire so that the bush is positioned vertically. When the tomatoes gradually stretch out, the rope is tightened. The purpose of adjusting the rope is to level the bush so that it is positioned vertically.

Hard and thin garters cannot be used, as well as wire, since this material can damage thin, immature stems and young shoots. It is better to take soft and thick dressing material. An old sheet or any thin knitted items (T-shirts, T-shirts, underwear) will do just fine.

You cannot stretch out the time so as not to miss the moment of tying, otherwise the bushes will grow crookedly and then it will be impossible to straighten them.

There is another way of gartering, when a small peg is placed next to the bush, and the seedlings are immediately tied to it. Next, you need to stretch a ribbon or rope from the peg to tie the plant. If the fit is dense, then the loop should be loose when tying. Separate tomato branches are tied into a trellis. Pulling shoots together is strictly prohibited. Tomatoes should grow freely, and to prevent them from breaking or falling over, a garter is exactly what is needed.

If you have chosen the trellis method of gartering tomatoes, then when growing tomatoes in a greenhouse you need to remove the lower leaves. The humidity in the greenhouse is high and plants can become infected with late blight.

In an adult tomato, the lower part (30 cm from the ground) should remain free.

If, nevertheless, the plant becomes infected with late blight, then the leaves must be removed from the lower part completely, right down to the brush. If everything is in order, then the leaves need to be removed sequentially, every 3 days 1-2 leaves.

It is important that the dressing is loose both when growing tomatoes in a greenhouse and in open ground. The material should not cut into the stem and literally cut it. So don't skimp on rope or old sheets. And if you don’t have time to do this, go to a specialized store, where you can buy devices for tying tomatoes - clothespins, rings or large-mesh plastic mesh. This material will serve you for many years.

You can learn how to tie tomatoes from this video:

Many novice gardeners are interested in why and how to tie up tomatoes. Tomato is a rather capricious and demanding crop that requires increased attention during the growing process. There are several simple ways to get a good harvest of tomatoes.

Carefully tied beds make it easier to care for plants. No matter how strong the stems of the plants are, as the fruits ripen they begin to bend towards the ground, becoming a treat for slugs and worms, and sometimes they can even break. This is especially true for tall tomatoes, which can reach a height of two meters.

A simple procedure for tying up tomatoes will greatly benefit the future harvest and protect them from typical problems. How is tomato garter useful for a beginning gardener?

1. It is important to water tomato bushes at the root without touching the tops and fruits, so as not to cause burns on them when exposed to sunlight. It is impossible to water seedlings lying on the ground in this way.
2. Tomato fruits will not be accessible to caterpillars, slugs, mice and other pests, since they will be located above the ground level.
3. The stem, leaves and fruits will be protected from excessive moisture and rotting.
4. The stem will not bend or break under the weight of the harvest.
5. Securely tied tomatoes will not die from heavy rains, which can damage the plant with powerful blows, causing damage to the bushes.
6. Gartering tomatoes in open ground allows you to make tomato bushes as open to sunlight as possible, which will give them the opportunity to fully develop.
7. Gartering tomatoes will allow you to effectively carry out the spraying procedure to prevent all kinds of diseases.
8. Growing tomatoes is impossible without carrying out procedures such as pinching and mulching. Tying the tomatoes will make these processes easier.

How to tie up tomatoes

With the development of vegetable growing, several options have developed and taken root on how to achieve success in growing tomatoes using tying. Here are the main ways to garter tomatoes:

• pegs;
• cells;
• trellises;
• caps;
• hooks

Using pegs

Many novice gardeners are interested in the question - how to tie tomatoes to pegs? Using pegs is the most common method. It is important to use it on time. How to use it for garter for tomatoes? It is necessary to select the appropriate height of each peg, corresponding to the dimensions of the bush. Tall seedlings will require pegs 2-2.5 meters high, medium-sized ones - much lower. To properly tie tomatoes, you need to use stakes whose height is 30 cm greater than the height of the tomato bushes.

Each peg must be firmly fixed in the soil, deepening it by 30 cm. It should be located at a distance of 10 cm from the tomato stem so as not to damage the roots (photo 1). The tomato should be tied fairly loosely. First you need to tie the twine to the support, then wrap the stem without effort and tie it. As the plants grow, the tomato garter is repeated several times.

It is worth noting that it is important to pre-burn wooden pegs and slats in a kiln or over a fire before installation. A garter on supports with charred ends can be used for a long time, otherwise the pegs will rot by the end of the season.

Using "cells"

When gartering, you will need blanks in the shape of circles made of thick wire. They need to be attached to metal supports, thus obtaining a strong cage in the form of a cylinder. The structures will be needed in large quantities - one for each bush. It is necessary to dig each cell to a depth of 15-20 cm and tie a seedling to it (photo 2).

Instead of cages from wire and reinforcement, you can make wooden ones by driving one support near individual tomato bushes to get a square cage. It will be much stronger than pegs.

Such designs will last for many years, although you will have to put a little effort into making them. As the tomatoes grow in open ground, tying must be repeated several times.

On the trellises

Successful cultivation of tomatoes is also possible by tying the bushes to trellises. The method consists of driving wooden supports about 3 m high into the ground at opposite ends of the bed. If the beds are too long, you can drive several supports in one row at a distance of 2-4 m from each other. You need to nail the slats to their upper part as firmly as possible using nails to get a frame. We stretch the wire horizontally onto the supports, the bottom one should be located at a height of 25 cm from the ground surface.

On the resulting frame you need to make garters for tomatoes in the form of a net using soft wire or nylon rope. Trellis will serve as a strong support for growing bushes, especially if you install it on both sides of the bed. Such a wicker structure is not afraid of any winds (photo 3).

Growing tomatoes on trellises allows you to tie up individual clusters with pouring fruits so that they do not bend under their weight.

Supports in the form of caps

You can tie tomatoes in open ground on supports in the form of caps (pyramids). The holes for seedlings need to be prepared by forming a triangle with sides of 35-40 cm. A column about 3 m high is driven into the center of the triangle, from the top of which 3 equal pieces of wire are pulled. They become a support for 3 plants at the same time.

Such “wigwams” can be made from any available means - ropes, twines, vines. To cover 4 bushes, you can use a larger number of guy rods with transverse weaving in the form of a cage (photo 4).

Crocheting tomatoes

It is convenient to use hooks as a garter for tomatoes, which will effectively perform their function all summer. Using hooks, you can create the strongest supports for growing giant plants. This method seems quite complicated for tying tomatoes in open ground, but it is optimal for tying tall tomato bushes.

You need to stretch a wire or rope along the entire length of the bed, attaching it to supports installed in the same way as for gartering with trellises. You need to cut rings from a used bicycle inner tube or old socks or tights, and make hooks from thick, strong wire. Near each bush you need to stretch a fishing line, place loops on it at a distance of 20-25 cm from each other, thread hooks into them, and the structure is ready. All that remains is to place the rings under the desired branches, bend them in half and thread the hooks into them. As the bush grows, the garter is repeated, only the ring is put on the hook located above.

Plants tied in this way are not damaged, since the soft material does not cut into them, and the clusters do not break under the weight of the filling fruits.

How to tie tomatoes (video)

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