Not really helpful in your case, but I gave up trying to support container tomatos (indeterminates). I am fortunate enough to have a fairly large, 2nd story deck (it is on a slope so it's actually 1st and 2nd story) and I let the tomatos grow up and over the railing and then droop down.

In other words if I were in your position I would probably choose to elevate them and let them cascade over. Of course they will grow fine either way, so it is just personal preference.

IMHO at elevated 4' they'll likely be on the ground by September.

If you want to extend your season and move them inside for a few October nights and back outside in the morning (like I do in Denver area), sprawling plants will make your moving job really hard. I can't get fam approval for mesh, so I'm stuck with tom cages, but at least they allow me to easily pick up my containers and move them to the garage at night. And if you hang your plants after the season, they'll be all over and take up more space if sprawled.

Just a thought.

Dan

Thanks, guys -

Where we are, night time temps are always pretty cool in the summer and the whole area is 'tomato challenged' with ripe tomatoes only showing up in late August / Sept - no matter what varieties we plant - early season, mid, or late.

Sungold will ripen the earliest, late July. I've a niche market for these things (get the kids hooked early - gave them away free, and then they haul their folks over to buy ....bwaahaaahaaa) and so if I can get some earlier, the better it will be. By late Aug, the tomato glut is on, and then we move into other varieties.

I think I'll try the shelving stuff. Easier, too.