groovy - You shouldn't use string or twine when holding up tomato plants. As you've already learned, it doesn't behave well. I've used old nylon stockings and wide strips of cloth torn from an old sheet. The fabrics cushion the plant's movements and spread the strain over a wider area. Also, tie the fabric loosely and below a branch so the plant can't slip or fall. I use two or three tall stakes to direct the strain in different directions as those tall indeterminate plants require.

I use Velcro Plant ties. They are re-usable and adjustable easily.

dcarch

Me too, green ones... about 3 or so total per plant thru maturity.

I have got to be missing something. I did try that with some rag strips and it was worse. The stakes that I have are smooth, and when I tie the plants to the stakes they (the plants) slip and fall right down. How exactly do you tie them to keep the plant up?

I do tie them just below the branches, it's not that the branches slip out of the tie, the whole plant goes down, tie and all, even with multiple stakes.

What about using those corkscrew-looking tomato stakes, the ones that are spiral? Does anyone know if they are effective and easy to find at garden centers?

I've used hemp twine for the last several years with no problem. It's the easiest thing to use. In the very few cases that it wants to slip down you can tie it to the stake first before going around the plant. Leave it loose enough for the plant to grow. What are you using for stakes? Maybe they're too slick??? For larger indeterminates I use steel fence tee posts. They're not much more expensive than wooden stakes.
John A

If you are tying plants to stakes, I think you're supposed to do a figure 8... that is, cross the tie/string/rope/rag, etc, between the stake & plant so they are each encircled. This should add some resistance to it so it just don't slip down the stake. As the plant's stem gets thicker, it'll tighten, so you may need to adjust the tie or retie if there's no elasticity to the material you used.

I tie the hemp garden twine tight around the stake with a square knot and then loosely around the tomato stem, ending with another square knot. I too found that by doing a figure 8, the loops slid down the stakes when the tomatoes started to get heavy. The tie goes around the tomato stem under a set of leaves but be sure to leave enough slack around the stem so that when it gets thicker, the twine doesn't cut into it.

I can't remember if it was posted here or elsewhere with a picture of the technique, but what I do is 'grasp' the vine with a length of twine, cross the twine between the vine and stake (leaving plenty of room for growth, but tight enough to support the vine), then wrap the twine around the stake 2 or 3 times before tying a knot on the lower end of the wrapped twine. (All wrapped twine is above the knot.)
Last year I used Bamboo stakes and though they were very smooth surfaced, the ties did not move when tied in this manner.
Hope this helps!
Cathy

I use twine when staking my plants. It scratches the branches but no big deal. I have never had aproblem with twine slipping because I use a heavy duty staple gun(for thick bamboo or normal stakes)to anchor every tie to the stake. If you don't have one of these they are like 15 or 20 bucks at home depot. Really a convinient way of making the plant(also fruit clusters when they get big)stay exactley where you want and off the ground.Cheers.

Vince

I've been using synthetic knitting yarn. No problems with it yet. It seems a little stretchier and more forgiving than brown twine.

Use a staple gun. Staple the rag/tie/strap to the stake, then tie up the vine. Works like a charm. No more sliding.

Mary

Use bamboo; there are nodes every several inches that will prevent slipping if you tie a square knot around the stake; then tie a loop around the plant.

groovy1

Maybe the link below will be helpful. It shows how to tie your tomato plants to a stake without their slipping. Click on the picture for a larger view and you'll see how the author suggests doing it.

Here is a link that might be useful: How to Tie Tomato Vines

Thanks for the link Anney, I was wondering how I was going to manage my potential monsters this year.

Not to hijack this thread, but can anyone suggest a fairly inexpensive stake to use for a florida weave? I have 3 rows of 6-7 plants. I saw some 6' 1" diameter bamboo poles at home depot, but I'm not sure if they will be sturdy enough.

Thanks for all the great advice so far from everyone! Much appreciated! I do have one last question: when I use cut up t-shirts to tie the plants to the stake, the cloth 'holds on' to any rain moisture, etc, and that is where the plant begins to show signs of disease at times. Has this happened with anyone else? I will follow the suggestion for using nylon hose.

Mark

hyjinks,

I have one bed of 6 tomatoes in a Florida weave, and I wouldn't think 1" bamboo would be sturdy enough. I've got a 7' steel channel post at either end, angled outward slightly to add some tension to the line. Then I have two of those 1" plastic-covered steel stakes in between -- after the second and fourth plants.

Even those big steel posts start to flex under the weight of late-season plants, but I don't have any fear of them breaking and I can really pull hard to tighten the lines.

I cage most of my plants and only stake the plants in pots.

When the Mrs. has me clean out my closet, I use old
t-shirts that I tear into strips.
Works like a charm, and I've not run out yet ~ lol ~

Tom