The method is called "sprawl" and used by some growers. If the area is heavily mulched so the plants and fruit don't rest right on the dirt it can work but is messy and difficult to access the plant for harvest and pest control. And yes you will lose some fruits to rot from ground contact. You also risk some plant's stems breaking off.

Personally I wouldn't do it but if the crop loss and other issues are no problem for you them otherwise it's fine.

Dave

I do have more tomato plants that I need. I plan to give some away and just put the rest in the ground. I always get carried away when I start seeds, always trying new varieties. If I do say so myself, my plants are as nice as you can purchase in a garden store. I just love to get them started every spring.

Dave, thanks for your advise.

For $8 bucks you can get a 6 pack of stakes from Lowes.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_348946-199-130970___?productId=3387820&pl=1&Ntt=tomato+plant+stakes

Once I was able to purchase broom handles from a factory that were rejects. Unfortunately, they went out of business a couple years ago. We have fencing t-stakes but don't have enough. I also have indeterminate tomatoes that have to be staked. I am talking about 65 - 100 plants that I will probably plant and give the rest away. I counted 169 plants and I have already planted 16.

It appears to me that I must stake them, I'm just being lazy!

Honestly it has been so many years since I gave up on stakes and switched to good CRW cages that I don't recall all the issues associated with staking. And I grow 100+ plants as well. But one option available you already mentioned is Florida weave for the indeterminates. Requires lots less stakes and frees some of them up for the other plants. Another option is cattle panels. 3 to 4 fence stakes each and tie the plants to the panels. Last but not least is if you have any access to woods. Young saplings can make good stakes.

Dave

I've let some of my plants sprawl. Gotta give them plenty of space and you have to accept some fruit losses.

Rodney