Florida Style Basket Weave Trellising Of Tomatoes

University of maine cooperative extension vegetable specialist mark hutton demonstrates how to utilize the basket weave system for growing tomatoes and disc.

Florida style basket weave trellising of tomatoes.

There are many methods that you can employ for keeping your tomato plants off of the ground. Along with the method described on this page we also use tomato baskets here on the farm. Start with sturdy stakes at least 6 to 7 feet tall. You can review the basket information by clicking here.

Here s how to set it up. Growing for market pam dawling. The wisconsin farm center uwex publication a3904 02 caring for the tomato crop 2012. If you re growing tomatoes in your backyard consider the florida weave system.

They use a trellising technique commonly called florida weave to keep the fruit off the ground so they ll be safe from fungus bugs and critters. While i can t pin down the full creation story of the florida weave also known as the basket weave it seems some farmers in southern florida began experimenting with trellising tomatoes in the 1920s. When it comes to trellising tomato plants there are many advantages that improve the overall health of these plants. It is a labor saving method of tomato trellising when pruning is not important.

Each weave is really just one long loop. With stakes a small piece of pipe and a box of twine thi. An easily available and inexpensive option is wood and i ve used 2 2 wooden stakes successfully for determinate tomatoes they ll last for a season or two but are prone to rotting and splintering and the tops might shatter with a forceful hammer strike. Basket weaving is the most common way to trellis determinate tomatoes in open field or protected culture and it is occasionally used for indeterminate tomatoes.

Maine cooperative extension how to grow tomatoes basket weave. How to support your tomato plants using the florida weave technique choose your stakes. The easiest florida weave trellis technique is used for determinate tomatoes while tomato cages are typically used for indeterminate tomatoes in the vegetable garden. For determinate tomatoes the florida weave is our favorite way to trellis and support the plants.

Ohio state video tomato suckering. But calling it a weave overstates the case a bit. Take a look at these videos to see the basket weave in action. This trellising technique is easy to install allows air to circulate between plants thus reducing disease holds plants upright and is quicker than tying each plant to one stake.

Growing fresh market tomatoes 2010.