I have 9 tomato plants that are growing very well and a few have small tomatoes on them. My question is do I need to "cage" them? We never did as a kid, but I see lots of people who do. If so, what is the best way to go about it. They are about 2 feet tall or so and quite bushy. Thanks!

caging or staking is a good idea - it allows air to circulate and supports the plants. i prefer caging, because it is low upkeep - you don;t have to tie anything off, just make sure you get a cage that is big enough, mine are too small and i have to go get bigger ones to replace mine.

good luck!

I'm using the trench method this year and I have to say I have more tomatoes than I have in the past. But then I also have several different varieties out there this year.

What is the trench method??

Tonya,
That is another question there is no wrong answer really. I cage and also let some sprawl. I mulch heavy and here don't have the moisture problem from rain normally so both work well. The reason I cage is so I can put more in a certain area. I have never staked so can't comment on that. It boils down to preference and how you want to use your available space. I have plenty so sprawling works well for me. Best of luck with whichever method you use. JD

Tonya I cage mine but I don't use the little round one you see most places. I have steel square cages a paper company used for recycleing a friend brought them to me they are great stand about 4 foot high and are 2x2 ft. I now have two stacked up because my cherokee tomoato is over 6 foot tall Had to support it limbs are big and heavy hated to but had no choice that or let limbs break off as they are too heavy to hold themselves up. Hope this helps you.

Thanks all...I think that I am going to stake and maybe make a "net" of twine. I hate to buy cages...I have been on maternity leave for 6 months so I really don't want to spend if not neccessary. I would still like to find out about this trench method...anyone know what this is?

JV too bad on the tomato plants branches breaking off. I HAD that problem and also the tomato plants outgrowing the cages. Heres what I did. I went to farm and home nd bought some tomato FENCING. It`s about 8 feet by 4 feet. I bent it if half to make a u out of it. Then I put it around the tomato plants I had at the time and shoved the ends into the ground anchoring them. The BIG square holes support the branches without damaging them. Anyway the 8 tomato plants I had in them (4 fences 2 plants per fence) easily filled them and I got over 100 Lbs of tomatos. roma and big boy (more like beafsteak in size)

I NEVER had soooooo many tomatos in my like and I made several gallons of sauce (yum yum)

That is what "I" would do. Such a shame I did`nt take a pic of them last year.

Tonya, I'm not positive and maybe she can confirm, but I think what TK is referring to is the planting of "leggy" tomato plants in a shallow trench rather than digging a deep hole to bury most of the stem in. This keeps most of the initial roots of the plants near the soil's surface.

Thanks John! Too bad I didn't know about this sooner. I have very sandy soil and had to mix potting soil with my soil...that was fun! :rolleyes: