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How to build a tomato stakes and ties
Tall (cordon) tomatoes, peppers, chillies and aubergines get heavy with fruit. A cane and a few soft ties stop them snapping or flopping over.
- DifficultyEasy
- Time15 minutes
- Rough costabout £9
What you need
| Item | Qty | Cost | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bamboo canes, 1.8m | 10 | £6.00 | Thompson & Morgan · Suttons · B&Q · Wickes · Amazon |
| Soft garden twine or plant ties | 1 | £3.00 | Thompson & Morgan · Suttons · B&Q · Wickes · Amazon |
Prices are rough guides. Shop links are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you (more).
Tools
- Scissors
Step by step
- Push a cane in 5cm from where each plant will go, about 30cm deep. Do this before planting so you don't spear the roots.
- Plant the tomato next to its cane.
- Tie the stem to the cane in a loose figure-of-eight: round the cane, cross over, round the stem. Leave room for the stem to fatten.
- Add another tie every 20-30cm as it grows. Pinch out the side shoots that grow in the 'armpits' between leaf and stem.
Tips
- Bush and tumbling tomatoes don't need a cane - just tall ones.
- Never tie tightly - the stem gets much thicker over summer.
Good for growing
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