Supporting tomatoes

[vegnovice10]

My plants seem to have shot up overnight and the support stick I'd given them wasn't enough and one had collapsed! Have put in stronger sticks. My question is do I need to buy plastic ties I've seen in the shops to fasten them to the sticks or can I use the garden string I have? I have used this tied loosely. Thanks

[tommyq1976]

I tend to use plastic cable-ties, they don't slacken off or come undone like string or twine can. They're dirt cheap too from places like Homebase or Wilkinsons.

[Shaun]

should they be tight or loose? i have tied up my toms loosely as i dont want to damage them?

[tommyq1976]

Originally Posted by Shaun

should they be tight or loose? i have tied up my toms loosely as i dont want to damage them?

Yeah, best to go pretty loose, here's one of my tomato plants (the one the dog tried to kill), cable-tied to the support pole:

[Lesley Jay]

Personally I would go for garden string, loosely tied as you said Tom. I do a sort of figure of eight with the string, wrapping it all the way around the stem first, then around the cane stick. That way the stem of the tomato plant never touches the cane at all so it can't be damaged in the wind by rubbing against the cane stick.

[vegnovice10]

thanks I'll stick with the string as I have that. Also I don't know when I'll get shopping to somewhere which sells them, as have to make a special bus trip as don't have a car.

[DavidT]

String was used long before cable ties were invented, though I am not averse to using cable ties in the garden.