Florida weave for love apple is a budget - friendly DIY treillage method for undetermined and definitive multifariousness .
Marje / Getty Images
If you ’ve ever try growing draw of tomato plant at once , you know that tomato cages can get dear cursorily . However , using the Florida weave for tomatoes is a DIYtrellising methodthat is budget - friendly , easy to install , and extremely hardy . you’re able to use it for bothdeterminate and indeterminate tomato varietiesand it will keep your bumper harvest secure all time of year . Use this step - by - stride template to try the Florida weave for tomato .
Credit:Marje / Getty Images
What Is the Florida Weave Method?
Also recognize as the “ field goal weave ” or “ stake and weave ” method , the Florida weave is a DIY trellis compose of sturdy wood or metal posts and a bit of twine . After the posts are ram into the earth in a row , tomato plants are plant between the posts , and then twine is meander in between the love apple stems and posts to keep the plants vertical . Throughout the season , more twine is added to the treillage to keep tomato stems and sonorous yield well - supporteduntil harvest prison term .
Benefits of Using the Florida Weave for Tomatoes
Using cages , stake , and Florida weave for tomatoes all help these plants grow better by supporting acquire fruit , keeping obstinate flora stems hefty , and improve flow of air around plant leaves . However , the Florida weave method has a few decided advantages over othertomato staking options , including :
How to Use Florida Weave for Tomatoes
The near time to install a Florida weave trellis is too soon in the time of year beforeplanting tomato . If needed , you’re able to also add a trellis after planting love apple , but you ’ll need to work carefully to avoid negative plant stems and roots . Once you get the hang of using the Florida weave , assay trellising other vining plantswith this technique , including noggin , peas , and cucumber .
What You Need :
1. Assemble the supplies.
Florida weave trellises can be made with all - natural woodwind instrument posts and cotton or jute twine or with metallic element thyroxin - Post and nylon twine . However , trellises made of metal and ultraviolet radiation - resistant nylon string last longer , and you wo n’t need to fetch them indoors in winter if you do n’t want to .
The number of supports you need depends on the sizing of your garden and the number of tomato plant you choose to grow . For a sturdy system , pick up two posts for each conclusion of your tomato row , plus one additional supporting post for every two to three love apple plants you designate to grow .
2. Prepare the planting spot.
Before installing the Florida weave trellis , prep the garden bed by tear down the dirt , remove widow’s weeds , andadding compost to boost soil fertility rate . Florida weave trellises can be used in both in - ground andraised seam garden .
3. Install the support posts.
After youprepare the soilto suit a row of Lycopersicon esculentum , sink two support posts , side by side , on one end of the planting row using a post driver or sledgehammer . Install two more post on the polar end of the planting row and then tote up extra supporting Charles William Post at 2- to 3 - human foot interval between the end posts . When you ’re done , you should have a dustup of support posts buried 10 to 12 inches in the soil with at least 5 to 6 feet of the sustenance above the dirt line .
4. Prune and plant the tomatoes.
Prune the tomato plant plantsto remove suckers and discredited leaves , and thenplant them in a rowbetween the support posts . Space the tomato plantsabout 2 to 3 metrical unit aside with approximately one livelihood post for every two to three plants . To keep Lycopersicon esculentum from competing for light , choose either indeterminate or definitive - character tomatoes , but do n’t mix the two type in a single planting wrangle .
Do n’t prune or trellis Lycopersicon esculentum during smashed weather to avoid spreading plant diseases .
5. Add nails (optional).
Metal T - station and rebar accompaniment have a grooved aerofoil , so they do n’t need added tacks or nails to keep trellising twine in position . If you ’re using wooden wager or bamboo rod , you may want to add nail or tacks every 8 inches along one side of each reenforcement to keep the trellis twine from slip one’s mind .
6. Start weaving.
When the tomato plants are about 8 inches marvellous , it ’s prison term to for the weaving part of a Florida weave trellis . Tie one end of the string to the double support Emily Price Post on one side of your course of tomatoes and then ply the twine along the planting row , loop the string twice around each support pole about 8 inch above the soil line . As you work , keep the string fuddled to ward off slippage .
When you touch the polar end of the words , secure the string with a squiffy grayback to the double support posts . Then , repeat this process in the polar direction , securing a 2d length of string to each support post while gently sandwich the tomato stems between the two lengths of twine . When you ’re done , you should have a row of twine 8 column inch above the soil on either side of your tomato plant plants , and the tomato plant should be gently held aloft between the lengths of twine .
7. Repeat the weave.
As your plants grow , go on to wind additional length of string through the support poles and tomato plants at 8 - in interval until you reach the top of the support poles or your plants stop growing . hold tomato stems and leaves with aid as you tuck them between the trellis twine to avoid breaks and snag , and do n’t tie the twine so tightly that it cause scarred stems . During the peak of summer , you may need to add together additional lengths of string once a week to keep up with fast - uprise tomato plant .
Frequently Asked Questions
Florida weave trellises can be used repeatedly as long as the twine and posts are still in sound experimental condition . If you ’re reusing office and twine , disinfect them each season to avoid spreadingtomato plant disease .
To keep Florida weave pie-eyed , select a UV - tolerant twine that ’s less likely to sag and assert tautness on the string as you wrap up it around the accompaniment situation . Adding nails or tack to wooden or bamboo supports can also keep string from mistake .
