Tomatoes are a favourite amongst most gardeners to grow in their backyard. Since tomato plants can grow quite tall and large, they can tend to fall over and damage both the plant and its fruit.
Staking newly-planted tomatoes is a practical solution to keep them upright and productive throughout the growing season. This simple technique makes a significant difference to your harvest quality and quantity.
Staking tomatoes offers clear benefits that make the extra effort worthwhile. According to the University of Georgia Extension, plants trained off the ground produce better quality fruit because foliar disease problems are generally less severe due to improved air circulation.
Unstaked tomato plants sprawl across the ground, making them vulnerable to rot and insect damage. The weight of ripening fruit can also snap branches and reduce your overall yield. If you grow other plants that need vertical support, our guide on how garden stakes protect your plants covers the basics.
Before you pick a staking method, work out which type of tomato you are growing. The two types have very different support needs.
Determinate varieties grow to a set height of roughly 1 to 1.2 metres and then stop. They produce all their fruit over a short window of two to three weeks. A single stake or a short cage is usually enough.
Indeterminate varieties keep growing and fruiting right through the season. They can reach 2 metres or more in Australian conditions. These need taller, stronger stakes and regular tying as the vine extends.
Heirloom tomatoes such as Brandywine and Mortgage Lifter are almost always indeterminate and need the tallest stakes you can get. Cherry tomato varieties like Sweet Bite are often determinate and do well with shorter support.
Having all your materials ready makes the staking process much quicker and easier. Gather everything you need before you head out to the garden.
For standard tomato varieties, 1500mm hardwood garden stakes work perfectly as they provide sufficient height without being excessive. The 17 x 17mm profile offers excellent strength while being easy to drive into most soil types.
If you are growing indeterminate or heirloom tomato varieties that reach greater heights, 1800mm hardwood garden stakes give you the extra height needed to support vigorous plants throughout the entire growing season. For help choosing between different sizes and materials, see our guide on how to find the best garden stakes for your plants.
Timing matters when it comes to staking tomato plants. The ideal time is shortly after transplanting seedlings into your garden bed.
Staking early prevents root damage that can occur when driving stakes near established plants. Young tomato plants develop extensive root systems quickly, spreading outward from the stem.
If you have already planted your tomatoes without stakes, you can still add them carefully. Position stakes at least 15cm away from the main stem and angle them slightly away from the plant to avoid major roots.
Wait until seedlings have been in the ground for about a week before tying them to stakes. This allows them to recover from transplant shock and begin establishing themselves. In cooler parts of Australia, you can get a head start on your garden with tips for planting winter vegetables before tomato season arrives.
Proper stake installation creates a stable support system that lasts the entire growing season. Position each garden stake approximately 15cm away from the tomato plant's base.
Drive the stake into the ground using a rubber mallet, applying firm, steady pressure. For a 1500mm stake, you should insert at least 300mm into the ground for stability.
If your soil is particularly hard or compacted, water the area thoroughly the day before staking. This softens the ground and makes stake insertion much easier.
Check that each stake stands vertically straight after installation. A leaning stake will eventually pull your tomato plant off-centre and may topple under the weight of fruit.
For rows of tomatoes, consider laying a 1.83m black woven weed mat along your garden bed before planting, which suppresses weeds and reduces maintenance around your staked plants. The 80gsm weight is ideal for vegetable gardens as it allows water penetration while blocking weed growth.
How you attach your tomato plant to its stake affects both plant health and fruit production. Two main methods work well for home gardeners.
Simex clips are small plastic clips that gently clamp the tomato stem to the stake. These clips will not restrict plant growth as they open slightly as the stem thickens.
Budding tape is a soft, stretchy tape that you tie around both plant and stake. The soft material will not cut into delicate tomato stems like wire or string can.
Start tying your plant when it reaches about 30cm tall. Attach the stem to the stake at 20-25cm intervals as the plant grows.
Create a loose figure-eight pattern with tape, looping around the stake, then around the stem. This technique prevents the stem from rubbing directly against the hard stake surface.
Check ties every week or two throughout the growing season. Adjust or add new ties as the plant gains height and produces heavy fruit clusters.
Different staking approaches suit different garden situations and tomato varieties. Understanding your options helps you pick the right approach for your garden.
The single stake method described in this guide works brilliantly for most home gardeners. It is straightforward, cost-effective and gives you excellent control over plant shape.
Whatever method you choose, consistency matters more than perfection. Regular attention to tying and pruning produces better results than elaborate systems that you neglect. For a broader look at supporting different plant types, see our guide on how to stake your plants.
Suckers are the small shoots that grow in the V-shaped joint between the main stem and a side branch. Left unchecked on indeterminate varieties, they turn into full secondary stems that compete for water, nutrients and light.
Pinch suckers off when they are small, ideally under 5cm long. Grip the base of the sucker between your thumb and forefinger and snap it sideways. Larger suckers should be cut with clean secateurs to avoid tearing the main stem.
For determinate tomatoes, only remove suckers below the first flower cluster. Removing suckers above that point reduces your overall yield because determinate plants set a fixed number of fruit trusses.
According to CERES, pruning suckers on indeterminate varieties directs the plant's energy into fewer, larger fruit and improves airflow, reducing the risk of fungal diseases in humid conditions.
Staking is not a one-time task but an ongoing process throughout the growing season. Check your plants weekly and add new ties as they grow taller.
Watch for ties that become too tight as stems thicken. Constricted stems cannot transport water and nutrients efficiently to developing fruit.
Heavy rain and strong winds can loosen stakes over time. Give each stake a gentle shake periodically and tap it deeper if needed.
If you are establishing a permanent vegetable garden with multiple beds, 150mm steel fastening pins are ideal for securing weed mat edges and mulch around your staked tomatoes, keeping your garden beds tidy and well-defined throughout the season.
At season's end, remove all ties and pull stakes from the ground. Clean and store your hardwood stakes in a dry location for reuse.
Hardwood stakes last several seasons when stored properly. For advice on extending their lifespan, see our guide on how to keep wooden stakes from rotting.
How tall should tomato stakes be?
For determinate varieties, 1200mm stakes are enough. Indeterminate varieties need 1500mm to 1800mm stakes. Remember to allow 300mm of buried depth for stability, so the above-ground support height is roughly 300mm less than the total stake length.
Can I use bamboo stakes for tomatoes?
Bamboo works for smaller determinate varieties. For heavy-fruiting indeterminate tomatoes, hardwood stakes are a stronger choice because they resist bending under the weight of laden branches.
How far from the plant should the stake be?
Position stakes 10 to 15cm from the main stem. This is close enough to support the plant without damaging the root zone.
Do I need to stake determinate tomatoes?
Yes, but less aggressively. Determinate varieties benefit from a single stake or a short cage. Their fruit ripens in a concentrated burst and the combined weight can pull unsupported plants to the ground.
What is the best tie material for tomatoes?
Budding tape and Simex clips are the most reliable options. Both stretch as the stem grows, preventing the constriction that wire, cable ties or string can cause.
When should I remove tomato suckers?
Remove suckers on indeterminate varieties as soon as they appear, ideally while they are still under 5cm long. On determinate varieties, only remove suckers below the first flower cluster.
For the full range of hardwood garden stakes, erosion control products and garden accessories, visit allstakesupply.com.au or call 1300 130 123 for expert advice. All Stake Supply has been a family-owned supplier of landscaping and environmental products since 1976, stocking over 1,000 products from our St Marys NSW warehouse.
