The Easiest Tomato Trellis Method EVER!

[@epicgardening]

One improvement we would make here in the future - take (2) 2x4's and flip them to the short side, put them together and run them across the top - far more stury and less bowing as tomatoes put on weight. This method we show still works quite well and is cheap + requires no fancy tools or parts!

[@JavierFernandez01]

what about instead of a knot at the top eye hole you put the twine through it and tied a bolt to the end so that as it grows the bolt keeps the line taught and the plant up?

[@rhvette]

@@JavierFernandez01 That might work, but you'd probably want more weight than just a bolt. Especially as they get larger and heavy with fruit, the trellis provides support so the plant doesn't get uprooted or break the stem. If you have too little weight, it'll just bounce the bolt up and down like a fishing jig and not end up providing any support.

[@Flyingdutchy33]

We use these clips on a large scale in our greenhouses here. It's nice and clean, but we still got the top side spool.

[@JavierFernandez01]

@@rhvette and that would be much more work. yea. idea busted. good. :)

[@LexEllisOG]

Good to know! Thank you, I’m actually getting ready to put my trellises together and this would have saved me a lot of headache.

[@Shofar_On_The_Horizon]

If you can remember for next year. You can pinch the tops of the tomato plants when they’re little and get a double leader on each plant to maximize production in a smaller space. It helps when you only have a few of your favorite varieties started for whatever reason. Like having two plants for the price of one.

[@acatinthegarden]

I chose this string trellis method over the Florida weave this year and I’ve noticed far less disease and pest pressure. Super cheap too which is a nice bonus.

[@LIZZIE-lizzie]

Firstly, thanks for all your videos!! A friend was looking for the velcro post "ties", at Lowes but they didn't have them. He likes them much better than these. As older folk with bad knees and hands the velcro is much easier on his fingers 💪🏼😁

[@chinaskibukowski7747]

Just a quick heads up for people watching, it's always a good idea to lightly break the root ball up a bit before planting. Help the roots shoot in all directions which in turns makes the transplant shock a shorter period.

[@TheOnlyKontrol]

I’ve personally done both ways and I haven’t noticed a difference really at all..but I also use soil that usually has mycelium in it or use a mycelium inoculant during transplant and personally I notice a difference when I don’t use a mycelium inoculant more so then anything.

[@Bubu00069]

Not touching the root ball (planting as is from the seed tray) has resulted in less transplant shock for me this season.

[@Richard-ug4el]

I've used this method for a couple of years now. A few tips. If you use twine, it will weather and break eventually. You'll need to replace it each time you plant a new plant. I use builders string now, it lasts a LOT longer. The plastic rings also weather quite quickly in the sun. They will just break off after a couple of months. You won't be able to reuse them, but they're super cheap so that's not really a big deal. Just get them off the plants before they disintegrate, or you'll be looking for little bits of plastic in your garden for ever :P

[@ahamra]

THIS!! I used the exact same jute twine in the video and ALL strings broke underground when the tomatoes were about 2 feet tall. Had to quickly attach a 2X4 to the supports parallel to the ground and then tie laundry line (much thicker than jute) to the 2X4 and use tomato clips to attach the plants to. Jute WILL break, most likely before your season is over!

[@TheOnlyKontrol]

First time doing this method and I guess I was smart and went with braided nylon mason line…so far it’s holding up my 6-7ft vines just fine 3 months in…also maybe my clips don’t get enough direct sunlight but so far they don’t seem to get brittle.

[@brichter4669]

I used the plastic tomato clips this year, and they work great to support the main stem and additional branches. Another easy method is to use tomato trellis roller hooks. The tomato roller hooks are very affordable and are a game changer raising and lowering indeterminate tomato plants. Just make sure to build the height of the trellis within easy reach. Secure 2 eye hooks the width of the roller hook into the beam at the top and hang the tomato roller on them. There is already string on the roller, and it is so easy to squeeze the side trigger on the roller to release the string to raise or lower indeterminate tomato plants since they can grow very tall. Lowering the tomato plant makes for easy picking of the tomatoes at the top, and then you can raise the plant again.

[@jennifersiegrist8440]

Those trellises work great, I built one a few years back, storm came and took a tree down right on top of it all 😢 but I never quit trying, this year I’m using cattle panels. ❤❤

[@derwynmdockenjr]

I used 2x4s for the posts and hammered them 2ft into the ground from a ladder with my maul. They ain't Movin! Just be sure to level check after every few poundings. And if you want to save on eye hooks too drill a hole and push the string through and tie it on top so it doesn't slip back through.

[@luthietin2]

I do the same thing over my raised beds, except I build the support using EMT conduit pipe and connectors from Maker Pipe. Then I use metal zip ties to attach a cattle panel over the supports. This way I can put plants that can be trellised this way anywhere in my raised beds and if I decide to do a double stem option, I can hook the strings in any direction so the 2 stems can be grow in opposite directions so they don't get tangled up with each other. So far I have used it to support tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and melons! It is more expensive but it also will last forever. I just pound some rebar into the ground and slip the EMT pipe over the rebar to hold it in the ground where I want it. Way easier than digging a couple of 2-3 ft holes. :)

[@whatsup848]

Same setup that I have. It held a 20# gourd 3 ft up on a sling.

[@ceecee-thetransplantedgardener]

I do a similar method with 2 x 2's across the top. Less weight at the top but sturdy enough to handle the weight of the plants. Although - at your spacing of the main posts (4x4's), the 2 x 2's would bow. But for me, the 2x2's are lighter and easier to manage when it's only me. Also - eyehooks - 100%. So easy. With those, I uses the hooks with spooled twine. They slide into the eyehooks easy peasy - and no worries about knots.

[@brechy]

Love the tip about how the clips work! I have never used them and I really want to use them next year. I’m so over using tomato cages :(

[@mkc0005]

I made my trellis movable by using a couple of landscaping timbers on each side of the 4x4s instead of burying the posts. That way next year I can “crop rotate” by moving the entire trellis. I have 48 plants and all are 12” apart. So far I’ve harvested 68 pounds of tomatoes (almost all indeterminate). Our biggest problem right now is 100+ degree temps for over 2 weeks. Thanks to some 70% shade cloth I still have blossoms and new fruit forming.

[@mkc0005]

I should add that I have cross boards going across the top of the trellis so I can plant on both sides.

[@sirbixalot73]

I use the orange bailing twine, I like the thicker gauge of it. I think it is easier on the plants. I tie it as a single half hitch to the base stem and tie it to the conduit at the top and wrap the tomato when it gets taller. I prefer the t-post and conduit method as I move my tomatoes every year. I had a problem one year with disease after multiple years in the same location.

[@Jpiggye]

@epicgardening Could you do a trellising video for those of us who are stuck container-only gardening & limited in patio space? Like what if I want to grow grapes in a 15 gallon container... would I bury a trellis with soil in the container? Or are there better ways?

[@scuttlezebra2963]

Highly recommend the brown clips. My clear ones always break at the end of the season. My brown ones are on season 3, and I’m lazy so I just leave the ones I’m not using yet laying around outside most of the year 😂.

[@diananazaroff5266]

This is a great idea for indeterminate tomatoes, but why would you do it for determinate? They only get to about 4' in height and you don't want to cut off the suckers because you'd be cutting off most of your harvest. I grow in 28 gal galvanized tubs. My SM and Roma tomatoes are put into the tubs, 4 per tub evenly space on the outer edge, with a tomato cage in the center. I use the clips to attach to the cage as they grow and because it's on all 4 sides, the cage is anchored down by each tomato. Have had great success doing this for the determinates.

[@LIZZIE-lizzie]

In the city, folk grow them in ten gallon buckets and get a good yield.

[@sbffsbrarbrr]

I have the posts. Just need you guys.

[@maryberry3224]

So when can I schedule you to come over to dig my post holes? It's a cool 118 in Phoenix, AZ today :P

[@katd6849]

Great video! You should really remind folks on these digging projects to call 811! Watching you dig 2'-3' with a post holer and no locates was making me squirm! Could save someone from a very expensive or dangerous accident!

[@mneraasen224]

I’m using 4x3x8 $5.88 at lowes, landscape Timbers and using firing strips , I chose 30 inc length, to go across the top, then you put the eye hook on each side for a double row trellis. You put in your post and the top should meet in the middle of the middle post. Make sure they are not bowed or twisted! I have some on the outside of a 6x4 raised bed. With one on the other side and a cattle panel trellis arched in between. There is some overhang because the post is 8 ft, but it looks so pretty. You can hang a basket or trellis single stem cucumbers or a wind chime. The possibilities are endless 🙌🏻

[@becomingabetterhuman.2994]

Hemp wick roll works really well in the elements too.

[@KatesGarden]

I got my tomato trellis up earlier this summer. A different take on the same sort of idea. Nice one 👍 (Yes I have a video if anyone is curious )

[@rufia75]

Kevin! In 18"H 4x8 beds, I grow 3 indeterminate tomatoes, width-wise (sun, box angle). Always struggling to find better trellises! I use a green, hard plastic 8' garden stake for each (hate plastic tho); by end of season they are taller than stakes & really sway in the wind as the tops get heavier. Majority of pole in-ground is in fluffier type of soil which isn't great for stability & deeper you go, less pole height to support the plant. Ugh! Maybe constructing your wooden overhanging trellis* across the width? Not sure I will do well at it. I did build these beds though out of lumber, though. Hmmm! Edit: Do you have any ideas for a better trellis, this type of set-up?

[@dustyflats3832]

I’m waiting to see if Amish paste is better than SM as the flavor wasn’t there. A 4x4 costs about $20 here and before I’d use it for tomatoes I’d use it for shade cloth. James Prigioni uses a string release thing at top which works well with clips. With all the watering in this drought I think I already surpassed the $80 tomato so I’ll stick with found items like hog wire and T-posts. I let tomatoes do their thing last year in a cage and they were healthy compared to pruned. Spacing and wet weather are important. Even watering, air flow, shade if too hot and if it’s humid and wet in your climate space them out. If that line busts in a storm their done.

[@rhvette]

While you can use almost any knot for this style, I can't truly recommend anything other than a taut line hitch. The TLH allows you to run the string through the hook eye and tie it back to the standing line. This means you can run the line as far down as you want and A) have tons and tons of spare string to make support loops and B) service the string trellis at ground level without needing a ladder after initial setup. As it's also a phenomenally useful knot for day-to-day usage, it's worth practicing until you can do it instinctively; it's only three wraps around the string, it won't take you long.

[@LIZZIE-lizzie]

Older folk with arthritis in their hands and fingers have problems with this, even though gardens are huge. We found Velcro strip ties for the tomato plants that are easy and sturdy.

[@rhvette]

@@LIZZIE-lizzie Another point for the TLH there. Because it's an open loop knot, you can tie it with big gaping loops and then pull it closed with the tag and standing ends. Almost no finger dexterity required.

[@galindoa21]

I’m growing tomatoes for the first time…indoors….in pots 😬 I live in an apartment and don’t have a balcony. They’re small but I’m happy to be getting anything under the circumstances and being that it’s the first time I try.

[@brianmoore4299]

I hope you have the right grow light or you may be real disappointed with your harvest size. Regular lights and window light is not enough.

[@galindoa21]

@@brianmoore4299 I don’t but it’s fine. It’s just an experiment. I’m just happy to see that it’s actually producing fruit.

[@brianmoore4299]

@@galindoa21 also, since you mention that it's your first time growing toms. I would encourage you to know what you're growing. There are two types of toms, indeterminate and determinate. (Variety is completely separate) Determinate will grow to about four feet and put out its harvest over say a two week period. Then it's done. The indeterminate (hence the name) will grow like a bushy vine and just keep making tomatoes all season. Space in your apt may be an issue. You can prune an indeterminate to one main leader and then use the lower and lean method. You'd have space and continually harvest from the plant. Good luck. Gardening isn't hard with the right knowledge. Keep educating yourself and have fun.

[@TB4Jesus247]

Kevin, I’m gonna hold you to that. I don’t have a post hole digger, so make sure you pick one up on your way over.

[@marydabrowski5127]

Love your videos! I grew grape tomatoes this year, 2023. I have had much success! I have gained a lot of knowledge from watching your videos. So thank you!😊🍅

[@JaanikaRiiel]

The first way is how we have grown tomatoes as long as I can remember, but we don't bury the rope, we just tie it around the stem near the roots and then keep on turning the tomato stem around the rope as it grows. Works like magic :)

[@belfrykat]

this is my favourite method, & the one i've always had the most success with over the years. i would recommend not leaving the line slack, as you're meant to flip the tip of the leader around the line as it grows, not wrap the line. hope that makes sense.

[@Toffnm]

It's my first year and I have my tomatoes in buckets on my balcony. When they started getting really big I stapled the grid panel walls of a compost bin to the wall and used cotton thread to tie the tomatoes up. It's super ugly and I will be testing better ways next year, but it works wonderfully right now.

[@FloraM44]

I tried this method 2 years ago after seeing Charles Dowding do it in his greenhouse and ultimately, it didn't do so well for me. This works well if you don't have strong winds, but several of my mature tomato plants snapped because they unravelled in the wind and became unstable. Also, I suspect having the extra support meant the plant didn't build as much strength in its stems as it would've without the support (same reason you're not supposed to stake young fruit trees), which doesn't really matter if your support stays in place, but mine didn't.. One tip if you do decide to do this though, make a few knots on the bottom of the string, so it's a bit of a ball, which you can then place under your entire plant's root ball. It'll help the plant grab hold of it better - I had some that got pulled out from under the plant, which I then had to just attach at the base of the plant (which you can do as another option too). What I've found works best for me and my crazy windy weather though, is using cattle panels, and as the plants grow, tying pieces of twine to the cattle panel a little higher than the plant, and securing the string to the tomato plant with a tomato clip like you're using. It looks wonky, but it's entirely customizable and you can continue to add twine strings to control sucker branches as the plant grows too. If a bunch of branches get away from you, just gather them up in one piece of twine and tie to an appropriate spot on your cattle panel! But having the structure low enough on the plant, and not wobbling like a string, really makes a world of difference for stability. Happy growing!!

[@christinebottaro9017]

We have used hog wire panels (cattle panels) horizontal to the ground about 6-7’ overhead of the planting bed, supported by stakes screwed onto the sides of the raised beds. White cotton string is tied around the lowest part of the young tomato plant is strung up overhead on the hog wire panel and a simple slip knot is used to anchor the string to the hogwire, and the string can be tightened up or loosened when needed. As the tomato grows, it’s pulled vertically gently, and the vine spiraled around it as it grows up. Really easy to undo the strings once the season is done.

[@FloraM44]

@@christinebottaro9017 love that, thanks for sharing! I really need to learn more knots 😆

[@Yupppi]

Siberian hitch is a lovely one, because you get the slipknot built in so you can open it any time by pulling on the working end. And tying it is very easy, basically just a twist of hand.

[@InspireGardenNature]

Wow.. your plants are so beautiful and healthy.. excellent upload friend.. thanks for sharing and stay connected with my channel. Happy gardening 🌹🌹🌹

[@magnetboy]

I have been waiting the last few days for your next video

[@camcassidy4309]

I liked and subscribed and Kelvin really came and dug my trellis holes, he used a hand spade cause that’s all he could get on the plane. I offered a real shovel and he said “that’s not epic” then ate like a pound of compost. Trellis looks great though

[@SpicyMoustache]

So when are you coming to mine to dig the posts for me?

[@dan8250]

For the vertically challenged amongst us: use a taught-line hitch instead of a clove hitch. You can keep the knot lower down and won't have to climb a stepstool to undo the clove hitch every time you make an adjustment.

[@flobbergassy]

I put the exact same style of trellis over my beds this year. Exact same thing. Beautiful results.

[@jujujoint]

I got these clips three years ago and did use them for my tomatoes, yeah, I thought they were going to be the cats meow as well. Unfortunately, because I live in Hawaii and the sun is pretty hot, the clips broke before a year was out and I just ended up with a lot of nasty plastic in my garden. I’m still fishing it out. Gone back to bamboo teepees

[@bugs928]

Yes! I need posts dug for the raspberry trellis!

[@gwenb4531]

That is not simple.

[@101wormwood]

I used these 2 years ago. they work great but clean up at the end of the year is a horror show. I likely used way more than I needed but..... I gave NO thought to getting them back up at the end of the year. I went back to just tying up as needed w/ twine, easy to cut and yank off. The plastic loops hold on really well and do an amazing job though.

[@MrFancyDragon]

I really needed this despite having incredibly large and numerous amounts of cherry tomatoes… They’re now too big and too sprawled out for simple trellises. And I haven’t been able to keep up with them DX

[@iandstanley]

Should try a taut line hitch which allows you to reposition without untying

[@carissalizotte8977]

I use bailing twine from our hay bales (I run a horse farm) haha. Just because we have SO much of it!

[@danielingle2524]

i watch your video on trimming tomatoes before this year’s planting season pulling of the suckers definitely made my plants grow taller so this method will definitely help next year. just wondering do you do anything to help your tomatoes pollinate I’ve heard of flipping the flowers and even using an electric toothbrush to vibrate them just wondering if its worth the extra time

[@ascher40]

Thanks for coming to my house to put the posts in. I live in Melbourne, Australia. : )

[@TroySwezey]

Hmmm... Good ideas. I have squirrels that like to steal the tomatoes so will be interested to see if I can incorporate this into the PVC pipe and chicken wire cage I intend to build for my tomato zone in my raised bed garden.

[@paulandrewmartin]

Hi, I am Paul Martin from the Philippines, I just recently bought a piece of land in Tanay, Rizal, a region in the Philippines, I plan to start a farm for self sufficiency, I am inspired by the Videos you create, the characteristics of the soil is red, like clay, so I plan to have raised bed and bring in soil. I just want some advise on what plants to grow in this tropical climate. thanks

[@Shroomunati]

You can use the tomato clips with stakes also, just connect 2 of them back to back like an 8

[@bobs4738]

I saw Monty Don doing this with the string under the tomato plant and tied above on Gardeners World BBC programme a few weeks ago!

[@MasterHaynes86]

Put a tomato clip at the top to act as the stop. Easy to let the slack out as needed.

[@trichomes420]

You have to show us updates and up close shots on the stems

[@daviddefortier5970]

I was wondering for the first method, would it also work if instead of knotting the string, just let it come around and back down over the hook and attach a weight to maintain tension, so it automatically adjusts as it grows.

[@CUDA1970Terry]

I have used the clips for a few years, but found that they will become brittle after time. I'm assuming the cause is sunlight. Other than that issue, I really like using them.

[@NotPalliot]

I just stab a stick in the ground and use those twist ties that come on the bags of Walmart bread. Worked pretty well for me!

[@debbybrady1246]

I have tried several methods for holding my tomatoes. I prefer the clips.

[@54cal54]

My weeds are holding my tomatoes up.

[@amandarodriguez997]

Did you guys get treated wood or did you seal it yourselves? I'm always skeptical about the pressure treated cus I hear that stuff leaks out and can harm the plant/soil. Great video, thank you! Might try this next year :)

[@codingtroop]

I've started using nylon paracord instead of twine. I've lost too many tomatoes from twine snapping from strong winds.

[@FloraM44]

Maybe I got different plants than advertised but that picture was not of an Amish Paste tomato like I've ever grown! That looked like a much smaller, seedier variety? My Amish Pastes barely had any seeds, they were so meaty!

[@lostpony4885]

String and those clips have been #1 for me the third year in a row. If you have trouble to committing to chopping all those secondaries just add more strings for them.

[@BritInvLvr]

I ended up with way more tomato plants than I planned. My trellises are very hodgepodge. My biggest problem though is my dog loves tomatoes and will step over and knock down anything in his way to those yummy maters.

[@rodnawilliams9398]

This is great .. I would love to be able to do this. My question is about tomatoes. Would you give me the name of at least 2 slicing types determinate tomatoes, that I can still possibly get some kind of harvest this year. I am in zone 7b/8a southern Oklahoma

[@elizabethmitchell0071]

Normally here we have to concrete posts in(rainfall and clay).rot..but something like this, we wouldn't. Permanent structures yes, but for tomatoes no i wouldn't. We switch out planting spaces so i would definitely not want permanent posts set with concrete. If determinate tomatoes tho, you don't need this structure at all...indeterminate, yes this would be a great temporary structure😊

[@annsfrench]

I love those tomato clips! They work great.

[@chrisfarley6662]

Can you do a video on the results of your grafted tomatoes?

[@kathyvanest3046]

Link to your last year’s video installing this system using the metal T-bars? I would like to try the T-bar trellis using the Florida Weave in my large galvanized water troughs. I am thinking I can put in 3 x tomato plants in each watering trough! I will also need to figure out putting in some shade cloth - the water trough containers are on the south side of my house

[@sleepinglioness5754]

Great job. Wish you lived next door to me...I need help digging a hole like that. Just too old now though! But I never give up on ideas!

[@bethb8276]

I'm going to try putting in the posts without cement, but I have my doubts about it, we have very sandy soil in south florida, and hurricanes. I will give it a go though.

[@CartersGardens]

Alright I cultivated that like button so I got like 12 50 ft rows that need some post holes lol I'll see you in the spring lol.

[@tinabloomfield7228]

I'm using t posts and conduit to do this for the first time. Hoping it works better than cages lol

[@raefaulkner5497]

❤I love it. Off out to buy some 4X4s and 2X4s and tomato clips.

[@fegrace_1]

I like this trellis but this living high wind areas especially prone to tornados and hurricanes I think the each post should concrete and hurricane ties instead of dirt. Those beams will be deadly under the enough force.

[@TrestinMeacham80]

Velcro straps are cheaper and work better than the plastic clips. They last longer, and do not cause rubbing on the plant in the wind.

[@venusgarden959]

Amazing video🌹🌹

[@KarinK-wt7mh]

I live in Orlando. It will be a long commute 😅

[@wjm1319]

Tomato clips are nice & easy to use. But I'm not happy with the way the ones I got deteriorated in the sun and got very brittle. For someone trying to reduce plastic waste, I had planned to reuse them for years, but they broke year 1. I recommend anyone getting these to look specifically for the UV-stabilized/biodegradable clips.

[@gratkadlafana]

How is the tomato row oriented? If the top 2x4 will point north-south, would tomatoes just grow leaves outside of its shade?

[@bravowhiskey4684]

Just use a trucker hitch on the line itself, then you can adjust on the fly but the plant can’t pull the slack out.

[@sky123me]

Be careful Kevin, I live in North County--and I could use some post holes dug. ;)

[@jacemarler6883]

I always use concrete so my posts don't rot out after a number of years. A lesson you will learn , still love you guys

[@TheOnlyKontrol]

Lol it’s a lesson you learned also so I don’t see what the problem is

[@duanehundley]

If you sell black tomato twine I’ll buy it. Black disappears vs white standing out.

[@delsurf71]

What about the posts and lack of ability of crop rotation?

[@darthtater8878]

I wanna collect on that promise you made, I need some holes dug oh I'm in Thailand hope that won't be a problem.

[@AndrossUT]

You should go cross grain with the top

[@daisyblooms4813]

@8:55 wait, how would you do the twine and not the trellis?

[@brandontanner97]

Use a screw driver to twist in eye hooks. Or Any piece of metal really.

[@dr.westwood]

This is why I buy tomato hooks from Bryan over at Next Level Gardening.

[@rufia75]

How long were your 2x4s on the top between the 4x4s/support beams? 12ft or 16ft?

[@pascalxus]

that looks like a lot of work. what do you guys think of just using tomato cages?

[@nicolaspeters5980]

Wouldnt the twine decompose fairly quickly?

[@peterjenne3552]

Be sure to use a good quality, uv resistant string. I have had it rot and break. Not fun restringing a 5 ft tomato plant...

[@therealm00theoriginal27]

does the siz eof twine matter for the tomato climb? i have 3mm jute twine

[@ColeSpolaric]

Won't that jute twine just decompose in like a month releasing it from the ground?

[@samdonaldson7425]

@epicgardening what twine do you guys use/where do you source it from? I bury mine as well but it always rots through and snaps after a few weeks leaving it only connected at the top of the trellis.

[@KnowMi_]

It also rots the 4x4 faster putting it in dirt.

[@dillonbuford]

I am a carpenter and I am going to rip this apart: that needs to be grounded contact treated lumber, you need to use a string line, and no you do need to be using concrete