Stake and weave tomatoes - What's happening in the field?

Deb French, the “tomato whisperer”, stopped by to teach us how to use the stake and weave technique for our tomatoes in the high tunnel demonstration planting. Simpsons’ Family Farm has used this technique for several years to produce quality tomatoes for sale. We are working on high tunnel and greenhouse vegetable crop demonstrations for our 2017 Greenhouse and High Tunnel Workshop to be held on October 12 and 13.

Deb notes that it is important to prune the base of the plant to promote air circulation. She advises against letting any leaves touch the ground in order to minimize disease. She also disinfects her pruning shears with a bleach solution every third plant to minimize the transmission of disease. — Deb French notes that it is important to prune the leaves out about 10 from the base of the plant to promote good air circulation. She advises Randy Stout against letting any leaves touch the ground in order to avoid disease. She also disinfects her pruning shears with a bleach solution every third plant to minimize the transmission of disease.

Deb demonstrated the process of tying the plants. You wind the twine around posts set between every three plants going up one side and down the other. You will eventually need to tie two or three levels of support string.

Here you can see how the string is tied on both sides of the plant.

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