Growing tomatoes without stakes allows for an abundant harvest: one plant will give you a production equivalent to three staked tomatoes.
Without any of the hassle, too!
Space for tomatoes
The first requirement to succeed in growing no-stake tomatoes is space: in the garden, a single tomato plant will cover over a square yard (meter). Cultivars that have limited growth – ‘Felicia’, ‘Ferline’, cherry tomatoes, plum tomatoes – are perfect for this technique.
After planting, your tomato plants will feel right at home and spread around. The main stem will wind all over the place, and the plant will grow many leaves: two sure signs that fruit-bearing will be abundant.
Good mulch on the ground
Plant your tomato plants in mid-May, early enough for an end-of-summer harvest lasting even until the first frost spells. Add a handful of crushed nettles in each planting hole, and water once or twice to ensure settling in.
Unless your soil is rocky or sandy, it is best to cover the ground with dry mulch (straw, flax or grass trimmings) to keep the fruits away from moisture which would otherwise rot them. You can also lay crates or wooden pallets around the plants for this. This planting technique is also appropriate for use in a greenhouse, since the soil stays dry, tomatoes will grow well.
Little care for your tomatoes
Once your plants have settled in, prune the two topmost leaf crowns and only keep the lower ones. After that, just let the stems run around. Water reasonably, once a fortnight with drip irrigation if the weather is dry.
To ensure success in your sprawling plantation, it is best to preventively spray against downy mildew just like staked tomatoes. That’s all. No need to prune, no need to tie stems everywhere. The plants will crawl around and cover the ground with their many leaves that will choke out any weeds.
Minimal care for maximum harvest!
Image credits: Truffaut, Gnis/Y Lanceau