With so many fun and innovative tomato trellis ideas for your garden, choosing the right one for your needs can be tough. Sure, a regular wire tower works just fine, but they’re not exactly fun.
Use the following guide to help you come up with creative ideas for this year’s tomato garden. Each of these DIY designs was created for gardeners with varying skill levels. Additionally each offers something unique for each space.
What Type of Tomatoes Do You Grow?
Begin by considering what type of tomatoes you enjoy growing. After all, some require more space than others. Then, think about the space you have to offer the plants. If you live in an apartment, for example, growing smaller cherry tomatoes in containers may be ideal for you.
Where you plan to grow is also important. Some trellises work better in raised garden beds, while others were created with a traditional vegetable row in mind.
There are many popular, delicious types to choose from. In fact, many gardeners enjoy selecting several different varieties to grow during each season. This is also helpful if one type performs better in your yard than another, or falls victim to pests.
Best Cherry Tomato Trellis Ideas
Smaller tomato varieties, such as cherry or grape tomatoes, may not require much support. Additionally, some types of trellises are easy to make using a few common materials like twine and stakes. As a result, gardeners can create innovative ways to grow more tiny tomatoes in less space.
A Tomato Trellis Triad
This support is great for growing cherry tomatoes or other small varieties. It’s made from wire mesh fencing, twine supports, a little wood, and steel posts with U-hooks located at the top. The mesh fencing is perfect for cherry tomatoes and any variety under 7 feet tall.
Classic String Trellis
A classic, affordable string trellis uses stakes hammered into the ground for support, with weatherproof garden twine tied around the stakes and plants. You’ll add more twine as the plants grow, which also makes this method great for climbing varieties. If you want to save space, try using a diagonal string trellis or T-post string trellis as well.
The Best Tomato Trellis Options for Climbing Varieties
Climbing (or vine) tomatoes can take up a lot of growing space. That doesn’t mean they need to take over your yard! There are many fun, innovative ways you can grow them without taking over your entire garden. Most of the ideas below also make great garden centerpieces or gorgeous summer walkways. Best of all, they allow you to pick fruit from all sides easily.
An Arch Walkway
The above photo is created using an arch and two raised garden boxes (more on this design later). Of course, you can grow an arch walkway to support your vine tomatoes from wood, metal, PVC pipe, or a combination of all of the above. You may need a bit of woodworking skill or know someone who does to design your own. Alternatively, you can find pre-built options available if you don’t mind spending a bit extra.
Wood Frame String Trellis
This design allows you to grow more vining tomatoes in a smaller amount of space no matter if you have a large or average-sized yard. The wood framed trellis angles out from a raised garden bed, and the vines are trained to grow along strings that angle up with the frame.
Tomato Trellis Ideas for Tall Varieties
For plants too tall for traditional tomato cages, you can try using Vine Spine. It’s a plant cage designed to support a couple of tall tomato plants. Or, if you prefer to stay away from cages or want to plant a particularly tall variety, try the following ideas.
Upside-Down Tomato Rig
Easy enough for beginners to build alone, this “topsy-turvy” tomato trellis allows you to grow tomatoes upside down. It’s made using 5-gallon buckets hung from a wooden frame.
Double X Pallet Frame
For this design, a couple of X-shaped crossbeams are constructed together to create a frame from pallet wood. It’s easy for beginners who know how to cut wood or someone who can cut the pieces they need. Then, the plants are supported with heavy-duty garden twine. Finding the materials shouldn’t cost much, and once you’re finished, this frame will look stunning as a vegetable garden centerpiece.
What’s Your Yard Like?
The amount of space available for your tomatoes plants will depend on the size of your yard. If you only have a balcony or patio to work with, cultivating tomatoes in containers may be more ideal for you. Think outside the box to find a way to grow more in the smaller space, such as vertical gardening.
On the other hand, large yards allow you to become more innovative. You can extend the plants to new heights or create stunning archways to house the plants. Consider how much space you need, and make sure to think about how much each plant will yield (and how much you need).
Many tomato gardeners have a decent amount of yard space to house the plants. Even if you have a very small yard, you should be able to fit in at least a plant or two. The following trellis designs, however, take up more space than most small yards have to offer.
Horizontal Trellis
If you want to grow more in a smaller to average-sized yard, a homemade horizontal trellis may be the answer for you. The mesh panels are supported using wooden posts in each corner. The tomatoes will grow up through the fencing and sprawl out wide as well.
Recycled Pallet Trellis
If you have a decent-sized yard and can get your hands on some old shipping pallets, you can recycle them into a cheap A-frame tomato trellis. This option offers a ton of support for your plants, and it’s easy enough for a beginner to design without instructions.
Homemade Obelisk
The homemade obelisk design is perfect for growing tomatoes and pole beans, and it’s an affordable addition to an average or large yard. You can grow tall varieties on this sturdy shape and paint them in bright colors for a stunning garden.
For Windy Yards
If you live in a windy location, your tomatoes may need more support. This design involves using metal or wood stakes for support rather than building a cage-like structure to keep your plants safe. Beginners can easily build this type of trellis at home.
How Do You Plant Your Tomatoes?
After considering the amount of garden space you have available for growing tomatoes, you’ll have to choose planting methods based on your climate and growing zone. If you live in a colder climate or have a tiny yard (or no yard space), container planting may work best. However, a traditional garden patch in a larger yard only thrives if the soil is fertile. Dry, harsh climates see better results with raised garden beds for this reason. You can fill your beds with the right soil no matter what tomato varieties you select.
Perfect Tomato Tower for Containers
Growing tomatoes vertically in containers is simple, and it’s a great option if you don’t have a yard. Unlike cages, these tall trellises are great for containers because they won’t collapse as your plants grow tall. Now, you can grow tall varieties of tomatoes anywhere. The protective towers are made from galvanized metal fencing and wire with bamboo or plastic landscaping poles for supporting plants up to 10 feet tall.
Tomato Trellis Meets Raised Garden Beds
Great for climbing vine tomatoes, this idea consists of two narrow raised beds lain parallel to each other with a large, arching trellis over the middle space. It makes a great garden centerpiece and is secure enough for pole beans and peas too. Plus, you can harvest the plants from any direction with this design. However, you may need some help constructing the beds and securing the panels in place.
Best Trellis to Build for Raised Beds
This is an easy DIY trellis that’s perfect for raised garden beds or large containers. All you need to do to build this one is to screw or nail together a few stalks of bamboo. The project is relatively inexpensive and simple enough for beginners to build.
Best Tomato Trellises for a Garden Patch
With a bit of upcycled livestock fencing, anyone can create this great support to tie tomato plants directly onto. The fencing is held up using metal posts, and you can arrange them around your garden in a wide variety of innovative ways.
If you have space, you could combine a few of these innovative tomato trellis ideas to create a truly stunning vegetable garden with a high yield. You can grow more in less space with these fun ideas, and a trellis is the best way you can support your plants while they grow.
As an expert and enthusiast, I don't have personal experiences or expertise, but I can provide information on various topics based on reliable sources. Here is some information related to the concepts used in this article:
Tomato Trellis Ideas for Your Garden
When it comes to choosing the right tomato trellis for your garden, there are many fun and innovative ideas to consider. The article suggests that a regular wire tower works fine but may not be as exciting. It then provides several DIY designs for tomato trellises that cater to gardeners with varying skill levels and offer unique features for different spaces.
Consider the Type of Tomatoes You Grow
Before selecting a tomato trellis, it's important to consider the type of tomatoes you enjoy growing. Some tomato varieties require more space than others. For example, if you have limited space in an apartment, growing smaller cherry tomatoes in containers might be ideal for you. Additionally, where you plan to grow the tomatoes is also important. Some trellises work better in raised garden beds, while others are designed for traditional vegetable rows.
Tomato Trellis Ideas for Cherry Tomatoes
Smaller tomato varieties like cherry or grape tomatoes may not require as much support as larger varieties. The article suggests using materials like twine and stakes to create trellises specifically for growing more tiny tomatoes in less space. It provides two examples:
- A Tomato Trellis Triad: This trellis is made from wire mesh fencing, twine supports, wood, and steel posts with U-hooks at the top. It is suitable for cherry tomatoes and other varieties under 7 feet tall.
- Classic String Trellis: This affordable trellis uses stakes hammered into the ground for support, with weatherproof garden twine tied around the stakes and plants. As the plants grow, more twine can be added. This method is suitable for climbing tomato varieties.
Tomato Trellis Ideas for Climbing Varieties
Climbing or vine tomatoes can take up a lot of growing space, but there are innovative ways to grow them without overwhelming your garden. The article suggests the following ideas:
- An Arch Walkway: This design involves using an arch and two raised garden boxes to support vine tomatoes. The arch can be made from wood, metal, PVC pipe, or a combination of materials.
- Wood Frame String Trellis: This design allows you to grow vining tomatoes in a smaller space. The trellis angles out from a raised garden bed, and the vines are trained to grow along strings that angle up with the frame.
Tomato Trellis Ideas for Tall Varieties
For tomato plants that are too tall for traditional tomato cages, the article suggests the following ideas:
- Upside-Down Tomato Rig: This trellis allows you to grow tomatoes upside down. It involves hanging 5-gallon buckets from a wooden frame.
- Double X Pallet Frame: This design uses X-shaped crossbeams constructed from pallet wood to create a frame. The plants are supported with heavy-duty garden twine.
- Vine Spine: Vine Spine is a plant cage designed to support tall tomato plants.
Tomato Trellis Ideas for Different Yard Sizes
The amount of space available in your yard will determine the type of tomato trellis you can use. The article suggests the following ideas based on yard size:
- Horizontal Trellis: This homemade trellis uses mesh panels supported by wooden posts in each corner. The tomatoes grow up through the fencing and sprawl out wide.
- Recycled Pallet Trellis: If you have access to old shipping pallets, you can recycle them into an A-frame tomato trellis. This option provides a lot of support for your plants.
- Homemade Obelisk: The homemade obelisk design is suitable for growing tomatoes and pole beans. It can be an affordable addition to an average or large yard.
- Trellis for Windy Yards: If you live in a windy location, using metal or wood stakes for support instead of building a cage-like structure can help protect your tomato plants.
Planting Methods for Tomatoes
After considering the available garden space, it's important to choose planting methods based on your climate and growing zone. The article suggests the following options:
- Container Planting: Container planting is suitable for colder climates or when yard space is limited. Tomatoes can be grown in containers, allowing for flexibility in placement.
- Traditional Garden Patch: A traditional garden patch in a larger yard can thrive if the soil is fertile.
- Raised Garden Beds: Dry and harsh climates may benefit from raised garden beds, as they allow for better soil control and drainage.
These are just a few ideas and considerations for tomato trellises and planting methods. The article provides more details and visuals for each trellis idea mentioned. Remember to choose the trellis that suits your specific needs and gardening preferences.
