If you grow indeterminate (vining) tomatoes, a simple string system keeps plants upright, improves airflow, and concentrates energy into fruit.
What you need
- Overhead support (greenhouse purlin, pergola beam, or a taut wire between two posts).
- Tomato twine and tomato clips (or soft ties).
- Clean pruners.
Set up
Tie twine to the overhead support and drop one string per plant. Plant tomatoes 45–60 cm apart. Clip the main stem to the string 20–30 cm above the soil.
Pruning rhythm (weekly, 5 minutes per plant)
- Choose your style:
- Single-leader: remove all suckers (shoots in the leaf axils). Best for small spaces.
- Two-leader: keep the sucker just below the first flower cluster; train both stems—more fruit, slightly more foliage.
- Remove suckers when they are 3–7 cm—pinch with fingers (quick heal, less stress).
- Leaf hygiene: remove lower yellowing leaves up to the first truss to improve airflow and reduce blight splash.
- Twist and clip: gently wrap the stem around the string each week and add a clip under heavy clusters.
- Top the plant when it reaches your support or 6–7 trusses; this ripens existing fruit quicker.
Water & feed to match the system
Consistent moisture prevents cracks and blossom-end rot. Deeply water 1–2 times/week; mulch to hold moisture. Feed a tomato fertilizer with slightly higher potassium (K) from first bloom.
Common errors
- Skipping weekly passes (jungle in two weeks).
- Letting suckers thicken; big cuts stress plants.
- Tying string tightly around stems (girdling). Use clips or a loose figure-eight tie.