How to Build a Florida Weave Tomato Trellis for Under $15
It's tomato season, baby! Time to establish those heirlooms in your garden so you have endless juicy tomatoes throughout the summer season.
If you don't know which of the dozens of trellising systems to go with, I'm here to help! I've tried lots of methods, from cages to teepees to bamboo supports, but this Florida Weave method I'm trying this year is already proving to be the winner. Tomatoes (especially indeterminate varieties) can get a bit unruly, so making a sturdy trellis like this is crucial.
It's incredibly strong, easy to manage, and allows me to fit 2-3 tomatoes per set of stakes, which is a huge cost saver (compared to expensive tomato cages for each plant). An added bonus is that it creates this beautiful, seamless wall of tomatoes once the plants fill out. If you ask me, that's way nicer to look at than messy tomato cages or bamboo poles everywhere!
If you're still not sold on the Florida Weave method, it's also so easy to set up! It took me about 30 minutes to set up my woven trellises for eight tomato plants.
Ready to give it a try? Follow my steps below to get those lovely trellises up so your tomatoes can thrive!
Get your supplies.
You only need two supplies for this trellising method. So simple!
Stainless steel T-posts, 6ft to 8ft tall. I used these 6 ft posts from Home Depot. ($7/piece)
Garden twine. Use a natural material like this one. ($4/roll)
To decide how many T-posts you need, first determine the number of tomatoes you'll plant and the type of space you're working with. Posts can accommodate 2-3 tomato plants with 1.5' to 2' spacing between them.
I used six T-posts for eight tomato plants: two rows of three T-posts with two tomato plants between each two posts. If you have two or three tomato plants, you can trellis them for less than $15!
Place T-posts in the ground.
Whether you are planting tomatoes in-ground or in raised beds, simply hammer or dig T-posts deeply into the ground. They should be placed as deep into the ground as possible so the "T" is buried. This will ensure they stay put throughout the season and accommodate more weight as the tomato plants grow and set fruit.
Depending on the number of tomatoes you'll be planting, make sure they are properly spaced in a straight line (at least 3' apart and no more than 6' apart).
Plant your tomatoes.
This step may seem simple, but you should follow a few crucial tips to ensure tomatoes have a strong foundation to produce lots of juicy fruit.
Plant tomatoes VERY deeply! I remove the bottom two sets of leaves and plant as deep as possible into the ground. This will allow the plant to develop a very strong root system, which will pay off later in the form of more fruit.
Fertilize when planting. I like to sprinkle about a tablespoon of Jobe's Organic Vegetable & Tomato fertilizer into the soil before planting my tomatoes. This will give the plant the nutrients it needs to get off to a strong start.
Water really well. These new plants will need lots and lots of water to get established, just like your seedlings do as they first build out their root systems. Give your plants extra attention to set them up for success.
Space plants properly. Plant your tomatoes equidistant between the posts, about 1.5' to 2' apart. Make sure they are planted in a straight line with your T-posts so that you can neatly trellis them as they mature.
Set up Florida Weave Tomato Trellis.
This weaving system keeps plants secure and tidy and is very simple once you get the hang of it.
Wrap your garden twine firmly around the lowest notch of the first post and tie it in place.
Come around the right side of the post and bring the twine to the outer left side of the first plant, then to the outer right side of the second plant, and finally to the outer left side of the second post.
Wrap the twine around the lowest notch of the second post a few times to secure it tightly.
Repeat the same procedure on the way back to the first post, but oppositely so that each plant is secured tightly between two oppositely woven pieces of twine.
Repeat this with each notch in the T-post until the plants are fully supported.
As the plants grow, repeat this process.
The instructions may sound a little confusing, but once you watch the video for a visual example, the weaving process will make a lot more sense. Just make sure you tie the twine very tightly to keep the tomatoes secure.
Enjoy lots & lots of tomatoes!
It all becomes very simple once your Florida Weave Trellis is set up. All you need to do for maintenance is weave more twine as the plants grow taller. You can prune your tomato plants if you prefer or leave suckers to grow free. This trellis is strong enough to support plants either way.
With this trellis, watch your plants grow big and strong and enjoy juicy fruit all season long!
If you try this trellis system or have other favorite ways of supporting your tomato plants, share them in the comments below. This page is dedicated to learning and growing together, so the more tips, tricks, and opinions, the better!
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