Are you seeking budget- and beginner-friendly options to upgrade your garden and aerate your plants? We’ve rounded up six of the best tomato stakes to help your vines reach their maximum potential.
Stay tuned while we go through all there is to know on the best tomato stakes, how to install them, and different methods of planting them.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall:
GROW!T Hydrofarm 6′ Natural Bamboo Stakes
Runner-Up:
Greene’s Fence 5ft Wooden Garden Stakes (25 pk)
Budget Choice:
WAENLIR Garden Stakes
Unique “Ladder” Option:
Gardener’s Supply Company Stacking Tomato Ladders
Best Overall
GROW!T Hydrofarm 6′ Natural Bamboo Stakes
Hydrofarm presents a unique option with the best tomato stakes made of bamboo. These tomato stakes provide a unique feel to any garden. They promote a natural look to your garden while being significantly lighter than untreated wood options.
Reviewers of this product note that the stakes are not always uniform, which is to be expected. Some stakes can vary in width, while others have varying textures. This variety could be beneficial to anyone with multiple, smaller projects.
Pros
- Installation and storage are easy due to being lightweight
- It can be used for indeterminate tomato vines when combined
- Natural look and finish
Cons
- No sharp ends to help with the installation
- Being lightweight could lead to sturdiness issues
- Less budget-friendly compared to other options
Runner-Up
Greene’s Fence 5ft Wooden Garden Stakes (25 pk)
Another good wooden stake choice, Greene’s Fence multi-pack, makes big projects a breeze. Similar to wooden options, these stakes are thicker than metal and bamboo, making them one of the best tomato stakes in the wood category.
Greene’s Fence offers these stakes in 3-, 4-, 5-, and 6-foot options making it easy to tailor your purchase to the project at hand. We think the 4-foot option is the best alternative to the 5-foot one.
Any of these stake heights could be used for determinate tomatoes, with some of the taller stakes potentially combining for vining tomatoes.
Pros
- Thicker diameter makes them feel sturdier
- Multi-pack great for a large project
- Designed for easy installation with one pointed end
Cons
- More expensive compared to other options
- Lack of weatherproofing could contribute to the product degrading faster than metal options
- No engineered grips to anchor the twine
Budget Choice
WAENLIR Garden Stakes
The WAENLIR Garden Stakes are made of hollow steel, making it a bit weaker. However, They’re also the most budget-friendly choice if you go with the multi-pack.
Featuring a sure-grip surface, these stakes ensure it’s a breeze to secure your vines, making them the best tomato stakes on this list.
If you want an 8-foot option for this stake, NANOPRETTY 8-foot Garden Stakes are the best tomato stakes as an alternative.
Pros
- Multi-pack is suitable for mid-sized projects
- The weather-proof coating also prevents rust
- Combine multiple stakes for increased sturdiness as needed
Cons
- Other options make more sense for small projects
- Not the most natural-looking option
- Thinner than some other options, you may need to combine several for large or heavy plants
Unique “Ladder” Option
Gardener’s Supply Company Stacking Tomato Ladders
These tomato ladders are the most versatile option on the list. They can be combined for extra sturdiness or extra height. Depending on the configuration, the ladders can be used for determinate or indeterminate tomatoes.
This “ladder” choice is undoubtedly one of the best tomato stakes and offers a unique way to stake your tomato plants.
Pros
- Versatile configurations
- Heavy-duty construction provides maximum sturdiness
- Ladders nest for compact storage
Cons
- Most expensive option on the list
- Not a natural finish or lightweight feel
- Assembly required for different configurations
Benefits of Staking Tomatoes
You’ve begun determining the best tomato stakes for you. Congratulations on taking a positive step toward keeping your plants healthy! Staking your tomatoes gets them off the ground, providing a plethora of benefits that can increase growth, yield, and quality.
You’re giving the vines and bushes more space to grow by staking your tomatoes. This means they can produce additional or larger fruit. With the best tomato stakes offered on this list, your tomatoes should have the best support system to produce incredible yield.
Additionally, aerating the tomatoes with the stakes keeps them off the ground, minimizing their chance of getting diseases from things like poorly drained soil or pests.
Tomato Stake Buyer’s Guide
Let’s examine everything you need to know when deciding the best tomato stakes for your project.
We’ll consider material type, how to install them, different staking methods, and other materials you may need during the process.
Types of Tomato Stakes
As illustrated in the list above, the best tomato stakes come in three general types: plastic-coated metal, untreated wood, and bamboo.
Plastic-Coated Metal
Plastic-coated metal stakes are the most durable. Many of these stakes also have a sure-grip coating, making securing the vines easier.
Metal stakes will likely last longer than stakes made from other materials and often have a weatherproof coating to ensure longevity.
Untreated Wood
Untreated wood stakes are also very durable but less so than metal options. These stakes often come in larger diameters than metal options, which could help with stability in taller stakes.
While these stakes often last multiple seasons, untreated wood will likely succumb to weather damage more easily than metal options.
Bamboo
Bamboo stakes have the most natural look of all the materials. However, their light weight also makes them the least sturdy.
While you can easily combine bamboo stakes into a trellis or other structure for added strength, the stake itself is not as suitable for heavy vines as other materials.
Materials for Installation
Installing your tomato stakes takes only a few simple steps once you decide where they need to go!
While many stakes have one pre-sharpened end, you will likely need to pre-dig a hole for your stake. You can use a garden stake installation drill bit (see our favorite option by Keyfit Tools) to make the job even easier.
Planting your stake one to two feet into the soil will maximize sturdiness as the plant gains weight.
Finally, make sure you have a soft material to secure your vine to the stake. Many people use twine. Avoid using materials like floss, yarn, or rope, as they can abrade the vine and impede growth.
Staking Methods
The best tomato stakes for your situation ultimately depend on the method of staking you’re using. There are several options, each of which lends itself to different stake materials and quantities.
Single Stake
The single-stake method involves using one stake to anchor the plant. This method usually requires trimming the plant down to one vine and necessitates a taller, sturdier stake.
In this instance, the best tomato stakes may be an 8-foot plastic-coated metal option that would be perfect for an indeterminate tomato. Alternatively, a shorter, wood option could be useful for determinate tomato bushes.
Florida (or Basket) Weave
This method requires the planter to space stakes evenly along a line of plants. Then, you use a support material like twine to weave between the stakes.
The twine essentially weaves back and forth between stakes, holding the plants in line. This method works well for determinate tomatoes.
Shorter stakes with wider diameters will likely provide the right amount of stability needed for this method.
Tomato Ladder
Tomato ladders provide extra stability and versatility compared to the single-stake or weave methods.
Ladders can often be combined to add height, and their bases provide more stability with multiple weight-bearing points compared to single stakes.
This method is especially useful for indeterminate tomato vines.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between tomato stakes and tomato ladders?
A tomato stake is one solid piece of material that serves as a primary support point for the plant. They often require additional support to anchor the stake.
Tomato ladders have multiple stabilization and support points, enabling their use for bushier plants or plants with multiple vines.
When should I use a tomato stake instead of a tomato ladder?
Single stakes are best used for individual plants. A single stake could suffice if the tomato plant is shorter, bushier, or has fewer fruits.
Since there is only one support point, the stake gets less stable as it gets taller, making tomato ladders a better choice for indeterminate tomatoes or long vines.
Can I make my own tomato stake?
Yes, you can! Any sturdy, survivable material that is tall enough to support your plant will suffice.
However, many materials are not made to withstand weathering, pests, and the weight of many tomatoes. Additionally, you could have challenges finding something tall enough to support a fully-grown tomato vine.
Get One of the Best Tomato Stakes Today!
Hopefully, you’re excited to get some of the best tomato stakes and upgrade your garden. Properly aerating your plants increases the likelihood of better yields and better-quality fruit.
Check out the Tomato Plants page for more information on tomato plants, how to grow them, and where to buy seeds.