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Why, in this picture from RHS, is there nylon thread in the hole for planting tomatoes in?

http://mygarden.rhs.org.uk/photos/rosemoorgarden/picture37897.aspx

Is there some benefit to this that I am not aware of?

Do you know what - scrap that - I've just looked at the next photo  :-\ Embarrassing! Obviously for the tomatoes to grow up - genius...

from what i can see in the photo its in order for the toms to grow up and be tied in somehow

I'm trying my beans on a Muntjac frame this year and it uses the same method.  String goes under the rootball and the plants climb up the string.

Snap ceres........the "old school" on my site keep wandering past and shaking their heads........it had better work or I am going to be the laughing stock!  ;D

dgillings, you wind the string around the tomato as it grows to support it.

Cheers all - I'll be giving that a go then - sounds like a genius system to me!

Looks like a great idea so long as your greenhouse is stable. My DIY polytunnel is so flexi that it would uproot the plants at the first gust of wind!

I often grow my tomatoes this way as an alternatve to canes as you can see here; (if you look close);



What you do is tie the string to the base of the plant, remembering to leave a big enough loop for the stem of the plant thickening. Also allow a bit of spare at the top to cater for the spirals around the plant.

Spiral the string around the plant as it grows,

To clarify that last bit when tying the string to the horizonal wire (at roof level) use a slip knot, i.e. one that is easy to untie to allow you to wind the string up the new growth. Once you have done tie the slip knot again (does that make sense  ???)

I used this method when I used to grow toms in a polythene greenhouse in the backyard, when I couldn't stick canes far enough into the growbags to support them properly - and it worked really well! You need quite strong thick string to support the full weight of the plant with all its tomatoes. I kept the string fairly loose in the early stages, and there was then enough slack to wind it round the stem as the plant got taller without untying it each time.

Let's hear it for string!  :D

You won,t here it from me cos i don,t think it is as good a method as canes. If you dont get it right the tomato slips down the string also you are more likely to damage the plant.

I've grown my tomatoes like this for years, simply twist the string round the plant as it grows. Very good support. Make sure your string isn't rough, though, or it chafes the stem in the wind.

This sounds like the way for me - I like the simplicity of the system. I've got around 30 plants to plant outside, so I'll make a frame and use string :) Sounds like a plan to me :)

Cheers for the help all!!