Tomatoes are considered one of the most demanding crops, especially those that are artificially grown and developed in greenhouses. One of the activities aimed at preserving and obtaining a high-quality crop of vegetables is the garter of tomatoes. There are different ways to tie vegetable crops, and a lot in this matter depends on the height of a particular variety. Read about all this below.
Why tie up
As practical experience shows, not all varieties of tomatoes, which are customary to grow in a greenhouse in our time, need a garter. Without it, such types of tomatoes as undersized and having an early ripening period (early ripening) can grow and develop normally. But in the greenhouse, other varieties are most often grown – tall, large, and abundantly fruitful. It is these crops that allow summer residents to get a rich harvest of tomatoes from a relatively small area. 
And since a large number of ovaries are formed on tall bushes in a greenhouse, on which many fruits then appear, this overloads the plant itself, as a result of which it needs additional support.
Some inexperienced summer residents do not consider it necessary to tie up tomatoes, because it seems to them that such a culture will be better able to take root and grow. But since the very planting and cultivation of tomatoes in a greenhouse is already unnatural for them, in order to artificially and independently create proper conditions for vegetable crops, as close as possible to natural ones, it is necessary to tie up in a timely manner. What are the arguments in favor of this procedure?
In order to prevent tomatoes from growing excessively and thickening, it is customary to pinch them – remove excess side shoots. Stepping is much easier and faster if the plants are already tied up, and not located on the ground under the weight of the fruit. Tall varieties of tomatoes cannot normally hold the weight of all fruits, therefore, so that the crops do not break, they must be tied up in time. In addition, if this procedure is not carried out, then the fruits lying on the ground are in danger of being spoiled by slugs and other pests.
Late blight, the pathogens of which live precisely in the soil, most quickly affects those tomatoes that are on the surface of the earth. Thus, garter tomatoes will help ensure the safety of your vegetables. Also, in the event that vegetable crops are not provided with supports, during irrigation, water will certainly fall on the leaves and ovaries. And for tomatoes, this is unacceptable, because according to the rules they can only be watered under the root. And in conclusion, it should be noted that without a garter of bushes, there is a possibility that you will not be able to get a rich harvest or will be left without it at all. And the gardener himself will not have to spend a lot of time and effort in caring for tomatoes if they are provided with supports.
Garter Methods
Technologies for tying tomatoes in the open field and in a polycarbonate greenhouse are not much different from each other. You will need metal rods, wire (string is also suitable), garter material, which should not only be wide, but also quite strong.
Experienced gardeners advise using fabric divided into wide flaps, the width of which should be about 4 cm, as a material for tying plants in a greenhouse.
In addition to improvised materials from which you can build garter belts, today there are reusable devices made of practical plastic on sale. 
We also recommend that experienced summer residents purchase a special garter – a device resembling a stapler, with which you can tie crops with tape. There are several methods for gartering a tomato. It must be remembered that there are small protrusions on the stems of plants, the purpose of which is to provide vegetables with good nutrition. If the stems are not tied up in time, then the crops that will definitely fall on the ground will receive more valuable substances, which is why they can be expected to have increased yields. But this technique is only suitable for hot climatic zones, and in greenhouse conditions in our area, tomatoes must be provided with additional supports.
One of the methods can be called a garter of tomatoes on a peg. To do this, in close proximity to the bush, a special rail should be driven in, to which the vegetable stalk will be tied with a rope. It is advised to boil the material before the procedure in order to prevent the appearance of microbes or pests in the future. The strips into which men’s shirts made of synthetics are cut are best suited for these purposes – they do not rot and are considered durable.
The rope must be tied around the peg and the stem of the plant in several layers, after which a good knot is tied. In no case should you tighten the rope on the stem too much, as you can harm the plant, which will ultimately lead to its death. The culture will continue to grow, so periodically you will have to move the rope up or re-tie the garter.
The second way to tie vegetable crops in a greenhouse is as follows – you need to dig a couple of bars on both sides of the garden bed, the diameter of which should be at least 5 cm. Then a wire is pulled between them, then a piece of rope must be tied to it over each of the tomato bushes from one end, and on the other – the stem of the plant. How convenient is this method? As the crop grows, the gardener will not have to re-tie the garter, since the plants will be able to wrap themselves around the rope on their own.
Another way to tie vegetable crops is to drive a peg on each side of a row of planted plants, between which a strong wire should be pulled. The essence of the method is that as the tomatoes grow, they receive a reliable support in the form of a wire and can easily grow up. Each of the above methods has its supporters, and novice gardeners will have to decide on their own which of the tomato garter methods to prefer for their greenhouse.
Video “Secrets of growing tomatoes”
Growing tomatoes, even experienced gardeners sometimes make mistakes. In the video, a woman tells how to properly water, stepchild, tie up and pollinate seedlings.
