Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, mom2shaggy. This user is located Millersville, PA, Zone 6. This was originally posted on July 11, 2008.
Well, I hope I can help. You can use pieces of Velcro, pantyhose, thin plastic tape (like people use for land survey marks) or other commercial tomato bondage product found at a garden center or catalog......to name a few. You don't want to use wire, that can cut into the plant and you might risk damage using twine or fishing line. You might be able to weave some shoots in and out of the netting as they grow, don't force them if they are too stiff. You can tie the stems to any of the aluminum bars. I used knee high and thigh high pantyhose bought at the dollar store, cheaper than the Wally. I used a figure 8 fashion with the hose if possible around the plant stem and the stakes in order to cushion the stem from friction. You can not rely solely on the netting to support heavy stems. I added stakes to my boxes at planting time and that is my main support in use with the box staking system. Others have used their own external staking systems instead of the flimsy EB stake design. Others swear by the Ultimato staking system to help with support. Some have completely surrounded their boxes with a wire cage they made themselves that keeps critters out and helps provide support. If you are growing an indeterminate tomato plant, you'll have to do something more. Adding another staking system on top of a current one is unsafe unless you fasten it to a wall, fence or a low roof. An indeterminate plant will keep growing until frost, disease critters or humans kill it. A determinate plant will only grow to a certain height. And another thing, don't force a stem too hard to a position it might not be able to get to, it could all too easily snap and break. I wash my pantyhose knee highs after each season to prevent the spread of any diseases from the last season.
