By William Terry Kelley
University of
Georgia

The seeds have all come up. The transplants are all in the
ground. Your vegetable garden is growing, so it’s time to sit
back, relax and enjoy. Well, not exactly.

As all veteran gardeners know, there are constantly chores to be
accomplished. It’s now time to trellis some of those vegetables
you planted.

Trellising gets the plant and fruit up off the ground. This
makes for better quality fruit and less disease. It also helps
maintain order in the garden and makes harvesting easier.

For tomatoes, some people simply put cages over the plant to
support it as it grows. Another method is to drive a 1-inch-
square, 4-foot stake into the ground by each plant and tie the
plant to the stake.

If you have a long row of tomatoes, you can set a large post at
each end of the row and again about every 20 feet within it.
Attach a wire across the top of the posts and about 4 inches
above the ground. Use twine to tie each plant to the wires for
support.

Peppers can be staked as well. Place similar 1-inch-square
stakes about every fourth plant with twine running from stake to
stake. Start the first twine 4 inches above the ground.

As the peppers grow, put another string about every 4 inches
above the last one. Start with the first stake and go on one
side of the plants. Then go around the next stake and so on.
When you get to the last stake, come back down the other side of
the plants to box the plants in and keep them from falling
over.

Another crop that works good with a trellis is cucumbers. You
can use 4-foot fencing wire and some posts to build a temporary
fence beside the cucumber row. Then just train the vines up on
the fence as they grow. You’ll find and pick your cukes
easier.

Eggplant can be staked, too. Place either tomato stakes or rebar
next to each eggplant. Then secure it to the stake. Be careful
not to cut into plants as you tie them with twine. But keep the
twine tight enough to support the plants.

Trellising is one chore that should be accomplished fairly soon
after the plants are established.

Don’t forget to scout for insects and disease problems, too.
Keep your weeds in check, and water as needed. The gardener’s
work is never quite done. But doing chores when they’re needed
will help you relax and enjoy the lazy days of summer a little
more.

(Terry Kelley is an Extension Service vegetable horticulturist
with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and
Environmental Sciences.)