Although the Florida weave sounds like something you might request from your hair stylist, it’s actually a popular method of trellising tomatoes. This process saves space and time, and it’s best suited for determinate tomatoes because they grow more like bushes than vines and do not get too tall. For the Florida weave, you’ll need sturdy metal stakes that are about 6 feet tall, like rebar or T-posts, to provide support. Wood stakes are a less expensive option, but they do not last as long. Jute twine or cotton string helps keep tomatoes upright between the posts.
To build your Florida weave, install your posts 2 to 3 feet apart. To make sure your trellis stays upright through wind and rain, drive your stakes into the ground about 12 inches deep, if possible. Place two small tomato plants between each stake. Once your plants reach about 1 foot tall, or begin to fall over, start weaving your twine. Tie the twine to the end stake, then weave it in front of the first two tomatoes. Wrap your twine around the next stake, and behind the next two plants. Once you reach the end post, wrap your twine around that support and continue this process going in the other direction until there is twine supporting the front and back of all your tomatoes, securing it again around the first stake. Add another layer of twine about every 8 inches as your plants grow taller and until they reach their full height.
