Q&A: What should do if my tomatoes get too big for their trellis?

This is a super common problem—especially if you’re using store-bought tomato cages (one of the reasons we don’t recommend them). Even with tall obelisks or trellises, vigorous tomato plants can outgrow their support by mid-summer in Middle Tennessee.

Option 1: Tip them over
Once the main stem reaches the top of the trellis, gently bend it down and weave it sideways along the top or down the opposite side. This keeps the stem supported and prevents it from flopping in the wind. Even with our tall arch trellises, tomatoes can try to grow straight up rather than over the arch the way we want them to. Careful weave or tie the stems the way you want them to go.

Option 2: Prune for height
If you’ve been letting the plant grow freely and haven’t removed many suckers, now’s the time to get more selective. Cutting the top growth will slow upward momentum—but yes, it can encourage more suckers from lower down. In mid-to-late summer, that’s not necessarily bad. Those suckers can grow, flower, and produce fruit before frost, especially on cherry varieties that have a shorter time to maturity.

Option 3: Let it sprawl
If you have space, you can let the extra growth cascade down. Just be mindful of airflow—tangled, dense foliage can invite disease. And once those stem become heavy with ripe fruit, they can easily tear or break.

Looking ahead
Next year, start with a bigger trellis than you think you’ll need. Tall arches or 7–8 foot obelisks give indeterminate tomatoes room to keep growing without needing drastic midseason adjustments.