Q. Should I stake my tomatoes?

A. Saving space, preventing disease, and improving ease of harvest are among the benefits of staking tomatoes. Staking keeps fruits and plants clean and improves air circulation in and around them. However, the fruit of staked plants is more susceptible to sunscald, so care should be taken when pruning. Staked plants may also require additional water as the plants and surrounding soil surfaces are exposed to sun and drying winds. Caging is an alternative to staking if you wish to grow tomatoes vertically.