Professional Tomato Production at Home: The Single Stem & String Trellising Method

In iAVs, 50% of the growing area needs to be used for growing fruiting plants, such as tomatoes.

Why Fruiting Plants are Recommended:

• Growing a mix of plants helps ensure balanced nutrient removal from the system4. Fruiting crops require higher levels of nutrients, particularly phosphorus and potassium, while leafy greens primarily demand nitrogen5. A recommended mix helps prevent nutrient accumulation to potentially toxic levels
• Fruiting crops, such as tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers, are nutritionally richer and more economically valuable compared to leafy greens like lettuce
• iAVs was specifically designed to support the production of fruiting plants
• iAVs intentionally manages pH at a slightly acidic level (approximately 6.4 ± 0.4), prioritizing the needs of the plants for optimal nutrient availability and uptake. For growing tilapia and tomato (or most other common vegetable garden species), a pH between 6.4 and 6.6 (+/- 0.2) is considered “basically ideal” for facilitating adequate nutrition of every essential plant element.

Inspired by Next Level Gardening’s Video Tutorial:
“The ONE TOMATO HACK That ACTUALLY Works!” by Next Level Gardening

Increasing tomato yields while maintaining healthy, manageable plants is a challenge faced by gardeners and production growers alike. Drawing on both greenhouse best practices and extensive personal experience, Brian at Next Level Gardening has outlined a method that truly delivers results: Single Stem Pruning and String Trellising. Here, I’ll summarize this remarkably effective approach, explain its underlying principles, and share why it outperforms many popular “tomato hacks.”

The Core Method: Single Stem & String Trellising

1. Grow Vertically: Optimize Space and Plant Health

Instead of allowing tomato plants to sprawl, this method supports each vine vertically, utilizing a single string anchored above and below the plant. This approach is particularly well-suited to indeterminate (vining) tomato varieties, which continue to grow and produce fruit throughout the season.

2. Overhead Support Structure

Install a sturdy overhead support-such as a greenhouse frame, trellis bar, wooden beam, or even the eaves of a house. Securely attach strong, UV-resistant twine or specialized tomato hooks to this structure.

3. Single Stem Pruning

Prune each plant to maintain just one central leader (main stem).

• Why: Concentrates the plant’s energy on fruit production and reduces unnecessary foliage.

4. Remove All Suckers

Regularly (every 1–2 weeks), pinch off the side shoots (“suckers”) that grow in the leaf axils.

• Result: Prevents bushy growth and ensures the main stem remains dominant.

5. Support and Training

As the plant grows, gently wrap the main stem around the string or use tomato clips for support. Anchor the string securely at the base, either by tying it to a stake or burying it under the root zone.

Advanced Productivity: “Lower and Lean” for Longer Seasons

For those gardening in longer-season zones (USDA Zones 6–11), Brian recommends an advanced adaptation to further boost yield:

• Tomato Hooks: Use hooks with twine spooled around them to make adjustment easy.
• Do Not Top the Plant: When the vine reaches the top of its support, do not remove the growing tip.
• Lower and Lean: Gradually release more twine, lowering the vine so that the leafless lower portion coils near the ground, and re-hook further along the support. This allows continued upward growth and fruiting.
• Remove Lower Leaves: As you lower the vine, systematically remove yellowing or unproductive leaves at the base.

Key Benefits of This Method

• Increased Yield: Plants direct energy into fruit rather than excess foliage, resulting in significantly higher production per square foot.
• Space Efficiency: Enables closer plant spacing (30–45 cm / 12–18 inches apart).
• Disease Reduction: Superior airflow drastically lowers the risk of fungal diseases such as blight and mildew.
• Simplified Pest Management: Open structure makes it easier to identify and remove pests like hornworms and aphids.
• Ease of Harvest: Fruit clusters are clearly visible and accessible for picking.
• Tidy, Manageable Plants: Avoids the dense, unmanageable growth associated with cage or “wild” methods.

Common Approaches to Avoid

The speaker emphasizes that many popular tomato “hacks” are far less impactful than this core structural/pruning approach:

• Flimsy cages without disciplined pruning usually result in tangled growth and disease risk.
• Letting plants grow unchecked leads to reduced yield and increased maintenance.
• Planting hole additives (Epsom salts, fish heads, pennies, eggshells) provide negligible results compared to good structure and pruning.

Conclusion

The single stem and string trellising method, when combined with prudent pruning and (for longer seasons) the “lower and lean” strategy, provides a simple, scalable, and highly productive solution for tomato growers. This technique is well-supported by both commercial and home gardening experience, resulting in better plant health, higher yields, and easier garden management.

If you’re looking to optimize your tomato crop this season, I highly recommend watching Brian’s full instructional video here and putting these principles into practice.

Have you tried vertical single-stem tomato production? Share your experiences in the comments or with photos on social media!

Source: All information in this summary is based on the video tutorial by Brian at Next Level Gardening, whose expertise and clarity have been invaluable to home growers everywhere.