Plant Supports: Stakes, Cages, and Trellises by Crop

Which support for which crop

• Tomatoes — stakes, cages, or Florida basket-weave; indeterminate (vining) types need it most, determinate types still benefit.
• Peas and pole beans — trellis, netting, or strings; they must have something to climb.
• Cucumbers, squash, melons — trellis; keeps fruit straight, clean, and disease is reduced.

Why support plants at all

• Fruit stays cleaner and is less likely to rot or be eaten by slugs.
• Improved airflow helps prevent foliar diseases and fruit rots.
• Staking reduces sunscald on exposed fruit.

Sources

Reviewed 2026-07-18. We cite university Extension, government, and established horticultural sources — and never invent pesticide rates or dangerous treatments.

• University of Minnesota Extension — Trellises and cages to support garden vegetables — Peas/beans need to climb; vine crops (squash, melons, cucumbers) grow cleaner fruit on a trellis; support keeps fruit clean and reduces disease.
• University of Minnesota Extension — Three ways to trellis tomatoes — Stakes, cages, and the Florida basket-weave as tomato supports; indeterminate vs determinate growth habit.
• Oregon State University Extension — Support structures help tomatoes produce more fruit — Staking tomatoes reduces fruit rots, sunscald, and foliar diseases.

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