Wayward stems can be routinely slipped back inside the cages. The tomato cages have the advantage of being stackable, so two cages can be placed one on top of the other to provide support for the most vigorous plants. Tomato stakes, such as Tomato Towers, conserve even more space because the plants' main stems are tied or guided along vertical stakes, and most side shoots and branches are pruned off. This allows the plant to concentrate its energy on ripening fruit. You get an earlier harvest of larger fruits, although the total yield is often reduced.
Many gardeners enjoy seeing how quickly they can get the first ripe tomato.
These protective plastic shields can help by giving your plants an earlier start on the growing season. You can set plants out earlier because the Wall O'Waters shield the plants from cold temperatures. It's still helpful to warm the soil before planting by spreading clear plastic Reflective Red Mulch over the bed. Consistent moisture is critical to growing good tomatoes. Fruit cracking and blossom end rot can result when the soil dramatically alternates between wet and dry.