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Selecting the appropriate tomato clips, twine, and hooks
Written by Martin Meuldijk, Specialist Crop Rotation | Last update: June 26. 2023
It is crucial to avoid fruit damage, broken stems, or drooping crops. These risks can arise from using inadequate support, underscoring the importance of choosing the right equipment. Different tomato varieties require specific types of twine and support to thrive, depending on their weight and growth characteristics. Some tomatoes benefit from growing on thin twine, while others require thicker varieties. The specific weight of the plants dictates the ideal choice. By matching the right hooks, twine, and clips to your tomato plants, you can mitigate these risks and promote healthier, more robust tomato growth.
Information about tomato variety, hooks, and type of twine
| Tomato variety | Steel thickness for hooks | Type of twine | Type of clip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low-weight tomatoes such as Snack and Cherry tomatoes | 3.00 | 1/1500 - 1/1200 - 1/1000 | 21 mm S clip |
| Medium plant-weight tomatoes such as medium truss and loose tomatoes | 3.00 | 1/1200 - 1/100 | 23 mm Valent clip |
| High plant weight, large tomato varieties such as Middelgrove and Grove | 3.00/ 3.30 | 1/1200 - 1/1000 | 23 mm Valent clip |
| Tomatoes with a very high plant weight | 3.30 | 1/1000 | 23 mm Valent clip 26 mm Valent clip |
Tomatoes with low plant weight
This category encompasses snack and cherry tomatoes, characterized by their light weight:
- Tomato Hooks: A steel thickness of 3 mm is sufficient for supporting these tomatoes.
- Tomato Twine: Twine thickness is not a critical factor; all types of twine are suitable. Your choice should be based on the quantity of twine needed: 1/1500, 1/1200, or 1/1000.
- Tomato Clips: A 23 mm Valent Tomato Clip or the Bio Valent Clip is strong enough to support the plant, ideal for lighter tomato varieties.
Tomatoes of medium weight
This category includes medium truss and loose tomatoes like Roterno Proudesse Extension, Forticia, and Cappricia:
- Tomato Hooks: A hook with a steel thickness of 3 mm is adequate for maintaining crop uprightness.
- Tomato Twine: It is recommended to use 1/1200 or 1/1000 twine; a 1/1500 twine is too fine and poses a risk of breakage.
- Tomato Clips: The 23 mm Valent Tomato Clip is suitable for attaching tomato plants of medium average weight.
Tomatoes of heavy weight
Medium and large tomatoes, such as Merlice, Marinice, and Climbo, fall into this category:
- Tomato Hooks: Use hooks with a steel thickness of 3.3 millimeters to prevent buckling.
- Tomato Twine: Use twine with a strength of 1/1200 or 1/1000 to provide sufficient support for heavier plants.
- Tomato Clips: Use 23 mm Valent Clips with extra-large, robust twine clamps to support heavy plant loads.
Tomatoes with extra heavy plant weight
Varieties like Xandor, Maxcize, Sevance, and Radiance belong here. Correctly chosen hooks and twine are essential to prevent buckling and twine breakage:
- Tomato Hooks: Hooks with a steel thickness of 3.3 mm are necessary.
- Tomato Twine: The thickest twine type of 1/1000 is required.
- Tomato Clips: The 23 mm Valent Tomato Clip is suitable, but if truss weights exceed a kilogram per truss, consider using a 26 mm Valent Clip. Both are available in biodegradable versions.
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Customer story Village Farms, Canada & USA
"In the new cultivation season we will use the Valent O-Hook on a large scale."