Nicole's Quick Take: An obelisk trellis is the best tomato support I've found. Instead of one plant stuck in the middle of a cage, you can grow three or four tomatoes around the outside, reach every part of each plant to prune and harvest, and support vines that climb 6 to 8 feet without anything toppling over.

The Client Garden That Ended My Tomato Cage Days

When I first started my business, I had a client who wanted me to use tomato cages. I came back a few months later, and every single cage had toppled over. The soil was so rich that the tomatoes had taken off, the garden was a jungle I couldn't even walk into, and a lot of the branches had snapped.

That was my sign. My mom told me I'd need to create my own line of trellises, so I started with bamboo. It was so much better than a cage, but the twine rotted and I had to rebuild everything each season. That's what led me to the obelisk trellis I use today.

Obelisk Trellis vs. Tomato Cage: 4 Reasons the Obelisk Wins

It's ironic, but the worst way to grow a tomato is in a tomato cage. Here's why I grow every tomato on an obelisk trellis instead.

1. You Can Grow 3 to 4 Tomato Plants Instead of 1

With a tomato cage, you plant one tomato right in the center. With an obelisk trellis, you plant three or four tomatoes around the outside edge. That's so many more plants per square foot, which is exactly what you want in a raised bed.

2. Pruning and Harvesting Are So Much Easier

Every plant grows on the outside of the trellis instead of the inside of a cage, so you can reach all of it.

• Better airflow: Open, upright vines dry faster and stay healthier.
• Easy pruning: You can get to every sucker without reaching into a tangle.
• Easy harvesting: Ripe tomatoes are right there on the outside, not hidden in the middle.

Here's my guide to pruning tomatoes.

3. It Supports Tomatoes All the Way to the Top

It's rare to find a tomato cage taller than 6 feet, but vining tomatoes keep growing. My mom's reached 6 to 8 feet this year. A tall obelisk trellis supports the plant the whole way up, so you never deal with a cage that topples over under the weight.

4. It's Durable and Beautiful

A good metal obelisk lasts for years, and it looks gorgeous doing it. My mom calls it an "architectural feature," and she's right. It adds height and structure to your garden, even in winter when the beds are quiet.

If you want the full case against cages, here's why I don't use tomato cages.

The Best Metal Obelisk Trellises for Tomatoes

I recommend two metal obelisk trellises for tomatoes. Both are powder-coated steel, topped with an elegant finial, and come in four sizes. The Gardenary Border Tuteur Trellis is the one my mom and I built in the video, and the Gardenary Wide Pillar Obelisk Trellis is its straight-sided, wide-framed cousin.

The Border Tuteur Trellis (on the left above)

The Border Tuteur has graceful curves and an elegant finial on top, so it looks beautiful on its own or styled in a group of three.

• Powder-coated steel: Built to hold heavy tomato vines season after season.
• Four sizes: Small (60" tall), Medium (74.8"), Large (84"), and Extra Large (94").
• Raised beds or in-ground: It adds vertical structure anywhere you grow.
• Bonus ebook: The Gardenary Guide to Growing Vertically, sent to your inbox right after purchase.
• Assembly tip: Two people make assembly easy. My mom and I built ours together.

The Wide Pillar Obelisk Trellis (on the right above)

The Wide Pillar has straight, solid steel rods and flat steel bands, giving vines plenty to climb and grab onto.

• Solid steel construction: Powder-coated black steel rods and flat horizontal bands.
• Four sizes: Small (62" tall), Medium (73.6"), Large (86"), and Extra Large (94").
• Decorative finials: A finished, elegant look at the top.
• Hardware included: Everything you need to assemble it.
• Bonus ebook: The Gardenary Guide to Vertical Growing, sent to your inbox right after purchase.

Both were out of stock for months, so if you want one in place before spring planting, now's the time to grab yours.

Which Obelisk Trellis Should You Choose?

• Love graceful curves and a classic garden look? Choose the Border Tuteur.
• Want a straight-sided frame with lots of grab points? Choose the Wide Pillar.
• Growing tall, vining tomatoes? Go with the Large or Extra Large in either style.
• Growing peas, beans, or cucumbers? The Small or Medium is plenty.

For a closer look, here's my Border Tuteur Trellis kit guide and my Wide Pillar Obelisk Trellis kit guide. Wondering about materials? Here's my take on metal trellis vs. wood trellis.

How to Grow Tomatoes on an Obelisk Trellis

Growing tomatoes on an obelisk trellis is simple once it's set up.

MY SIMPLE METHOD:

1. Set the trellis first. Put it in place before you plant. Trying to trellis a half-grown tomato is nearly impossible without damaging it.
2. Plant around the outside. Set three or four tomato plants evenly around the base, not in the center.
3. Guide the main stems up. As each plant grows, weave it along the rods and tie it loosely with soft twine or clips.
4. Prune as you go. Remove suckers so each plant stays open and easy to manage.
5. Harvest from the outside. Walk around the trellis and pick ripe tomatoes right off the vines.

Prefer an arch? Here's the complete guide to growing tomatoes on an arch trellis.

What Else Can You Grow on an Obelisk Trellis?

An obelisk trellis isn't just for tomatoes. My mom has grown all of these on hers:

• Sugar snap peas: Perfect for spring and fall.
• Pole beans: They'll climb right to the top.
• Fava beans: Sturdy plants that love the extra support.
• Cucumbers: Straighter fruit and fewer hiding spots for pests.
• Climbing roses: For gardeners who love flowers, an obelisk makes a stunning rose support.
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For more ways to use one, here are my favorite obelisk trellis ideas for the vegetable garden.

Watch: Building an Obelisk Trellis With My Mom

In this video, my mom and I put together the Border Tuteur Trellis for her garden, so you can see exactly how it works for yours.

Where Obelisk Trellises Usually Go Wrong

• Adding the trellis after planting: Install it first so you don't damage roots and stems.
• Planting one tomato in the middle: Plant three or four around the outside instead.
• Choosing one that's too short: Vining tomatoes need a tall trellis to reach their full height.
• Tying too tightly: Use soft ties and leave room for stems to thicken.
• Skipping pruning: A tangle of suckers blocks airflow and makes harvesting harder.