What are best at supporting up tomato plants?

I do not want tomato cages, so whats next best thing, on a budget here?

What are best at supporting up tomato plants?
Just take a stick that's a tad taller than the plant, stick it in the ground and tie the plant loosely to the stake.
Reply:Stake them up with wooden stakes from whatever source you have, tying with strips of torn up old towels or sheets. I have seen this done by my grandparents many times.
Reply:try sprinkling baby powder on the tomato plant
Reply:Pick up some firring strips at a lumber yard. They often cut them to size (about six feet long) and package them in bundles of 10. They are cheap and will last a few years. Simply tie up the tomatoes with soft brown string as they grow. Easy, and very cheap.
Reply:I use bamboo pieces I got at a garage sale. I also use plant tape because it streches as the plant grows. Whatever you use to tie them up, make sure it will give and not cut the plant. Old pantyhose cut up work well also.
Reply:tobacco stick or bambo stick
Reply:sticks and string... is that cheap enough??
Reply:The first year we planted tomatoes, we used stakes. They weren't enough because they only supported the center stalk (and barely!).





The second year, we used cages. They weren't enough because they bent down to the ground when the plants got humongous.





This year, we are using stakes and cages. So far, so good, but they haven't gotten huge yet. We shall see!





I have heard of people using string criss-crossed back and forth between posts, but that seems like far too much work. Tomato cages really aren't that expensive. We go to a relatively higher priced nursery for our garden supplies, and they are only 2.99 there. It's well worth it, considering the hassle of the string option and the poor results you get just using stakes.
Reply:Garden centers usu. have 6' tomato stakes, just a peice of wood about 1" x 1" x 6' tall.