Grow Well. Eat Well

Tomato Trials Series Part 6: Supporting Cherokee Purple and Roma Tomatoes

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by

Erin
in

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I’ll admit it: my Cherokee Purple and Roma tomatoes had me sweating after Kentucky’s summer solstice on June 20, 2025 heat prediction. Plus the week before brought tons of heavy rain to Kentucky. These beauties in my raised in-ground garden bed were sprawling like nobody’s business, and I worried about sunscald and that pesky “green caterpillar on tomato plant” (hello, tomato hornworms!). But with some tomato plant support ideas, a cattle panel trellis, and organic tricks up my sleeve, my Bloom & Peck garden is thriving. In part 6 of my Tomato Trials Series, I’m sharing how I’m keeping my heirloom Cherokee Purple and paste Roma tomatoes happy in Zone 7, with tiny green tomatoes popping up and Epic Gardening gear strengthening the day. Let’s dig in!

Post-Summer Solstice Challenges in Kentucky

After the solstice, Kentucky’s weather threw a curveball: presolstice heavy rain then BOOM intense sun. My tomatoes, especially the indeterminate Cherokee Purple, wanted to flop over like they were auditioning for a drama. The high search term “tomato plant falling over” is real in Kentucky, ranked #2 for “tomato plant” searches!

Plus, I am worried about tomato sunscald—white, blistering patches on fruit from sudden sun exposure after rain Epic Gardening. To combat this, I added a large row cover cloth (I used Agrafab) to shield my plants from heavy rain and harsh rays, letting air and light through while preventing scald. It’s been a game-changer for my raised bed gardening.

Epic Root Growth in 5” Cubic Pots

Transplanting my Cherokee Purple and Roma seedlings from Epic Gardening’s 5” Cubic Pots was a moment of pure joy. The white roots were thick and healthy, wrapping the pot like a cozy blanket. I snapped a photo of one plant’s root ball, and it’s proof that these pots rock for organic gardening. Get your own Cherokee Purple seeds here and Roma seeds here from Epic Gardening—use my code BLOOMPECK5 for 5% off!

Cherokee Purple tomato root system after growing for 2 weeks in an Epic 5-inch cube pot, Zone 7 KY homestead garden.
Look at these roots! My Cherokee Purple thrived in the Epic 5″ cube pot—ready for transplanting! 🌱 #tomatosupportideas

Tomato Plant Support Ideas: Trellis and 2 String Methods

Tomato plant support ideas using string up and arch trellis ideas, you can see the tomato flop in the back still waiting to be strung up to top of trellis. The weave did not work on my heavy plants, suggest to do train them when they are small plants.

My Roma and Cherokee Purple tomatoes love to sprawl, but I’m getting them off the ground—that’s a recipe for blight and pests. Using my cattle panel tomato trellis (check out Part 5), I’ve got tomato plant support ideas to keep them upright:

  • Tying Up: I will string tie Roma and one Cherokee Purple straight up to the trellis top with soft twine in a figure-8 pattern, guiding their main stems skyward. This prevents the “tomato plant falling over” drama, especially for indeterminate Cherokee Purple, which can hit 10 feet ( Farmers Almanac).
  • Weaving Sides: For sprawling branches, I weave lateral stems into the cattle panel’s grid, ensuring airflow and sun exposure. This supports heavy fruit and keeps my raised bed gardening tidy, from Garden Betty.
  • Why It Works: Vertical support reduces disease, makes harvesting easier, and aligns with Kentucky gardeners’ searches for “tomato plant support ideas.”

Tiny green tomatoes are emerging on both varieties! They are keeping pace with my container garden tomatoes. The trellis keeps them off the ground, and I’m thrilled to see progress!

Battling the Green Caterpillar on Tomato Plants

Tomato hornworm green caterpillar on a Cherokee Purple tomato plant in a Kentucky raised bed garden, near a cattle panel tomato trellis, highlighting organic gardening pest control.

🐛 Tomato hornworms—those “green caterpillars on tomato plants”—are a Kentucky gardener’s nemesis. I check daily, hand-picking any I find (yuck, but effective!) and dropping them into soapy water (UK Entomology). My interplanted French marigolds help deter sphinx moths that lay hornworm eggs, thanks to their limonene scent (Hidden Springs Homestead). But for extra protection, I’m using a scientifically proven organic spray:

  • Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt): This organic bacterium kills hornworms by disrupting their digestion, safe for bees and humans. I will spray Bonide Thuricide Bt (I earn no commission on this) in the evening, reapplying after rain. It’s backed by University of Kentucky research UK Cooperative Extension.
How to Organically Control Green Caterpillars on Tomato Plants ?

Hand-pick hornworms at dawn or dusk, use marigolds as a companion plant, and spray Bt for organic control. Check leaves for frass (droppings) to spot them early UK Entomology.

The Trellis in the Container Garden

My raised bed tomatoes are outshining my container garden tomatoes, likely due to better soil drainage. Don’t get me wrong, the container garden is strong, but a little behind, even though I planted the Heirloom tomato on Mother’s Day. The Roma (determinate) and Cherokee Purple (indeterminate) are getting tiny green fruits, promising a big harvest. The container tomatoes, while healthy, aren’t as tall but are getting fruit—proof that raised bed gardening suits Kentucky’s clay soil.

Kentucky Tomato Homesteading Tips

  • Watering: Deep water every 5-7 days (1-2 inches), using a soaker hose under mulch to avoid wet foliage (UK Cooperative Extension)/
  • Pests: Besides hornworms, watch for aphids. My marigolds attract ladybugs, which munch them up (Mother Earth News).
  • Community: I’ve learned so much from Kentucky homesteading groups. Some sell tomatoes at farmers’ markets, a goal I am not sure I want to take on.

What’s Next for Bloom & Peck?

I’m checking my trellis daily, tying up new growth, watering deep because of the heat, and dreaming of fresh Cherokee Purple slices and canned Roma sauce. This cattle panel tomato trellis is my homesteading win, and I’m pumped to share it. What tomato plant support ideas do you use? Drop your tips in the comments—I’d love to hear from my fellow gardeners!

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