What does a complete tomato growing system look like? Five products working together: Tomato Crater for root zone watering, Stake It for securing support structures, C-Bite clips for vine training, MitoGrow for root and growth amplification, and Stratus for precision rainfall tracking. Each solves a specific problem. Together they cover every aspect of growing stronger, more productive tomatoes — and most other vegetables too.
Tom's Quick Answer: Tomato Crater waters the roots. Stake It anchors the cage. C-Bite trains the vines. MitoGrow amplifies the roots. Stratus tracks the rain. That's the whole system. Every piece has a job, and they all work together.
Tom's Real-World Advice
I didn't set out to build a system. I just kept solving problems one at a time. First it was watering — Tomato Crater fixed that. Then it was my tomato cages tipping over in summer storms — Stake It fixed that. Then it was training vines without damaging stems — C-Bite fixed that. Then it was not knowing how much rain we'd gotten — Stratus fixed that. And MitoGrow came in when I wanted to push my yields further without adding more fertilizer.
Now I look at the garden and every problem has a solution. That's what a real system looks like — not one magic product, but the right tool for each job.
The Five Components
1. Tomato Crater® — Root Zone Watering
The problem it solves: Surface watering wastes water, promotes disease, and encourages shallow roots.
How it works: Sits around the base of the plant and channels every drop of water directly to the root zone. Works with hand watering, drip irrigation, and liquid fertilizer delivery.
Also works on: Peppers, eggplant, squash, cucumbers, melons, strawberries — any vegetable or fruit transplant.
Made in USA. Available in 1-Pack, 3-Pack, and 9-Pack.
2. Stake It™ — No-Dig Ground Anchoring
The problem it solves: Tomato cages, trellises, and garden structures tip over in wind and rain, damaging plants and breaking supports.
How it works: Drives into the ground alongside cage legs and structure posts without digging. Locks the structure in place against wind and storm pressure.
Also works on: Garden arches, raised bed corner posts, fence posts, outdoor furniture legs.
Made in USA. Available in 2-Pack.
3. C-Bite™ — Plant Support Clips
The problem it solves: Tying tomato vines with twine or tape damages stems, constricts growth, and takes too long.
How it works: C-Bite clips snap onto tomato stems and attach to cages, stakes, and trellises in seconds. No tying, no constriction, no stem damage. Reusable season after season.
Also works on: Peppers, cucumbers, beans, any vining or climbing vegetable.
Made in USA.
4. MitoGrow™ — Plant Biostimulant
The problem it solves: Fertilizer alone doesn't address root strength, transplant shock, heat stress, or drought stress.
How it works: MitoGrow is a patented biostimulant complex — not a fertilizer, but something that works alongside fertilizers to strengthen root systems, accelerate growth, and shield plants from stress. Mix into your watering can and pour into the Tomato Crater moat for direct root zone delivery.
Complements: Any tomato fertilizer. MitoGrow amplifies fertilizer results — use both.
Also works on: All vegetables, flowering plants, trees, and shrubs (use MitoGrow Tree & Shrub for woody plants).
Made in USA. Available in Bloom & Bed, Tree & Shrub, and bundle packs.
5. Stratus® Precision Rain Gauge — Rainfall Tracking
The problem it solves: Not knowing how much rain fell means guessing on supplemental watering — leading to overwatering or underwatering.
How it works: Measures rainfall to 0.01-inch precision. NOAA endorsed and used by CoCoRaHS weather observers nationwide. Mount in an open area of the garden, check after every rain event, and adjust your Tomato Crater watering schedule accordingly.
Tom's rule: Tomatoes need 1–2 inches per week. Stratus tells you exactly how much nature provided. Tomato Crater delivers the rest.
Made in USA.
How the System Works Together
- Plant day: Install Tomato Crater, apply MitoGrow to planting hole, install Stake It on cage legs, mount Stratus gauge
- Week 1–2: Water Tomato Crater moat daily with MitoGrow solution, check Stratus after rain
- Week 3+: Add C-Bite clips as vines grow and need training, continue Tomato Crater watering with fertilizer, track rainfall with Stratus
- All season: Stake It keeps structures secure through storms, C-Bite trains growth, Tomato Crater delivers water and nutrients, MitoGrow amplifies results, Stratus tracks rainfall
Works on More Than Tomatoes
Every product in this system works on vegetables and fruits beyond tomatoes. Tomato Crater on peppers and squash. Stake It on any garden structure. C-Bite on cucumbers and beans. MitoGrow on all flowering and fruiting plants. Stratus tracking rainfall for the whole garden. This is a complete vegetable garden system, not just a tomato system.
The Complete System — What to Buy
| Product | Recommended for 4-plant garden | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Tomato Crater | 3-Pack (covers 3 plants, buy 2 for 4–6 plants) | Shop Tomato Crater |
| Stake It | 2-Pack (one per cage, buy 2 packs for 4 cages) | Shop Stake It |
| C-Bite | 1 pack covers a full season of training | Shop C-Bite |
| MitoGrow Bloom & Bed | 1 pouch covers the full season for 4 plants | Shop MitoGrow |
| Stratus Rain Gauge | 1 gauge per garden | Shop Stratus |
FAQs
Do I need all five products?
No — start with Tomato Crater and MitoGrow, which address the two highest-impact factors: root zone watering and root strength. Add Stake It if your cages tip over, C-Bite when you need vine training, and Stratus when you want precision rainfall data. Build the system at your own pace.
Does MitoGrow replace fertilizer?
No. MitoGrow is a biostimulant, not a fertilizer. It works alongside your existing fertilizer to strengthen roots and amplify results. Use both — your regular tomato fertilizer on schedule, and MitoGrow every third or fourth watering.
Can I use this system for peppers and other vegetables?
Yes. Every product in this system works on peppers, eggplant, squash, cucumbers, melons, strawberries, and most other vegetable and fruit transplants.
Are all these products Made in USA?
Yes. Tomato Crater, Stake It, C-Bite, MitoGrow, and Stratus are all manufactured in the United States.
What is the most important product to start with?
Tomato Crater. Root zone watering is the single highest-impact change most home gardeners can make. Install it at transplant time and add the other components as your garden grows.
More Tomato Crater Resources: Tomato Crater Hub | Shop Tomato Crater | Shop MitoGrow | Shop Stratus Rain Gauge | Learn From Tom
