Oh, one thing I should probably mention is that it's pretty obvious my tomatoes are not trained as a single vine up a tall stake, and they aren't caged. I grow them this way, and give them each a 2x2 space so they grow intensely, so that they will continue to perform well even when it hits 110 degrees outside here in las Vegas. They completely cover the surface of the soil and act almost like a living mulch. They also help each other to retain humidity and keep each other cool during the day.
I get WAY more fruits this way compared with staking or caging. People who stake or cage tomatoes in Vegas will learn quickly that the plants will try out, the leaves will turn brown and fall off, the blossoms will drop, and any fruit that did set will probably end up cracking. I'm sure some very heat tolerant varieties are more immune to these issues, but I like to grow a few heirloom varieties as well. This growing method really helps me get a nice harvest.
For peppers, i do stake them since they don't get so tall, and it helps keep them upright in the powerful wind, and once they get top heavy.
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