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#1
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Tomato Support Idea
Since I'm cutting way back on my tomato plants this season, I think I'll try a different method to support the plants. I use the green steel fence posts that you buy at any hardware store 5' tall. All the other years I used a single stake per plant which worked ok but constant tying here and there is necessary and some branches still break due to the weight of the fruit. Since I'll have an excess of fence posts this season, I plan to put 3 stakes around each plant in the shape of a triangle. I'll run parachute cord from stake to stake at several different heights. It should work kind of like a tomato cage except much stronger as each stake will be a foot or more into the ground and the cross members will be of parachute cord and not wire. Each stake forming the triangle, I'll place eight or nine inches from the plant. By doing this, I think that I may be able to get as big a harvest even though I'm setting out half the amount of plants. When using a single stake, I would prune the plant in order to have one or two main stems. I should now be able to allow at least four main stems per plant. I do realize the size of the fruit may not be as large but the volume of fruit should surpass the difference. Any opinions on this idea? Rich from PA zone 5-6 |
#2
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Tomato Support Idea
On Dec 28, 12:16*am, (EVP MAN) wrote:
Since I'm cutting way back on my tomato plants this season, *I think I'll try a different method to support the plants. *I use the green steel fence posts that you buy at any hardware store 5' tall. *All the other years I used a single stake per plant which worked ok but constant tying here and there is necessary and some branches still break due to the weight of the fruit. *Since I'll have an excess of fence posts this season, *I plan to put 3 stakes around each plant in the shape of a triangle. *I'll run parachute cord from stake to stake at several different heights. *It should work kind of like a tomato cage except much stronger as each stake will be a foot or more into the ground and the cross members will be of parachute cord and not wire. *Each stake forming the triangle, *I'll place eight or nine inches from the plant. By doing this, *I think that I may be able to get as big a harvest even though I'm setting out half the amount of plants. *When using a single stake, *I would prune the plant in order to have one or two main stems. I should now be able to allow at least four main stems per plant. *I do realize the size of the fruit may not be as large but the volume of fruit should surpass the difference. *Any opinions on this idea? Rich from PA *zone 5-6 The Amish around here, DE run 2 lines of fencing about 5' tall and about 18" to 2' apart and grow between them. They remove lots of the leaves, and their vines are loaded with 'maters. Easy to reach and totally in view. nanzi |
#3
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Tomato Support Idea (nanzi)
Yes, I can see where that would work very well provided your plants are all in a straight row. But for my purpose, I need a support method for each individual plant. I'd also like to utilize the stakes and parachute cord which I already have on hand Rich |
#4
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Tomato Support Idea (nanzi)
On Dec 29, 12:02*pm, (EVP MAN) wrote:
Yes, *I can see where that would work very well provided your plants are all in a straight row. *But for my purpose, *I need a support method for each individual plant. *I'd also like to utilize the stakes and parachute cord which I already have on hand Rich Where do you get parachute cord? |
#5
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Tomato Support Idea
On 12/29/2010 12:27 PM, Nanzi wrote:
On Dec 28, 12:16 am, (EVP MAN) wrote: Since I'm cutting way back on my tomato plants this season, I think I'll try a different method to support the plants. I use the green steel fence posts that you buy at any hardware store 5' tall. All the other years I used a single stake per plant which worked ok but constant tying here and there is necessary and some branches still break due to the weight of the fruit. Since I'll have an excess of fence posts this season, I plan to put 3 stakes around each plant in the shape of a triangle. I'll run parachute cord from stake to stake at several different heights. It should work kind of like a tomato cage except much stronger as each stake will be a foot or more into the ground and the cross members will be of parachute cord and not wire. Each stake forming the triangle, I'll place eight or nine inches from the plant. By doing this, I think that I may be able to get as big a harvest even though I'm setting out half the amount of plants. When using a single stake, I would prune the plant in order to have one or two main stems. I should now be able to allow at least four main stems per plant. I do realize the size of the fruit may not be as large but the volume of fruit should surpass the difference. Any opinions on this idea? Rich from PA zone 5-6 I think the idea will work fine, as others have pointed out. As to your last observation, yes - that is a likely bet, and has been my experience, too. I'll trade many medium size fruits for few very large fruits every time. Since I grow a large-fruited tomato to begin with, I still get lots of fruits of tennis ball size. Tony M. |
#6
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Tomato Support Idea (Higgs B)
I bought a 1000 ft. spool at Amazon. It's not real cheap at $50 a spool but the stuff lasts a very long time. Rich |
#7
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Tomato Support Idea (nanzi)
EVP MAN wrote:
Yes, I can see where that would work very well provided your plants are all in a straight row. But for my purpose, I need a support method for each individual plant. I'd also like to utilize the stakes and parachute cord which I already have on hand There is no way to maintain a dialog with you. Why don't you quote who/what you're responding to? You're essentially talking to yourself as though in a sanitorium. Weird dude. |
#8
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Tomato Support Idea (nanzi)
On Wed, 29 Dec 2010 12:43:11 -0800 (PST), Higgs Boson
wrote: On Dec 29, 12:02*pm, (EVP MAN) wrote: Yes, *I can see where that would work very well provided your plants are all in a straight row. *But for my purpose, *I need a support method for each individual plant. *I'd also like to utilize the stakes and parachute cord which I already have on hand Rich Where do you get parachute cord? My question is _will_ the cord support the plants? Some reason I think it would have to be really taunt or it would sag, and not give the support needed. thinking out loud |
#9
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Tomato Support Idea (Brooklyn)
In my heading I had (nanzi) and that was who I was responding to. I use web tv to post and not a computer. Perhaps things look different in this discuss group to those who use computers. On my web tv, it all looks very normal just as it should and it's very clear who I respond to. I usually don't respond at all to rude people but just wanted to clear this up for others who may use the group! |
#10
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Tomato Support Idea (Oren)
The breaking strength on parachute cord in 550 lbs. If you soak the cord in water for a short while before you use it, the cord will shrink a small amount. The cord is about 3/16" in diameter. The problem I had when I used the store bought wire tomato cages was that the branches of my plants would bend down over the wire cage and snap off. I think the problem with the cages is the fact that the wire doesn't have any give to it and the branches tend to break instead. The parachute cord will indeed have some give and it's a bit heaver in diameter also. Hopefully this should work better than the cages. I'll also drive the steel stakes into the ground at least a foot or more which should make a good sturdy support. Rich |
#11
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Tomato Support Idea (Brooklyn)
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#12
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Tomato Support Idea
I just click respond to the post I'm reading. I have to type in on the subject line myself. I just responded to your post but now I'll go up and remove Brooklyn from the subject line before I hit send. The people who create groups using web tv are considered the group owner. The group owner can also ban trouble makers from using his or her group. Once a ban is in place, the person can read the posts but they can't post or respond to others in the group. It's kind of a shame this group don't seem to have a owner with the same web tools. Rich |
#14
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Tomato Support Idea
Web tv must not ad a portion of the thread I respond to. It doesn't do it automatically or give me that option. The only choice I have is to read a thread and then hit respond and let web tv do it's thing......LOL That's why I type the persons nick in the subject line at times to let them know I'm responding to their post. I'd rather grow and eat matters also .............. Rich |
#15
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Tomato Support Idea
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