GardenBanter.co.uk

GardenBanter.co.uk (https://www.gardenbanter.co.uk/)
-   North Carolina (https://www.gardenbanter.co.uk/north-carolina/)
-   -   Staking tomatoes (https://www.gardenbanter.co.uk/north-carolina/183472-staking-tomatoes.html)

Richard Evans 10-05-2009 05:12 PM

Staking tomatoes
 
I have ten plants in containers on my deck that are all going
gangbusters. So much so, I'm having trouble supporting them. When I
bought the original plants, I bought several of the wire cages, but
put off using them until the plants got too big to get into the cages.
I started staking with 4' bamboo, but I'm already past the ends of
those and now side shoots are starting to need staking. I lost one
really vigorous plant because it got top heavy and snapped off at the
base before I got to stake it. Fortunately, it's coming back from the
base and should be OK.

Then the big wind came through last night and knocked them all over,
causing more damage.

Should I:

A. Continue staking, using longer stakes and adding stakes for the
side shoots?

B. Prune the side shoots and continue to stake the main stems?

C. Other?

The last tomatoes I did, when I had a real garden, got to over eight
feet tall. I don't know how I'll handle that if the current crop gets
that big.

bullthistle 17-05-2009 04:59 AM

I bought steel stakes that are three sided and that are over 5 feet tall. Wood will not work, because they will rot in the soil when the plants are the heaviest. Get some rebar and put them on three sides after putting them in the soil then wire them together to add strength.. One stake ain't goona do it.

Wes Dukes 18-05-2009 03:02 PM

Staking tomatoes
 
On 2009-05-17, bullthistle wrote:

I bought steel stakes that are three sided and that are over 5 feet
tall. Wood will not work, because they will rot in the soil when the
plants are the heaviest. Get some rebar and put them on three sides
after putting them in the soil then wire them together to add
strength.. One stake ain't goona do it.



I have always made tomato hoops from 4 or 5 foot tall wire. 2x4 welded
wire works, but you have to cut some larger access holes. Concrete
reinforcing wire is my favorite for the garden since the holes are 6x6
and it it 5 feet tall. the 2x4 would work for you and but you would hav
e to anchor it down with boards or staples.

you probably need some pruning also on a deck. I like to make mine
about 2 feet in diameter which means 6-7 feet of wire per hoop.




--
Wes Dukes (wdukes.pobox@com) Swap the . and the @ to email me please.

is a garbage address.


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 07:20 PM.

Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
GardenBanter