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Have a great invention to help with gardening? Are you the self-reliant type that prefers Building It Yourself vs. buying it? Share and discuss your ideas and projects with other members.

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Old May 16, 2007   #16
bbjm
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I'm going to try this. I imagine anything will work, but wonder what you are using to stake the wire and turnbuckle??
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Old May 16, 2007   #17
dcarch
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bbjm View Post
I'm going to try this. I imagine anything will work, but wonder what you are using to stake the wire and turnbuckle??
Of course it works, because I have been using it . Wait for pictures this weekend.

You raised another important question:

It is very important to secure the stainless steel cables and turnbuckles. A lot of tension will be exerted to hold the poles in place. I happen to have places to anchor the SS cables.

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Old May 16, 2007   #18
bbjm
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I have no doubt your support system works. I meant to say that while I suppose lots of different things would work for use as a stake for the SS cable, I'm curious about what you specifically use to stake the SS cable to the ground.
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Old May 16, 2007   #19
dcarch
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I am able to anchor the SS cables to solid raised bed structure.

You may have to make some in-ground concrete footings to anchor the cables if you don't have anything nearby stable enough to hold on to the cables. May be you can try driving pipes (6'?) all the way down in ground to hold the cables.

It really depend on how long your strings between the posts and how many tomato plants the strings have to hold up.

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Old May 25, 2007   #20
giardiniere
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How closely do you space your tomatoes? I'm sure fairly close so they can somewhat support each other from side to side.
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Old May 25, 2007   #21
dcarch
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Quote:
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How closely do you space your tomatoes? I'm sure fairly close so they can somewhat support each other from side to side.
Very close. If I tell you just how close I space them I would be arrested!

The lack of space forced me to plant them about 14" apart for indeterminates.

I compensate the lack of light using reflectors.

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Old May 29, 2007   #22
harleysilo
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dcarch View Post
Very close. If I tell you just how close I space them I would be arrested!

The lack of space forced me to plant them about 14" apart for indeterminates.

I compensate the lack of light using reflectors.

dcarch
Post some pictures of your reflectors in action, if you please.
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Old May 29, 2007   #23
dcarch
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Quote:
Originally Posted by harleysilo View Post
Post some pictures of your reflectors in action, if you please.
In a few days. (p.S. : posted in another thread http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=5379)

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Last edited by dcarch; June 3, 2007 at 11:35 AM.
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Old May 30, 2007   #24
Warren
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Quote:
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In a few days.

dcarch
did you get your camera back? I need to get a new one.
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Old June 3, 2007   #25
dcarch
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Pictures of the system: (finally ---- )

Unistrut posts are 10 foot tall. This will let you stake tall indeterminates. The system survived many wind stroms last year. The Camouflage design is painted on by me to make the posts blend into the background. The strings are hardly visible. The entire system will be removed to make room for my removable greenhouse.



No Stakes at all.


Velcro plant ties are reusable and re-adjustable.


Unistrut posts are sleeved in cement footings. The posts will be removed at the end of the season and re-installed. It takes seconds.


Details of the nylon strings, wood spacers and adjustable hooks to the posts.


Turnbuckles


At the end of the season, everything is stored away and reused for next season. Note the hooks are made from wire coat hangers. I expect all the components of the system to last many years. Nothing more to buy.


dcarch
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Last edited by dcarch; June 3, 2007 at 11:19 AM.
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Old June 3, 2007   #26
rnewste
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Wow! The first CAMO painted tomato support system I've ever seen. Does it really work to "stealth" your garden from the insects?

Ray
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Old June 3, 2007   #27
Tania
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Awesome support system dcarch - I will borrow some ideas, as I am looking for some reliable support for the tom plants in my 8' tall GHs. Last yer I used bamboo sticks, and tied them to the bars that support the GH roof. That worked great, except I had to continue tying branches to the sticks and the bars, pretty much every week or so as the plants grew.

Thank you so much for sharing your pictures and the ideas!
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Old June 4, 2007   #28
dcarch
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rnewste View Post
Wow! The first CAMO painted tomato support system I've ever seen. Does it really work to "stealth" your garden from the insects? Ray
Actually, I have my plants so close together that you can hardly find the maters, as a result I have yet to have bird or squirrel problems.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tania View Post
- I will borrow some ideas, as I am looking for some reliable support for the tom plants in my 8' tall GHs. ------------


I plan to visit Vancouver in the next few months. May be I'll drop by to see your setup

dcarch

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Old June 4, 2007   #29
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dcarch View Post
I plan to visit Vancouver in the next few months. May be I'll drop by to see your setup

dcarch

sure thing - PM me when you plan to visit, we'll arrange something
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Old June 5, 2007   #30
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Thanks for posting the pics!
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