My support system - Page 2

bbjm · May 16, 2007

I'm going to try this. I imagine anything will work, but wonder what you are using to stake the wire and turnbuckle??

dcarch · May 16, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbjm

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.

dcarch

bbjm · May 16, 2007

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.

dcarch · May 16, 2007

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.

dcarch

giardiniere · May 25, 2007

How closely do you space your tomatoes? I'm sure fairly close so they can somewhat support each other from side to side.

dcarch · May 25, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by giardiniere

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.

dcarch

harleysilo · May 29, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcarch

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.

dcarch · May 29, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by harleysilo

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)

dcarch

Warren · May 30, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcarch

In a few days.

dcarch

did you get your camera back? I need to get a new one.

dcarch · June 3, 2007

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

rnewste · June 3, 2007

Wow! The first CAMO painted tomato support system I've ever seen. Does it really work to "stealth" your garden from the insects?

Ray

Tania · June 3, 2007

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!

dcarch · June 4, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by rnewste

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

- 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

Tania · June 4, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcarch

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

harleysilo · June 5, 2007

Thanks for posting the pics!

May 16, 2007	#19
dcarch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NY Posts: 2,618	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. dcarch __________________ tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato

May 25, 2007	#20
giardiniere Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Zone 6, Southeast Kansas Posts: 364	How closely do you space your tomatoes? I'm sure fairly close so they can somewhat support each other from side to side. __________________ Dave

June 3, 2007	#25
dcarch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NY Posts: 2,618	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 __________________ tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato Last edited by dcarch; June 3, 2007 at 11:19 AM.

June 3, 2007	#27
Tania Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Anmore, BC, Canada Posts: 3,970	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! __________________ Tatiana's TOMATObase

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May 16, 2007	#16
bbjm Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kansas Posts: 155	I'm going to try this. I imagine anything will work, but wonder what you are using to stake the wire and turnbuckle??

June 3, 2007	#26
rnewste Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Campbell, CA Posts: 4,064	Wow! The first CAMO painted tomato support system I've ever seen. Does it really work to "stealth" your garden from the insects? Ray

June 5, 2007	#30
harleysilo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: Woodstock GA Posts: 418	Thanks for posting the pics!