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Post by davidjp on Feb 8, 2015 18:59:00 GMT -5
I think its finally time to consign this years or rather last years tomatoes to the bin, still a few left to pick but definitely looking the worse for wear  Here it was back in June looking much better  Still getting a few, this time in standard cages but time to make room I think  All this was done with a lattice of reinforcing wire laid lengthwise with supporting canes in a sort of lean to. I really like this way of growing tomatoes, have done it for the last two years. No need to really tie anything in, just push shoots back thru the lattice of the wire. Much better explained in this article which is where I got the idea. www.reneesgarden.com/articles/tomato-support.pdf |
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Post by gardendmpls on Feb 8, 2015 21:27:59 GMT -5
Great idea. I have used similar wire totally parallel to the ground at 3' and at 6' with the tomatoes growing through, but this looks much easier. May try this year.
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Post by lilolpeapicker on Feb 9, 2015 9:02:56 GMT -5
Need a ladder to pick tomatoes? They don't look like the determinate variety of tomatoes...which is it? I have used cattle wire from Tractor Supply for beans. Maybe will work for this. I might give it a try.
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Post by brownrexx on Feb 9, 2015 9:04:41 GMT -5
Shows what an indeterminate tomato will do in a warm climate!
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Post by brownrexx on Feb 9, 2015 9:10:14 GMT -5
Just go to the post you want to delete.
Drop down the menu at the little gear icon at the top of the post on the right hand side and delete should be on that menu. |
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Post by lilolpeapicker on Feb 9, 2015 9:43:18 GMT -5
Thx, BR, I tried to go into edit and erase it there.
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Post by lilolpeapicker on Feb 9, 2015 9:55:27 GMT -5
David, I looked at that site, reneesgarden support. Then I went to the deer fencing and I saw nothing with that wide space. What wire did you use with the 6" spacing?
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Post by davidjp on Feb 9, 2015 10:25:51 GMT -5
David, I looked at that site, reneesgarden support. Then I went to the deer fencing and I saw nothing with that wide space. What wire did you use with the 6" spacing? For mine I didn't use fencing wire. I basically went down to home depot and picked up some I think they are concrete reinforcing panels. I seem to remember they were $7 a panel and are something like 5x7 or something like that. I know in the article they use deer fencing but I didn't see any locally so used that instead, fencing would I guess be cheaper but I only needed a small panel. They are also quite stiff and have so far done three seasons. I'm not keen on the use of the panels for making cages as you end up with a storage problem when not in use. These panels disassemble and can be easily stored against a wall stacked up against each other. One of the advantage's is that many of the fruit hang down through on the reverse side and so hang down and make it easy to pick.
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Post by lilolpeapicker on Feb 9, 2015 10:43:25 GMT -5
Yes, I store mine when disassembled against my back fencing. But I left it together for the first time...will try beans in the same spot as last year.
Ok, I have used that reinforcing wire before, but decided not go with something them because they rust. I don't know if this was the problem when I was growing beans a number of years ago but the beans vines did not "want" to cling to it and was growing out away from it.
So I went with the cattle fencing. It is heavy for me but I can manage it and now use it for other things as well, like cucumber vines and I will try it with the tomatoes. I cannot remember how much it was but I had gotten5 or 6 of them and i seem to recall a total of around $40 or 42.
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Post by davidjp on Feb 9, 2015 13:09:30 GMT -5
Need a ladder to pick tomatoes? They don't look like the determinate variety of tomatoes...which is it? I have used cattle wire from Tractor Supply for beans. Maybe will work for this. I might give it a try. These are my plum tomatoes for basically making sauce. Two varieties Pompeii and Grandero and yes they are both indeterminates. I think in total its about 7ft tall, I don't allow them to get much taller than that. I was away for 5weeks in the summer and some branches grew out across the ground, normally I would have cut those off. I do at first restrict the number of leaders for each plant to get the plant to fill the lattice but then just leave it to it to sub branch when its got most of the way up the support. |
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Post by desertwoman on Feb 9, 2015 14:14:39 GMT -5
I used some left over wire that I found here when we moved in. It could have been fencing, could have been for concrete. It is really stiff and sturdy. The wire does rust but has not been a problem at all. (I have some flat pieces up against the fence for beans) I have used them for 5 years now and they as strong as ever. I simply store them, as is, on their sides on top of the garden bed. They hold up to the elements very well. Nice large openings to reach for tomatoes! |
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Post by OregonRed on Feb 9, 2015 14:59:26 GMT -5
lat33 has something at his house he calls wall of tomatos - I bet he'll pipe in about that. I have a leftover leaning 'greenbean' trellis from last year, maybe i'll put tomatos on that... garden helper dude from last year made it really sturdy, we used nylon skinny rope. |
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Post by James on Feb 9, 2015 16:45:31 GMT -5
Tomatoes, likely the most fussed over garden plant ever grown.
Guess I am just a lazy man......... I stick 'em in the ground and stand back. Let 'em sprawl.
Over in the next valley, a little lower elevation and a bit longer season they grow fields of
them for the canneries. That is what they do too. Just let them sprawl.
Oh, that non galvanized wire with the six inch spacing is likely for concrete reinforcing.
Look at a lumber yard for that stuff.
Animal fencing can be had in various configurations. Look at feed stores and hardware stores.
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Post by desertwoman on Feb 9, 2015 16:48:44 GMT -5
I loved when I had the room to let them sprawl It was simple and works well. But I have a small garden these days. 'Vertical' is my friend.
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canadiyank
Blooming
Central WA, Zone 6B
Posts: 125
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Post by canadiyank on Feb 9, 2015 16:53:57 GMT -5
Man, my sprawling ones get chewed up by all sorts of insects. Nasty to stick your hand in there. Partially eaten tomatoes, bugs, mold. And I live in a dry climate. I get much better luck when I use supports.
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