Topic: What Do You Call These...?

[Lauren S]

Can anybody help me out please.
I want to buy a pair of those metal spiked thingies you wind string around to make lines for your rows etc. I have googled for answers but I haven't a clue what they are called.
Has anybody seen any on any web sites?

 ???  ???  ???

Thanks,
Lauren

[raisedbedted]

I call them..
"I'm not paying 20 pound for that I'll use 2 old bits of cane with a bit of string tied between em"

That said I have got one like this,  http://www.twowests.co.uk/TwoWestsSite/product/TOHL.htm
which I bought in france for about 6 euros but it scrapes the skin from my knuckles every time   :(

[Riffster]

I'm with growingtoeat,  in the string and sticks concept.

But am lucky to have builders line and two flat stakes.  Wickes will do that cheap. ( I guess ).

I also have a father who taught me how to wind these up,  so the string comes of the stakes untwisted.  But that is a different story.

[dtw]

I use two tent pegs.
There isn't really much need for a winder, as the length of string will stay the same across your plot.

[Riffster]

This is it in Wickes   http://www.wickes.co.uk/invt/167820&bklist=

They call these Metal Line and Pin Set @ £3.29

[Blue Bird]

using my motto 'cheap is good but free is better'  ;D ;D

string on bamboo cans does me!

[Kea]

I was looking for one of those too my Mum used to have one. How about garden antique stores or similar? I saw one quite cheap somewhere once before I had an allotment. Currently I'm using two canes but might change to two bits of dowel as the canes keep snapping and getting shorter.

[Georgie]

Hi Lauren.  They are known as either a garden line, gardener's line or garden line and reel.  Harrod Horticultural have two types.  I agree with others though, they do seem rather expensive for what they are, unless you are drawing up your Christmas list?   ;)

G x

[ACE]

I found one on the allotment tip once, that looks handy I thought, so I took it and used it. I stuck the winder in the ground, walked across the plot with the pin in my hand. I stopped but the winder kept on spinning. Stuck the pin in the ground and went back to the winder, untangled the string and wound it tight. Out of the ground came the pin the other end. walked back acroos the site picked up the pin and carried on the edge of the plot. Stopped again but alas the winder kept on spinning. Walked back to the other side of the plot and wound the pin towards me. which done a great job of thinning the lettuce as I had forgotton to take the pin out of the other end. Then  a little light came on in my head and I thought of a great idea. So I walked back to the allotment tip and threw it back on it.

[cornykev]

What Riffster has found should be just the job Lauren, mines made of plastic but does the job.  ;D ;D ;D

[mellor]

Senator has just brought out a classic range and they have a victorian style garden line out.

They look the job but do the same job as sticks, canes, tent pegs etc etc etc etc.

[debster]

i made my own with two pencils and string works fabulously well

[SMP1704]

I also made my own with two of those green plastic ground pegs.

[redimp]

Not usually one of the crowd me but...


you guessed it - two sticks and piece of string about 5.5m long. Perfect - half the width of my lotty ;D

[powerspade]

I use my grandads old line . He had it made in the pit by the blacksmith-cost-a packet of woodbines

[Georgie]

I use my grandads old line . He had it made in the pit by the blacksmith-cost-a packet of woodbines

Love it.   ;D

G x

[Uncle Joshua]

Two canes and string for me too, why spend lots of money when the idea of allotments is to save money?

[flowerofshona2007]

In excess, 2 dibbers and some string for me total cost about £3.00 :)
Its good cos they have handles which makes them easy to see  ;D

[bupster]

I got one for xmas which is ancient and rusty and I love it. Not sure I'd buy one new, but if you can get one for a decent amount I'd say go for it. Though two sturdy sticks and a bit of string does, in fairness, work just as well.