I will be putting my toms outside for the first time this year. What do you find the most effective way of supporting them- canes, wires? Bearing in mind that mine are probably less sturdy than they should be, having raced upwards in all that hot weather.
I have 2 grow bags with 3 6ft canes per bag ( 1 per plant) held upright by those metal supports you can get. Will post a pic tonight if I can remember! ..
If they're going in the ground, I would recommend 6 to 8 foot canes, because it's easy to tie the plants in, and you can allow them to get quite tall before stopping them. That's what we do anyhow.
How many canes do you use per plant? Mine all collapsed ast year.
Re canes, it depends on the weight of fruit:
* a single cane per plant should be ok for small sweet toms
* for bush toms we use a single cane to support any particularly heavily-laden branches - one or two have snapped in the past
* for single stem cultivation with medium to large fruit we use three 4-5 foot canes per plant in a wigwam.
Whatever you do, keep your eye on the plants as the fruit develops and add extra support, as required.
Hi
I am using the shorter canes and i am ringing my raised bed with them and popping some inside.
Then using natural twine i am making a matrix patern with all the up rights at 1ft and 3 ft so that the plants grow up through it and there supportted.
Cambourne7
Hello Spooky uk
Am waiting to see your pictures as I have the problem with my outside bags which I have been pondering. I am placing growbags on a paving slab so am unsure how I will be able to put in a came to support - might have to erect a bit of a bean wigwam down the row with a main pole and tie onto that...Can't get too high as it will block the light into the greenhouse and the indoor toms and stuff growing in there..
I need some inspiration
Jitterbug
Quote from: Jitterbug on May 15, 2007, 13:12:47
Hello Spooky uk
Am waiting to see your pictures as I have the problem with my outside bags which I have been pondering. I am placing growbags on a paving slab so am unsure how I will be able to put in a came to support - might have to erect a bit of a bean wigwam down the row with a main pole and tie onto that...Can't get too high as it will block the light into the greenhouse and the indoor toms and stuff growing in there..
I need some inspiration
Jitterbug
will post a pic tonite :)
thanks
What about creating an A frame over the bag?
Something like a 4 legged animal standing over you bed?
Quote from: Jitterbug on May 15, 2007, 13:34:24
thanks
(http://spookyville.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/A4APics/grow01.jpg) (http://spookyville.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk)
(http://spookyville.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/A4APics/grow02.jpg) (http://spookyville.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk)
picked them up from the local wyevale 4.99 per pack of 3.
Thats' posh! :) I fancy some of those..
I support my uprights by tying the to a crosspiece held up by canes in a heavy pot a each end (was still a couple of uprights short when the photo was taken)
I like wire cages for determinates, my Laroma grow wide and the plants are loaded. I can't buy the kind I like here so I make them. I don't know wahat is it called. Description.
Really heavy rigid mesh with 6 inch squares, builders use it, it comes about a yard wide.I am not much good at describing. You need tin snips to cut it.
Using the width as the height, I cut a piece to form a tube about 24 inches across when the two edges are fastened together . It then becomes self supporting. The plant grows through the squares but is very supported,you can reach in to get the fruit.
XX Jeannine
Any chance of a pic Jeannine?
Yes but bit later, I flattened them last year and will put them together again at half term week after next. XX Jeannine
Quote from: Barnowl on May 15, 2007, 18:22:06
Thats' posh! :) I fancy some of those..
I support my uprights by tying the to a crosspiece held up by canes in a heavy pot a each end (was still a couple of uprights short when the photo was taken)
Will probably end up doing that as well (cross piece at least) just going to go with the flow and see how they devlop...
Quote from: Jeannine on May 15, 2007, 18:56:46
I like wire cages for determinates...
I like wire cages too - trouble is, I just
couldn't bend or manipulate that steel mesh that you describe Jeannine, I'm pretty strong, but it beat me. How on earth did you do it?
I ended up using smaller squared mesh, which was still pretty difficult to cut and bend, and although it doesn't give you access through the squares, the support was fine for Marmande and bush plums like Roma it kept the fruit off the ground and did away with any tying. Pic here:
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a215/jennympics/TomatocageforA4a.jpg)
Can't wait to see those pics too Jeannine :D I always use sticks (1" x 1" baton) and I always end up with half of them falling over, either snapping or just gouging their way through the soil, especially the heavy boys!
Your description was fine but I don't know the steel mesh you mean, so my imagination has got a bit stuck! :-\ ;D
Donna xx
Just had a thought Jeannine (and Jennym), do you mean the stuff builders put into concrete floors and walls to reinforce it? :-\
If you do then I'm with Jennym on that one, how on earth do you bend it! ???
Donna xx
No it's not that tough,fence builders use the six fooy one to make deer fencing with. It also comes in a lighter weight green plastic covered that I think it is used smaller fencing. I have seen it here with a fancy arched top.I brought my roll and some pieces in my container when I came here,I presume it is available, never thought about it before to be honest. The green stuff is here as I have seen it. It comes different heights from about a foot to three or four foot.
I think there is a plan on the net that we used if it is still there, It is not uncommon .
XX Jeannine
Go to www.redbrand.com you will see the fencing in there, sheep if 4 inches XX XX Jeannine
Quote from: machman5 on May 15, 2007, 22:36:20
.., do you mean the stuff builders put into concrete floors and walls to reinforce it?
Well, I certainly did, most of the US sites seem to show it, like this sort of thing:
http://mygardenguide.com/tutorials/tut.html?id=112
Yes that is it, but I am confused now. I don't think it must be as heavy as the stuff some of you are talking about as you can see it is not too difficult to bend into a round, it is certainly heavier than the pet wires used on cages etc and it is very sturdy, perhaps the British stuff is heavier. We used to buy it from a farm shop.Thank you for finding the link Jennym XX Jeannine
Thanks for both the links, I now know the stuff. ;)
There was me thinking Jeannine must have superhuman strength or something! :o
The stuff I was thinking of Jeannine is almost as thick as a pencil! ::)
Now I'm back on track with the original conversation, I might try this method. Well anything has to be better than what I usually do! Problem is, every year, I forget to sort something else out and resort to the same mound of sticks again! :-\
Must try harder!!!! ;D
Donna xx
We have bloody good muscles in this bit of Yorkshire you know but Superwoman I am not!! XX Jeannine
To support my tomatoes, I get a bunch of nubile collage girls with large pom-poms.
Give us a 'T' ...
I tried that, but got complaints that it was disturbing the local wildlife!
However, it did cure the bird problem, as there was always a large crowd of living scarecrows hovering around, from spotty schoolboys to retired sausage makers ;D
cj :)