Liking the Florida Weave

marc_groleau · July 8, 2012

I have always staked my tomatoes. I start off with a single stake and by this time of year, I have to add stakes because a single stake just can't support the indeterminate vines. I usually add to stakes and make sort of a slip-shod tripod. The problem is that then I can't get good access to keep up with the weeding and can barely walk between plants. This year I started of with single stakes and then when the plants took off I began weaving instead of adding stakes. This seems to be working out well so far. Currently the plants average 4 to 5 feet tall and growing. The fruit is still small. It will be interesting to see how this works out in a few weeks when the plants are taller and laden with fruit.

I use electricians zip line. It's designed for low stretch and it's diameter and smooth texture isn't too hard on the plants.

I still have pretty good access between rows and will be weeding today

TightenUp · July 8, 2012

nice looking garden. thought about the weave but went with old CRW cages. a couple days away from the garden and i have shoots too long to bend back in.

how much pruning do you do? if you are a few days behind or go away for say a week does that mess up the timing of your weave or do you have leeway when you run the wire?

PA_Julia · July 8, 2012

Marc,

Looking wonderful!!!
Fantastic and healthy looking robust plants.

Julia

kurt · July 8, 2012

The weave is mainly for determinates.What I see the farmers doing down here with the ind.are putting a stake on each side of the first of row plant(still leaving a center main stem control stake)then at every foot up from ground a horizontal line from end of row then every 5-6 plant two outside stakes all the way to end of row.At the tops of these stakes a horizontal crossbrace to stop the stakes from caving in.Stops the long vines from falling over and touching ground.They use a simple twist tie to hold vines in place for wind shear damage.They use a non stretch black braided plastic line.He said it is labor intensive but cuts down on losses during our real heavy rains.

marc_groleau · July 8, 2012

Thanks Julia. Looking good right now. The oldest leaves are looking war-torn. It's an annual fungal event. I have no choice but to plant tomatos in the same spot each year. Most years the fruit has come and gone before the plants succumb and we seem to be on track so far this year.
Thanks for the input Kurt. Although not truly representing the F weave, I think the concept is going to help me win the annual staking race. A race I can never win.

ChrisK · July 8, 2012

Love the FW method. I found that landscape timbers on the ends at a slight angle helps with 2 x 2s as the row stakes.

Keger · July 8, 2012

Great looking stuff, but mine are about done, and anything I tried with a weave got knocked over, no chance.

T-Posts are all that held them up, thats it, all that could handle them.

Good Luck! Hope yours works out for you.

FILMNET · July 9, 2012

nice work there just what i did for a few years 1 stick for each plant, what did happen was the different plants i grew, one of each. I learned how fruit grows, some close to center stem . Some only on center stem, some way outside on branches like Brandywine. Huge clusters or long strings of cherries each takes different way to tie up to the string with the Florida weave.. I found 1 or 2 plants needs the string so now i don't use the string i have so many extra sticks i use only for fruit stems. If a stem in a sucker stem and have no flowers no stick.

July 8, 2012	#1
marc_groleau Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 444	Liking the Florida Weave I have always staked my tomatoes. I start off with a single stake and by this time of year, I have to add stakes because a single stake just can't support the indeterminate vines. I usually add to stakes and make sort of a slip-shod tripod. The problem is that then I can't get good access to keep up with the weeding and can barely walk between plants. This year I started of with single stakes and then when the plants took off I began weaving instead of adding stakes. This seems to be working out well so far. Currently the plants average 4 to 5 feet tall and growing. The fruit is still small. It will be interesting to see how this works out in a few weeks when the plants are taller and laden with fruit. I use electricians zip line. It's designed for low stretch and it's diameter and smooth texture isn't too hard on the plants. I still have pretty good access between rows and will be weeding today Last edited by marc_groleau; July 8, 2012 at 07:30 AM.

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July 8, 2012	#2
TightenUp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Jersey Posts: 1,183	nice looking garden. thought about the weave but went with old CRW cages. a couple days away from the garden and i have shoots too long to bend back in. how much pruning do you do? if you are a few days behind or go away for say a week does that mess up the timing of your weave or do you have leeway when you run the wire?

July 8, 2012	#3
PA_Julia Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Princeton, Ky Zone 7A Posts: 2,208	Marc, Looking wonderful!!! Fantastic and healthy looking robust plants. Julia

July 8, 2012	#4
kurt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Homestead,Everglades City Fl. Posts: 2,500	The weave is mainly for determinates.What I see the farmers doing down here with the ind.are putting a stake on each side of the first of row plant(still leaving a center main stem control stake)then at every foot up from ground a horizontal line from end of row then every 5-6 plant two outside stakes all the way to end of row.At the tops of these stakes a horizontal crossbrace to stop the stakes from caving in.Stops the long vines from falling over and touching ground.They use a simple twist tie to hold vines in place for wind shear damage.They use a non stretch black braided plastic line.He said it is labor intensive but cuts down on losses during our real heavy rains.

July 8, 2012	#6
ChrisK Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 1,448	Love the FW method. I found that landscape timbers on the ends at a slight angle helps with 2 x 2s as the row stakes.

July 8, 2012	#7
Keger Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Richmond, TX Posts: 327	Great looking stuff, but mine are about done, and anything I tried with a weave got knocked over, no chance. T-Posts are all that held them up, thats it, all that could handle them. Good Luck! Hope yours works out for you.

July 9, 2012	#8
FILMNET Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: North Charleston,South Carolina, USA Posts: 1,803	nice work there just what i did for a few years 1 stick for each plant, what did happen was the different plants i grew, one of each. I learned how fruit grows, some close to center stem . Some only on center stem, some way outside on branches like Brandywine. Huge clusters or long strings of cherries each takes different way to tie up to the string with the Florida weave.. I found 1 or 2 plants needs the string so now i don't use the string i have so many extra sticks i use only for fruit stems. If a stem in a sucker stem and have no flowers no stick.