Sisel twine or ?

[Got Worms?]

Paracord http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006J7US2S?psc=1
At 550 lbs. I don't think it will break.

I don't tie or cage my toms. I use horizontal wire and never have any problems.

[newatthiskat]

I went to my local tractor supply and got my baler twine. It was not the recommended 170 or 210. I found 110 Lb and bought it. I am going to twist tie to it so it does not cut the plants.

[Salsacharley]

I got this link from Carolyn Phillips, I ordered it. It arrived in yellow color, but it looks to be excellent. $23.95 per 10,000 ft spool.

http://hydro-gardens.com/growsup1.htm

[zeuspaul]

Got Worms?, horizontal wire? can you give us a few details on your set up?

Thanks

Zeuspaul

[b54red]

Originally Posted by zeuspaul

Got Worms?, horizontal wire? can you give us a few details on your set up?

Thanks

Zeuspaul

Haven't had any worms on my tomatoes yet but found them this morning on my beans. They were very small and haven't done much damage yet but I will give them a dusting of Sevin this afternoon or tomorrow.

I have basically a trellis built with just one 3/4 inch galvanized conduit as the top bar 7 feet off the ground. I ran a 1/2 inch bar along the ground attached to the verticals on the trellis to support my drop lines. I then ran lines vertically from the ground bar to the top bar and tied it off with 4 or 5 ft of extra line at the top in case I want to drop the line as the plant grows. I spaced the drop lines about 2 ft apart. I'll try to remember to take a photo of my setup this afternoon.

I just came in from planting some of my seedlings but had too come in as I got too hot. I just set the plants in a small hole right where the drop line is tied off to the ground bar and then attached my first tomato clip to the line to keep the seedling upright and stable.

I can see that pruning and tying will be much easier on this single stem bed. Instead of carrying clippers, a knive, and a bale of twine as I work a bed I can just carry a pocket full of tomato clips and some clippers. No tying needed. Yipee!

On the few plants that will need to have more than one stem because of light foliage coverage I will just make another drop line 6 inches to a foot to the side and attach the extra stem to that. On some of the very lightly leafed plants like some of the hearts I may actually attach two stems to one line to increase leaf cover and see how that works.

Bill

[luigiwu]

Bill, what test of baler twine did you go with? I would buy the 2nd roll off of you but I suppose the shipping is going to be prohibitive... I am not sure what I am going to do with that amount of baler twine too... it would last me probably 5 lifetimes.

[b54red]

I don't know what test it is but the kind I bought is for square bales. Everywhere I looked they had both kinds either square or round bale twine. The square bale twine was much thicker and easier to handle and the clips fit it perfectly. It is made of polypropylene and doesn't stretch. I already sold my extra roll to a friend.

So far the stuff is working great with no sag now that the plants are getting fairly large.

[AKmark]

I just switched to clothes line, it just awesome. I tie off under around the stem under a big leaf, and then just wind it around the tie-off as the season progresses. I have not found an easier way, assuming you have an attachment overhead somewhere. It does not stretch, and is not very abraisive either.
Twine degrades to quickly in the humidity and sunlight, and greatly weakens, I have had to many plants break twine, especially last year, so I am done with it.

[AKmark]

Didn't know how to edit to post the pic.