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Old January 27, 2016   #1
brooksville
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Default Truss support

This year we are going to the trellis method for the tomatoes, and ideas about what to use to support the trusses?
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Old January 27, 2016   #2
Worth1
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I'm a little lost a truss is a support.
I am sorry if I am coming off sounding strange.

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Old January 27, 2016   #3
brooksville
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Umm, last year we lost a few big clusters of large green tomatoes because the truss broke. Just wondering what everybody does to prevent this from happening.
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Old January 27, 2016   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brooksville View Post
Umm, last year we lost a few big clusters of large green tomatoes because the truss broke. Just wondering what everybody does to prevent this from happening.
Okay the trusses the tomatoes are growing on I thought you were talking about structural trusses like in bridge building.
Strips of nylon stockings tee shirts socks and other soft material works wonders.

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Old January 27, 2016   #5
UFXEFU
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brooksville View Post
Umm, last year we lost a few big clusters of large green tomatoes because the truss broke. Just wondering what everybody does to prevent this from happening.
You must be growing some really large fruit. What variety were they?

I use cotton cloth (old bed sheets) torn in 1/2 or 3/4 inch strips and tie to stakes or cages. I really like CRW cages...... not near as much tying up.
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Old January 27, 2016   #6
brooksville
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Russian 117
Cherokee Purple
I think it happened to SOTW also.
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Old January 27, 2016   #7
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If your plants are fruiting heavily and you get lots of strong winds then supporting the fruits might be necessary. As worth said you can use old stocking, ripped T-shirt, bed sheet ... for the purpose. I would avoid twines of any material that are thin. In our climate rarely we get damaging wind in the summer. I only support trusses that have several tomatoes , each weighing close to 12 oz to one pound each. That is just for my own satisfaction.

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Old January 27, 2016   #8
imp
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I support smaller melons and such with old r-shirts cut in wider sections and tied up, or pantyhose; to support the truss it's self, you might use soft old socks- anything wide enough to not cut the plant and support the area that needs it.

When I first read the title of this thread, I got the giggles.
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Old January 27, 2016   #9
jmsieglaff
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I have a half mile spool of twine. I use that to support my tomatoes vines and if needed a truss. Fairly light weight stuff just don't tie it too tightly.
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Old February 5, 2016   #10
PureHarvest
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http://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplies...l&rel=nofollow

There are also a couple of other options at the bottom of the page
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Old February 5, 2016   #11
reddeheddefarm
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We use a Florida weave and as we do successive lifts of twine we get the fruit support that way
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Old February 5, 2016   #12
NarnianGarden
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Yes, I have found nylon stockings and any soft cloth very useful as well. Ideally, the truss would support itself... as it is, many need the helping hand.
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Old February 5, 2016   #13
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I use J hooks on trusses that aren't too long but on the ones that extend far from the main stem I like to use foam wire.

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