Poles and reeds

Fritz77 · November 23, 2016

What kind of support do you use for your indeterminate tomatoes? Do you buy iron, wood, plastic poles or make your own ones somehow? I’ve always used cane reeds

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arundo_donax

,mainly for one reason: there’s a creek close to my garden where those grow and I can get them for free. The downside of it is that It takes quite some time to hack them and bring them home, plus they are absolutely not long lasting. After one season I basically have to replace 70-80% of them. Last year I managed to get some real bamboo reeds: they are thicker and it looks like I might reuse all of them next year. Unfortunately I only had limited access to them. I usually cut mine so that they are about 7 Ft tall. How tall are yours?
I’m looking for something reusable at a reasonable price. Any ideas?

Thanks

Dami

bower · November 24, 2016

I've used bamboo but it wasn't long lasting enough for my money. (bought at the Dollar Store since it doesn't grow here). I tried maintaining the bamboo with a coat of linseed oil but it seemed any part stuck in the ground would need that yearly, so a huge amount of work, and after a couple of years they got white rot anyway..
I have some metal cages too that are a folding triangle, nice design for storage and serviceable although they aren't really big enough. Those that weren't painted/coated also started to rust in short order. I got some rust paint on them this spring and I used the same (sticky and noxious smelling!) paint on a few bamboo stakes to see if that would improve their longevity issue... time will tell.

The only product for tomato support that I'm still impressed with its longevity, is rope.

Nylon I think.

Gardeneer · November 25, 2016

Bamboo is ok if you get them free and they are of good size diameter in order to be rigid.
In PNW where cedar is aplenty and sold at reasonable prices, I used to make stakes with it.But down here in NC cedar lumber is very expensive. I don,t know yet what I am going to do. Maybe I will make cages from CRW or Cattle panel. another option is to get T posts and do Florida weave. This method is practical if you plant in rows.

Cole_Robbie · November 25, 2016

Cattle gates hung on T-posts work fairly well.

The cheapest stakes I have made have been 8' treated 2x4s ripped long-ways with a table saw. I cut the ends to a point, drive one stake on each side of the plant, and then connect the tops with a small piece of scrap wood.

Worth1 · November 25, 2016

As person can start timber bamboo and have all the stakes they want.
Any sprouts that come up where you dont want them just eat the darn things.

The reason it gets out of hand is people neglect it.

Worth

kchd.. · November 25, 2016

I built some structures for my raised beds that I really like. They can be used for more than just tomatoes.

Gardeneer · November 25, 2016

kchd, that looks good. I used to make something like that in my raised beds too. . Then inside the bed each plant had its ow stake as well.

imp · November 26, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by kchd..

I built some structures for my raised beds that I really like. They can be used for more than just tomatoes.

Wow, that should hold up most anything!! Looks pretty, too.

I use T posts mostly and either cattle/hog panels or woven wire stretched between them to tie up the tomatoes and garden stuff.

maxjohnson · November 26, 2016

I think I should copy that, looks like you can put a tarp over it too to cover rain, or shade cloth.

November 23, 2016	#1
Fritz77 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2016 Location: Siena-Monteriggioni, Italy Posts: 213	Poles and reeds What kind of support do you use for your indeterminate tomatoes? Do you buy iron, wood, plastic poles or make your own ones somehow? I’ve always used cane reeds https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arundo_donax ,mainly for one reason: there’s a creek close to my garden where those grow and I can get them for free. The downside of it is that It takes quite some time to hack them and bring them home, plus they are absolutely not long lasting. After one season I basically have to replace 70-80% of them. Last year I managed to get some real bamboo reeds: they are thicker and it looks like I might reuse all of them next year. Unfortunately I only had limited access to them. I usually cut mine so that they are about 7 Ft tall. How tall are yours? I’m looking for something reusable at a reasonable price. Any ideas? Thanks Dami

November 25, 2016	#3
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,916	Bamboo is ok if you get them free and they are of good size diameter in order to be rigid. In PNW where cedar is aplenty and sold at reasonable prices, I used to make stakes with it.But down here in NC cedar lumber is very expensive. I don,t know yet what I am going to do. Maybe I will make cages from CRW or Cattle panel. another option is to get T posts and do Florida weave. This method is practical if you plant in rows. __________________ Gardeneer Happy Gardening !

November 25, 2016	#7
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,916	kchd, that looks good. I used to make something like that in my raised beds too. . Then inside the bed each plant had its ow stake as well. __________________ Gardeneer Happy Gardening !

November 24, 2016	#2
bower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 6,794	I've used bamboo but it wasn't long lasting enough for my money. (bought at the Dollar Store since it doesn't grow here). I tried maintaining the bamboo with a coat of linseed oil but it seemed any part stuck in the ground would need that yearly, so a huge amount of work, and after a couple of years they got white rot anyway.. I have some metal cages too that are a folding triangle, nice design for storage and serviceable although they aren't really big enough. Those that weren't painted/coated also started to rust in short order. I got some rust paint on them this spring and I used the same (sticky and noxious smelling!) paint on a few bamboo stakes to see if that would improve their longevity issue... time will tell. The only product for tomato support that I'm still impressed with its longevity, is rope. Nylon I think.

November 25, 2016	#4
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	Cattle gates hung on T-posts work fairly well. The cheapest stakes I have made have been 8' treated 2x4s ripped long-ways with a table saw. I cut the ends to a point, drive one stake on each side of the plant, and then connect the tops with a small piece of scrap wood.

November 25, 2016	#5
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	As person can start timber bamboo and have all the stakes they want. Any sprouts that come up where you dont want them just eat the darn things. The reason it gets out of hand is people neglect it. Worth

November 25, 2016	#6
kchd.. Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: MS Posts: 211	I built some structures for my raised beds that I really like. They can be used for more than just tomatoes.

November 26, 2016	#9
maxjohnson Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: OH 6a Posts: 592	I think I should copy that, looks like you can put a tarp over it too to cover rain, or shade cloth.