Support - Page 3

brooksville · March 14, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by henry

Anyone use the 8 foot T posts for tomato support?

We do. Converted to all 8 foot trellis system. Labor intensive, but worth it for us. We use PVC elbows and tees with 3/4 EMT conduit, works great. Just remember to keep things tight. This year we are spacing plants at 2.5 feet in the row on 5 foot centers.

The pic is of pole beans, but same process.

Gardeneer · March 16, 2016

Very nice, Brooksville.
Yeah, EMT fittings are too expensive. You can use pvc fittings but probably have to pre drill and use one or two small screws at each connection.

Gardeneer

brooksville · March 17, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gardeneer

Very nice, Brooksville.
Yeah, EMT fittings are too expensive. You can use pvc fittings but probably have to pre drill and use one or two small screws at each connection.

Gardeneer

Yes, it is expensive, but they do last an awful long time....

Thanks for the compliment too.

Worth1 · March 17, 2016

One problem with white PVC fittings they get brittle over a period of time.
To get around this get electrical PVC fittings that are listed for outside use.
I would also like to state that if you are not an electrician then going to Home Depot ans Lowes will limit you on what you know or see that is available in fittings.

If you have access to a welder you can use the metal set screw conduit couplings welded to the top and side of the T post to connect your conduit from post to post.
You can buy this for like $ 8.00 for 25 of them.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Raco-EMT-...23CP/203671413
Another option would be to weld or lash a sleeve at the top and that way you could put the posts as close together as you want without cutting.

Worth

Douglas14 · March 18, 2016

Christian,

I use T posts to support the florida weave method(you can look it up online). I use a non-stretching twine to support the plants. I was going with 3 plants between T posts, but plan on two plants between posts this year. If you set the T posts too deep, they are difficult to remove in the fall.

pauldavid · March 18, 2016

I'm old school, I guess. I used to use wooden stakes for support, but they would rot too fast for my liking. I use rebar and sucker rod for stakes now, but am a big fan of CRW cages since last year. Florida weave didn't work out too well for me.

Worth1 · March 18, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by pauldavid

I'm old school, I guess. I used to use wooden stakes for support, but they would rot too fast for my liking. I use rebar and sucker rod for stakes now, but am a big fan of CRW cages since last year. Florida weave didn't work out too well for me.

I wished I would have scrounged a few 1000 feet of 3/4 sucker rod when I had the chance.

Worth

pauldavid · March 18, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

I wished I would have scrounged a few 1000 feet of 3/4 sucker rod when I had the chance.

Worth

I heard that Worth! I was given some junked sucker rod, but they work great for stakes. Wish I had a lot more myself.

March 16, 2016	#32
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,918	Very nice, Brooksville. Yeah, EMT fittings are too expensive. You can use pvc fittings but probably have to pre drill and use one or two small screws at each connection. Gardeneer

March 17, 2016	#34
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	One problem with white PVC fittings they get brittle over a period of time. To get around this get electrical PVC fittings that are listed for outside use. I would also like to state that if you are not an electrician then going to Home Depot ans Lowes will limit you on what you know or see that is available in fittings. If you have access to a welder you can use the metal set screw conduit couplings welded to the top and side of the T post to connect your conduit from post to post. You can buy this for like $ 8.00 for 25 of them. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Raco-EMT-...23CP/203671413 Another option would be to weld or lash a sleeve at the top and that way you could put the posts as close together as you want without cutting. Worth

March 18, 2016	#35
Douglas14 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts: 602	Christian, I use T posts to support the florida weave method(you can look it up online). I use a non-stretching twine to support the plants. I was going with 3 plants between T posts, but plan on two plants between posts this year. If you set the T posts too deep, they are difficult to remove in the fall.

March 18, 2016	#36
pauldavid Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NE Louisiana, Zone 8A Posts: 1,179	I'm old school, I guess. I used to use wooden stakes for support, but they would rot too fast for my liking. I use rebar and sucker rod for stakes now, but am a big fan of CRW cages since last year. Florida weave didn't work out too well for me.