Truss support

brooksville · January 27, 2016

This year we are going to the trellis method for the tomatoes, and ideas about what to use to support the trusses?

Worth1 · January 27, 2016

I'm a little lost a truss is a support.
I am sorry if I am coming off sounding strange.

Worth

brooksville · January 27, 2016

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.

Worth1 · January 27, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by brooksville

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.

Worth

UFXEFU · January 27, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by brooksville

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.

brooksville · January 27, 2016

Russian 117
Cherokee Purple
I think it happened to SOTW also.

Gardeneer · January 27, 2016

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.

Gardeneer

imp · January 27, 2016

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.

jmsieglaff · January 27, 2016

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.

PureHarvest · February 5, 2016

http://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplies...l&rel=nofollow

There are also a couple of other options at the bottom of the page

reddeheddefarm · February 5, 2016

We use a Florida weave and as we do successive lifts of twine we get the fruit support that way

NarnianGarden · February 5, 2016

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.

b54red · February 5, 2016

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.

Bill

January 27, 2016	#1
brooksville Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2014 Location: South Georgia Zone 8a Posts: 179	Truss support This year we are going to the trellis method for the tomatoes, and ideas about what to use to support the trusses?

January 27, 2016	#2
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	I'm a little lost a truss is a support. I am sorry if I am coming off sounding strange. Worth

January 27, 2016	#7
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,919	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. Gardeneer

January 27, 2016	#8
imp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Posts: 4,832	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.

January 27, 2016	#9
jmsieglaff Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Southern WI Posts: 2,742	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.

February 5, 2016	#10
PureHarvest Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Mid-Atlantic right on the line of Zone 7a and 7b Posts: 1,369	http://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplies...l&rel=nofollow There are also a couple of other options at the bottom of the page

February 5, 2016	#11
reddeheddefarm Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: delaware ohio Posts: 81	We use a Florida weave and as we do successive lifts of twine we get the fruit support that way

February 5, 2016	#12
NarnianGarden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Finland, EU Posts: 2,550	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.

February 5, 2016	#13
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	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. Bill