Trusses buckling

xellos99 · July 30, 2016

I noticed today one of my 1st trusses had bucked completely under weight.

I have 21 plants in a greenhouse of the same variety and now I kind of expect the other 20 1st trusses could follow suit and buckle.

Because of the layout of the greenhouse I found it difficult to use string to support them so use a small crate instead.

What do you guys use to support buckling trusses and are there good ways to do it other than strings ?

NarnianGarden · July 30, 2016

Yes. Nylon pantyhose / sock is an excellent way to support the fruit weight. With it you can create a little hammock where the little darlings can rest comfortably.

(of course there needs to be something very sturdy to tie it to)

b54red · July 30, 2016

I use J hooks which I get from Hydro-Gardens when they are appropriate. For longer trusses I like the foam wire. Recently I found a really neat thing to use that is really easy and it works great. I used some wide surveyors tape for the past two years to label my tomatoes because it is easy to tie it anywhere on the tomato or the support. I saw a few trusses overloaded and buckling when I was labeling one day and tried using the tape for a temporary support and never got around to adding a more secure support. I wasn't sure the soft rubbery tape would give enough support but it did and I have been using it since then not just to support trusses but sometimes errant stems with tomatoes on them. It is easy enough to rip a piece off of any length with no need of a knife or cutter. I even use it to secure the stem to my drop lines sometimes when I don't have tomato clips in my pocket. I got it at Lowes but I'm sure most home improvement stores and building stores would carry it. I think the narrower one inch tape is not quite strong enough for a heavy truss but I have even used it with some success.

Bill

July 30, 2016	#1
xellos99 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: wales uk Posts: 236	Trusses buckling I noticed today one of my 1st trusses had bucked completely under weight. I have 21 plants in a greenhouse of the same variety and now I kind of expect the other 20 1st trusses could follow suit and buckle. Because of the layout of the greenhouse I found it difficult to use string to support them so use a small crate instead. What do you guys use to support buckling trusses and are there good ways to do it other than strings ?

July 30, 2016	#2
NarnianGarden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Finland, EU Posts: 2,550	Yes. Nylon pantyhose / sock is an excellent way to support the fruit weight. With it you can create a little hammock where the little darlings can rest comfortably. (of course there needs to be something very sturdy to tie it to)

July 30, 2016	#3
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	I use J hooks which I get from Hydro-Gardens when they are appropriate. For longer trusses I like the foam wire. Recently I found a really neat thing to use that is really easy and it works great. I used some wide surveyors tape for the past two years to label my tomatoes because it is easy to tie it anywhere on the tomato or the support. I saw a few trusses overloaded and buckling when I was labeling one day and tried using the tape for a temporary support and never got around to adding a more secure support. I wasn't sure the soft rubbery tape would give enough support but it did and I have been using it since then not just to support trusses but sometimes errant stems with tomatoes on them. It is easy enough to rip a piece off of any length with no need of a knife or cutter. I even use it to secure the stem to my drop lines sometimes when I don't have tomato clips in my pocket. I got it at Lowes but I'm sure most home improvement stores and building stores would carry it. I think the narrower one inch tape is not quite strong enough for a heavy truss but I have even used it with some success. Bill