You've found the famous Dave's Garden website! Join this friendly global community that shares tips and ideas for home and gardens, along with seeds and plants!
Check out the DG homepage for a brief overview of what you'll find in this gardening mega-site.
Login
If you don't have an account yet, visit the registration page to sign up.
Since tomato support is an important issue with all large scale gardeners, perhaps we can share ideas, experiences and systems on this thread during the coming off-season. I promise to stay "on track." :-)
I want to use Florida weave instead of cages (although I have hundreds of cages). Weeds are a terrible problem with cages, I never have enough, they are hard to store and, with hundreds of plants, are getting to be a pain in the neck. I tried weaving this year but got the twine wrapped around my neck, got mad and frustrated, gave-up and bought two more rolls of reinforcing wire and made more cages. The weeds were a nightmare all summer, impossible to keep up with inside the cages and noxious grasses actually ruined a whole plot of 200 plants (along with record-setting heat and sun scald).
I spent 2 hours today practicing on four 50' rows of old, dying pepper plants, about 3' high, spaced at 24" with a 3/8X4' rebar stake in between each plant. I drove t-posts at the row ends. I bought a huge roll of orange baling twine in a box, made a big ball, put it in a one gal paint can, which I attached to my belt by the bale on the can. Then I made a "tool" of 1/2" pvc, threaded the twine thru the tool, tied the end to the t-post and began to weave as described in various instructions on the web. These plants are pretty bushy and it was difficult - but good practice.
First problem was that the twine bound-up on the inside edge of the pvc tool. So I filed the inside to 45° and smoothed it with sandpaper. That solved that. Then, too much twine came out of the can as I manipulated the tool over and under branches and around the stakes. Loose twine built up on the ground and wrapped around my ankles, got all tangled in the plants, etc. The twine coming out of the can needs a little tension on it so it doesn't just fall out. I kept my cool, though, untangled my feet, wrapped all the loose twine back on the ball and continued.
I finally discarded the tool and did much better holding the twine near the can with my left hand and weaved with my right. I was then able to keep it under control and apply tension as needed. I finally got a row woven, Seemed pretty solid. Then I tried another row making one full wrap around each stake, pulling it fairly tight each time, and that came-out better - very secure. But it took a long time and I had many "mistakes" - wrapping the wrong side of the plant, uneven heights, etc.
I'm going to practice some more this morning. I'm going to make a hole in a paint can lid for the twine, try to solder a washer on it so it won't cut or restrict the twine too much and pound the lid back on the can. Then I'll try the pvc tool again. I'm bound and determine to master this technique but I find it very challenging. Probably just my own ineptness. :-)
Jack
This thread has 36 replies. This forum is accessible only to subscribing members of Dave's Garden. There are many free features here, and about half of our forums are completely open to all members. Take a tour of our site and learn more about Dave's Garden, and explore the benefits of becoming a subscribing member.
