Got a feeling I'll be putting up multiple trellises...

Been reading thru some of the posts on trellis set-ups and how some are having troubles with multible plants trying to grow up on trellis..



I'll be having peppers, two types of 'maters, and two type of pole beans..



What would you do ??

peppers don't need trellising, as they grow as a bush type plant.
The tomatoes and pole beans will need something to support them as they grow (such as trellises)

I stake my peppers. I used a Florida weave trellis for my determinate cherry tomatoes, to keep them contained, I had overhead trellis for indeterminate tomatoes and straight up trellis for bean and peas. I used a near upright trellis for my space master cukes.

So I'll be picking up some extra pvc in the next few weeks then I guess...lol

I use tall metal fence posts at either end of all my beds with strings for training up the tomatoes. I can tie trellis netting between the posts for the peas and vining beans. Then I can switch them the following year for rotation of the crops.

I was trying not to spend a lot on this(in case things don't go so well with it.. Pvc seemed cheapest and if things go well I'll go with something a bit more permanent for next year..



Thanks for the idea..



I guess I'll be making a separate trellis for my 'maters, and beans..

I found these at home depot. They're not exactly the same - and were only $3.99 each...

http://www.gardeners.com/Tomato-Support-Cages/15172,default,pd.html

Thought they'd be great for the cherry tomatoes I want to plant...

Hi Kittykat!

Those do seem like nice cages. The one thing I would take into consideration about those cages is it appears that they are barely 3' tall - only 32 inches once placed in the ground, according to the specifications. They do say you can stack them.

If it were me, I would check the package on your cherry tomatoes and see if they are determinate or indeterminate. If they are indeterminate, i.e. large and vining, plan for your plants to be 6' tall or more depending on your climate so you would need to have two of these stacked for that purpose.

Determinate tomatoes might do fine in just one. If you have indeterminates and don't want to invest in stacking your cages, there are some pretty neat ways to trellis them.

These might including stringing, Florida weave, tomato swirl stakes, tomato netting, etc. One member, Acara, even tied them to a trellis made of the type of plastic lattice you put under a porch and kept them well pruned, so as to appease his HOA... Another member, squatjohnson, has these nifty "swingset frame" looking structures that support the strings to string his tomatoes...

Defintely use the white search bar in the upper left of this page and look for some of the terms above and you should find some pictures that members have posted...

You've got me so longing for cherry tomatoes...LOVE those little guys...

@kittykat......Most cherry tomatoes are indeterminates so will grow to 6' on their vines. If you want the shorter ones, try Determinate varieties. I have some that only grow 2' to 2 1/2' tall but will give me normal-sized tomatoes (Sophie's Choice) and others grow about 3' to 4' tall and no taller. Read the packet labels.



Sophie's Choice in a pot last year.

@quiltbea & UnderTheBlackWalnut - thanks so much for all the info! I'm just going to buy plants already started at the nursery when it's time, so I'll be sure to double-check that they are determinate cherry tomatoes...

You input is MUCH appreciated! Thanks!!

As QB said, most cherry tomatoes are indeterminates. If you have your heart set on cherry, you may want to contact your nursery and see if they plan to propagate any indeterminate cherries (as there are not many kinds at all). Otherwise if you want determinate tomatoes you will need to go with the small fruited varieties of "standard" determinate tomatoes.

Check out this site - I have never ordered from them but I find them to be fairly comprehensive with their info...they have a separate seed section just for determinates...
TomatoFest

UnderTheBlackWalnut wrote:As QB said, most cherry tomatoes are indeterminates. If you have your heart set on cherry, you may want to contact your nursery and see if they plan to propagate any indeterminate cherries (as there are not many kinds at all). Otherwise if you want determinate tomatoes you will need to go with the small fruited varieties of "standard" determinate tomatoes.

Check out this site - I have never ordered from them but I find them to be fairly comprehensive with their info...they have a separate seed section just for determinates...
TomatoFest

I can vouch for TomatoFest. I bought half of my tomato seeds there. The ordering is quick and you get them delivered pretty quick too. They break down all of their tomato varieties by different categories. Browsing them is a snap.

Thanks TTT - I do really like their site!

UnderTheBlackWalnut wrote:Thanks TTT - I do really like their site!

You're welcome

I had one cherry that was Determinate last year, lots of toms and great flavor. Its called Early Cherry.



This is Early Cherry in a pot with a tomato cage around it last year.

Tuxdad wrote:I was trying not to spend a lot on this(in case things don't go so well with it.. Pvc seemed cheapest and if things go well I'll go with something a bit more permanent for next year..



Thanks for the idea..



I guess I'll be making a separate trellis for my 'maters, and beans..

I'm panning to make some tomato supports from bamboo, scrap wood & cheap furring strips. I envision some sort of A-frame to support my 4 tomatoes. I will make horizontal supports from the scrap wood, tree limbs, bamboo & string. I suspect I will spend $6 on the 5 furring strips that I will make my A-frame from.


This is not mine, but this is sorta the idea: