what kind of trellis do you use and why?

great post guys and all the picture look great. I have lots of ideas in my headnow. I need to check out some prices. I will get some pictures up as soon as I can

I buy those green metal stakes that are used for wire fencing. I run plastic chicken wire between two of those and attach them with plastic electrical wire tires. It is very cheap and works ok. After I am done, all I have to do is roll the posts together for easy storage.

Here is what they look like.
http://georgiahomegarden.blogspot.com/2011/04/2011-garden-march-27th.html

quiltbea wrote:

For my tomatoes I run a wire across the bottom of the 2 fence posts. From that wire I attach a single strong tomato twine from top to bottom where each tomato plant will grow. I twist the tomato up the twine as it grows. No tying needed, it keeps straight and strong, and its easy to just twist your plant around the twine every week or so as it grows.



Above: You can see the twine very straight up and down. I just twist the new growth around it every 10 days or so. Nylon tomato twine works best. The others wear out during the season of rain and break.

Quiltbea, I'm headed out to Lowes tomorrow to take advantage of a $10 off coupon I have, and want to buy new trellis stuff this year. Could possible describe any better how you're doing the twine for the tomatoes? I see you have two tall fence posts, and I understand tying the wire across the bottom. But how do you attach the tomato twine to that wire? What's above it to tie it to?

Thanks!

I salvaged some old rusty 6"x6" and 8"x8" box wire and used it. My toms loved it and it left me enough room to reach in and grab my toms.

I too use the concrete mesh now as I had tried the nylon net two years and it failed both years. Not sure if it was the heat or cold here in NE but both years it collapsed (and I bought the good stuff too). The mesh is a bit "rustic" looking but once it is covered with vines who cares!

My supports are the metal pipe ones like in the book - I zip tied the mesh to the frames and last year they stood up to even 70 mph winds when fully loaded. They are just over rebar in the ground.

Hope that helps!

Moswell......I wire posts across the top of the fence posts. There are holes all along the fence posts that can be used for wire or netting or attaching poles.



Above: The poles across the tops wired tightly. I have mine wired right across the tops but there are holes handy near the top so you can just wire them where there are holes if you can't manage to get them steady across the very top. Just attach your tomato twine to the cross post at the top and then to the wire you've strung along the bottom (mine is about 6" above the soil) straight up and down, snugly. I think you can see the twine in the center pair of green fence posts. I used wooden posts I had handy but I think rebar would work great. They would take the weather better.



Above: In this closeup photo you can see the strings running vertically beside some very young tomatoes. As the tomatoes grow, I just wrap the tops of them gently around the twine. Holds them straight yet doesn't hurt the vine. I've done this for 2 years and will do it again this year. I've staked and I've caged toms, but twining truly works best for me.

I thought this was a cool idea for a trellis:

maybe not the best use of space in a square but maybe a barrel or something.

My mother found it on Pinterest, whatever that is and forwarded it to me. I thought it looked like a pretty neat idea

nKedrOoStEr wrote:I thought this was a cool idea for a trellis:

maybe not the best use of space in a square but maybe a barrel or something.

I love it! That is a great idea. Saving to my idea folder. Thank you for sharing!

nKedrOoStEr wrote:I thought this was a cool idea for a trellis:

maybe not the best use of space in a square but maybe a barrel or something.

There is nothing to stop you using it between two beds and making the strings go down into the one foot squares .

All you need to do is adjust the length of the strings ... I think it is a brilliant idea for I have a couple of old alloy bike rims in the garage, some nylon twine & a couple of old garden stakes that have a pvc outer with a steel tube core and as yet no rectangular frame etc. for my one inch high peas or beans growing in pots in the glass house

I used conduit piping with nylon netting on it. Built them high - 8', with about 1' in the ground. Didn't use rebars, just brackets into the box sides. Worked ok for me, no issues with wind or bending.
For the 4'x4' boxes, I also used criss-crossed PVC pipes stuck into the corners of the box, and connected them at the top with cable ties. Those came VERY handy as makeshift hoop houses, I just threw plastic tents over them, and secured the bottom of the plastic with rocks. Easy, cheap, and very flexible. In the summer, those "hoops" served as additional support for melon plants, melons loved the canope.

I use what I can get for free or cheap. My toms are growing up strings the frame is bamboo a friend gave me when she cut down a bunch out of her yard. I'm currently brain storming how best to build a trelis out of the bamboo, PVC pipe and other materials I have on hand for my cucumbers.

Thanks Quiltbea, I understand now. It took me several minutes, even with the pictures (I'm not good with visualizing ideas, lol), but I've got it. I think this will work for me. Now, let's just hope I'm able to garden this year since I think I did major damage to my knee last night (I think I dislocated my knee ).

Oh be careful Moswell. Take good care of that knee.

Furbalsmom wrote:Oh be careful Moswell. Take good care of that knee.

I'm headed to an orthopedic doctor tomorrow. I didn't bother going to a regular doctor or the emergency room - I can walk (with difficulty) and I most seriously doubt I have any broken bones. Cutting out the middleman and going right to the specialist, hopefully I can get an MRI quickly and get treatment if needed.

Oh no Moswell! I hope it is not as bad as you think. Your healthy knees will be fore front in my mind. You will be well soon:flower: . That you can walk on it is a good sign but that does not mean you should. Take care of your self.

plantoid wrote:

nKedrOoStEr wrote:I thought this was a cool idea for a trellis:

maybe not the best use of space in a square but maybe a barrel or something.

There is nothing to stop you using it between two beds and making the strings go down into the one foot squares .

All you need to do is adjust the length of the strings ... I think it is a brilliant idea for I have a couple of old alloy bike rims in the garage, some nylon twine & a couple of old garden stakes that have a pvc outer with a steel tube core and as yet no rectangular frame etc. for my one inch high peas or beans growing in pots in the glass house

I love this idea now all I have to do is find bike tire rims to make one for my pot of pole beans.

Hula Hoop anyone

Kay

walshevak wrote:Hula Hoop anyone

Kay

No Elvis in this pelvis but I think a Hula Hoop would be great too! And they come in all kinds of colors

Moswell, hope all is well with your knee. Good luck!

Have you priced Hula Hoops lately? Outrageous! I thought to try them as hoops for row covers and cheesecloth for shading over different plants, but they were too expensive. I bought wire clothes hangers at the dollar store instead. They work just fine and you can mold them into any shape you like.

That's what Goodwill shops are for. They usually got em for next to nothing.

Coat hangers are a great idea too

Off topic a bit, but for those that cared, I do not have a torn ACL (or at least, if there's a tear it's so miniscule it doesn't show up on the MRI). Just some strains to the ligaments, some bone bruising, and some swelling, all due to the patella dislocation. This makes me very, very happy. To bring it back on topic, it means that this weekend I will attempt to set up my trellis (and probably mix up some Mel's Mix)!

About hula hoops - I'm a little bitter so must vent. A while ago boffer told me about a lady who'd made her covered garden using colorful hula hoops instead of the pvc pipes. I looked them up and they were gorgeous. So my daughters and I have been to every store we can think of. They do not make pretty hula hoops like that anymore! Nowadays all the hula hoops are either electronic with music and flashing LED's, or they are a plain color that is wrapped in holographic or licensed character stickers. Either way, not suitable for cutting and using outdoors. And yes quiltbea, now a hula hoop is $7-$12 instead of $3-$5. Pathetic.

Moswell, so glad to hear your knee will heal!

Hey Gwennifer!

Check this out - if 5 connectors makes a hoop, then this is about 2.10 per hoop (before shipping etc...)
oriental trading

I also saw on ebay some people selling hula hoops in "lots" of x number, something along these lines...
ebay

Don't know how sturdy either would be...but thought it might be closer to what you are trying to find...??