Comments on: My Name is Tom and I’m Indeterminate: Tomato Support Methods http://www.thisgardenisillegal.com/2006/09/my-name-is-tom-and-im-indeterminate.html Gardening isn't a hobby, it is an obsession Sun, 05 Feb 2012 14:15:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: mistermotto http://www.thisgardenisillegal.com/2006/09/my-name-is-tom-and-im-indeterminate.html/comment-page-1#comment-7311 mistermotto Thu, 06 May 2010 04:50:18 +0000 http://www.thisgardenisillegal.com/new/2007/07/my-name-is-tom-and-im-indeterminate-tomato-support-methods.html#comment-7311 Lets get real, Any product that is out there that is affordable, is going to have built-in obsolescence. For you to buy and buy over again otherwise these companies wouldn't be making any money. And that is OK. Many people who are starting a garden try and may find that they do not want to continue. They haven't risked a whole lot on expensive equipment. For a serious tomato grower, I would recommend Steel "T" posts for main support, and Jute twine for Lateral support. Space the T-posts about 6-8 feet appart, and tie the twine in the horizontal around the tomatoes, as they grow, add layers of twine. The Pro's use a method similar to this. They might use a sturdier lateral support and reclaim that in the end of the season. The T-posts will last as long as you do if you buy the solid kind, not the folded sheet stock. Using Jute twine is my method of favor for a couple of Schools of thought. 1. Easy to work with, easy to break if you don't have cutters. 2. Fairly strong in short lengths, gentle on the sensitive vines. 3. Low cost, under a dollar for a 250' roll or so, usually. A. If some or all is left in the garden over winter it tends to break down as compost, or gets carried off by local wildlife, like birds, to build their homes. B. Dosn't get tangled in Tillers or mowers, like string does, and you don't have to busy yourself collecting it at season end. I Like Indeterminate vines as well because bringing them indoors as cuttings to preserve as "sister" plants and growing them in my "Greenshed" (12x12' shed with Clear lexan sheets on the south side) is very rewarding to me. Besides, it gives me a place to call my "DOG HOUSE", you know, when I am in trouble with my wife. Lets get real, Any product that is out there that is affordable, is going to have built-in obsolescence. For you to buy and buy over again otherwise these companies wouldn’t be making any money. And that is OK. Many people who are starting a garden try and may find that they do not want to continue. They haven’t risked a whole lot on expensive equipment.
For a serious tomato grower, I would recommend Steel “T” posts for main support, and Jute twine for Lateral support. Space the T-posts about 6-8 feet appart, and tie the twine in the horizontal around the tomatoes, as they grow, add layers of twine. The Pro’s use a method similar to this. They might use a sturdier lateral support and reclaim that in the end of the season.
The T-posts will last as long as you do if you buy the solid kind, not the folded sheet stock. Using Jute twine is my method of favor for a couple of Schools of thought.
1. Easy to work with, easy to break if you don’t have cutters.
2. Fairly strong in short lengths, gentle on the sensitive vines.
3. Low cost, under a dollar for a 250′ roll or so, usually.

A. If some or all is left in the garden over winter it tends to break down as compost, or gets carried off by local wildlife, like birds, to build their homes.
B. Dosn’t get tangled in Tillers or mowers, like string does, and you don’t have to busy yourself collecting it at season end.
I Like Indeterminate vines as well because bringing them indoors as cuttings to preserve as “sister” plants and growing them in my “Greenshed” (12×12′ shed with Clear lexan sheets on the south side) is very rewarding to me. Besides, it gives me a place to call my “DOG HOUSE”, you know, when I am in trouble with my wife.

]]> By: Dave http://www.thisgardenisillegal.com/2006/09/my-name-is-tom-and-im-indeterminate.html/comment-page-1#comment-6880 Dave Tue, 06 Oct 2009 08:24:49 +0000 http://www.thisgardenisillegal.com/new/2007/07/my-name-is-tom-and-im-indeterminate-tomato-support-methods.html#comment-6880 What do you mean by electrical conduit when you say: "A post dug into either end of the bed and a piece of electrical conduit attached across the top. You tie strings to the base of the (tomato) plants and wrap a string around each main branch and then tie the string to the conduit overhead. As the plant grows, you just untie the string, wrap the string a little more up the branch and retie above." Does the kind of string matter? Jute? Nylon? And I can't quite visualize how tying is done. Does "You tie strings to the base of the (tomato) plants" mean directly onto the plants near the soil? Does "wrap a string around each main branch and then tie the string to the conduit overhead" mean each branch is strung to the conduit--if so it seems like a lot of string. As the plants grow I assume the string from their base to the conduit gets slack, but I'm not sure how you mean they are retied. I'm not new to gardening but I had a bad year this time. Big plants but poor crop--black spots, terrible support cages, few tomatoes. I blame overcrowding. And I think Dad overwatered them, too. I'm learning but Mom was the real gardener. When she died she took a lot of ways of doing things with her. I will try to read "The Great Tomato Book" for ideas. What do you mean by electrical conduit when you say: “A post dug into either end of the bed and a piece of electrical conduit attached across the top. You tie strings to the base of the (tomato) plants and wrap a string around each main branch and then tie the string to the conduit overhead. As the plant grows, you just untie the string, wrap the string a little more up the branch and retie above.” Does the kind of string matter? Jute? Nylon? And I can’t quite visualize how tying is done. Does “You tie strings to the base of the (tomato) plants” mean directly onto the plants near the soil? Does “wrap a string around each main branch and then tie the string to the conduit overhead” mean each branch is strung to the conduit–if so it seems like a lot of string. As the plants grow I assume the string from their base to the conduit gets slack, but I’m not sure how you mean they are retied. I’m not new to gardening but I had a bad year this time. Big plants but poor crop–black spots, terrible support cages, few tomatoes. I blame overcrowding. And I think Dad overwatered them, too. I’m learning but Mom was the real gardener. When she died she took a lot of ways of doing things with her. I will try to read “The Great Tomato Book” for ideas.

]]> By: Tom http://www.thisgardenisillegal.com/2006/09/my-name-is-tom-and-im-indeterminate.html/comment-page-1#comment-6114 Tom Thu, 12 Feb 2009 21:30:21 +0000 http://www.thisgardenisillegal.com/new/2007/07/my-name-is-tom-and-im-indeterminate-tomato-support-methods.html#comment-6114 I live in New Jersey and just use 8 foot long 1x3 inch spruce stakes, still available at my local lumber yard for less than a dollar apiece. They last several years when stored for the winter under my deck. I buy a bundle or two of jute twine every year and tie the tomato vines to the stakes as they grow. I planted about sixty plants last year and got hundreds of tomatoes. We ate them in every fashion, gave many dozens away and preserved some; we ate the last fresh ones in early December. I can't wait to start again! I live in New Jersey and just use 8 foot long 1×3 inch spruce stakes, still available at my local lumber yard for less than a dollar apiece. They last several years when stored for the winter under my deck. I buy a bundle or two of jute twine every year and tie the tomato vines to the stakes as they grow. I planted about sixty plants last year and got hundreds of tomatoes. We ate them in every fashion, gave many dozens away and preserved some; we ate the last fresh ones in early December. I can’t wait to start again!

]]> By: Tony LaPelusa http://www.thisgardenisillegal.com/2006/09/my-name-is-tom-and-im-indeterminate.html/comment-page-1#comment-2807 Tony LaPelusa Thu, 12 Jun 2008 06:55:39 +0000 http://www.thisgardenisillegal.com/new/2007/07/my-name-is-tom-and-im-indeterminate-tomato-support-methods.html#comment-2807 Take a few minutes and go to my site, tomatosupport.com you will find the very best tomato support you will ever find anywhere, any place, any time. Take a few minutes and go to my site, tomatosupport.com you will find the very best tomato support you will ever find
anywhere, any place, any time.

]]> By: lars rosaen http://www.thisgardenisillegal.com/2006/09/my-name-is-tom-and-im-indeterminate.html/comment-page-1#comment-1013 lars rosaen Thu, 30 Aug 2007 18:37:12 +0000 http://www.thisgardenisillegal.com/new/2007/07/my-name-is-tom-and-im-indeterminate-tomato-support-methods.html#comment-1013 Why don't you look into the new tomatOH! holders at tomatohelpers.com or on the site helpingyourgardengrow.com I think you might find these real interesting. It's the old standard tomato cages re-engineered realy well. modular, stackable, buildable and powder coated to laast. Why don’t you look into the new tomatOH! holders at tomatohelpers.com or on the site helpingyourgardengrow.com I think you might find these real interesting. It’s the old standard tomato cages re-engineered realy well. modular, stackable, buildable and powder coated to laast.

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