Stake And Weave To Support Tomatoes And Peppers

 


Has anyone ever tried the stake and weave to support tomatoes and bell
peppers?  Looks like a pretty good system to me because you use a whole
lot less stakes which can be kind of expensive these days!  I do know
that big growers in Florida use this system quite a bit on large scale
operations.  I was just wondering how many home gardeners have tried it
and if so,  how did it work out for you?   Also,  if you can recommend
any variation of this method I would like to hear about it.  I will be
putting out around two dozen plants this spring and need to save some
money while also giving my plants some good support to keep them off the
ground.  Any suggestions would be more than welcomed :)  Thanks so much
in advance!

Rich

 

On Sat, 13 Feb 2010 02:15:40 -0500, White_Noise_1@webtv.net (EVP MAN)
wrote:


Isn't stake and weave a technique advanced knitters employ. LOL

Sounds like you're not very sure that you want to grow vegetables
every year... this is your first time, right.  If you intend to grow
each year ask your medical professional for a *CBD immunization shot.

Stake and weave is fine if you have lots of illegals to perform all
the labor. And as you've noted decent stakes ain't cheap and don't
last long, often they don't last the season.  For home grown I've
found the square/triangular foldable vinyl clad steel wire cages are
best; they offer the best support without damaging plants, are
virtually labor free, they last years and years and years and years,
and fold flat for storage.  I don't like the welded cone shaped cages
and the DIY kind made from concrete reinforcement wire are worse.

http://www.extension.org/article/18647

*Cheap Bastard Disease

 


I hope to grow vegetables for quite a few years to come in my home
garden :)  Last year I only grew tomatoes but this year I'm adding to
the list and will have more plants that require support.  Last season I
used a single steel T-post for each plant.  The green kind that's used
to install a fence.  They are around $4 each in my area but are strong
and should last for many years to come.  My tall plants that need stakes
will all be in a straight row so I figure if I can use the stake and
weave method,  I'll only use one stake between every third plant thus
saving myself some expense.  I plan to use parachute cord which is very
strong and weathers well between the stakes.  I will prune my tomato
plants to a single main stem and plant them about 20" apart in the row.
The row will be about 3'x40'.  I will plant onions and other lower
growing crops in front of the taller ones to utilize as much growing
space as I can.  The reason I wondered if others have tried the stake
and weave support method is because I'm a bit concerned when thunder
storms come this summer and we get the high winds along with the storm.
Last year we had a single 15 minute storm that broke the main stem on a
few plants even though each one was tied to a single support stake.  As
for using cages,  I tried them a few years back and just don't care for
them at all.  They take a lot of room to store which I don't have much
of.  The wire that most cages are made of is flimsy but don't have any
give at all to it.  I found that when my plants got heavy with fruit the
branches would break right where they went through the wire of the cage.
I do understand there are lot's of different types of cages that may
work very well including home made ones.  BUT,  I'm looking for an easy
method that offers good support and is cost efficient as well.  Also,
no storage required come winter.  I would just let the steel T-posts in
place come winter.  

Rich

 

brooklyn1 wrote:

   We were thinking of two closely spaced rows of fence (probably
vinyl), the maters between them.  Put up with steel fence posts.

   Seems to me I heard that here last year. If you have anything pro or
con, let me know.

   Jeff

 


Hi Jeff, the Amish farm we patronize grows their 'Maters this way. and
they remove many of the leaves to cut down the need for water.There
are always loads of tomatoes on their vines, and no falling over!! I
hope to try this this year. We had a terrible garden year last summer.
Too cold and wet, and that damn tomato blight.
Speaking of tomato blight, I understood, the virus which causes it
comes out of the soil. If that is true, what do we do this year? Treat
the soil? Please don't say garden in another spot, that would be way
too much work for a couple of old farts.
Nan in DE