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The ideal tomato stake?
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Posted by castorp z9 FL (My Page) on Sun, Dec 17, 06 at 19:51
| I'm looking for the ideal tomato stake--one that won't rot or break and can support a big tomato vine loaded with fruit. Ideally I'd like it ten feet long (two feet at least will go in the ground). I've tried 1 1/2" square cedars, without much success. They were bored out by insects, rotted by the rain and humidity (I live in Florida) and snapped by strong winds. Also I could never find one over eight feet long. I'm considering a thick rebar (would 1" be enough?) Any other ideas?
Bill |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: The ideal tomato stake?
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| How many tomatoe are you planning on growing?! Here's a thread that might be useful. I might also try a Farm Supply store or newspaper. Someone might be able to build something custom for you. Sources for metal trellis forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/calif/msg061528118679.html?10 |
RE: The ideal tomato stake?
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| Bill, A steel T-post should meet your specifications. They are available from several different sources, like farm supply stores, home improvement stores, etc. Sometimes it is difficult to find the longer sizes in stock. I had our local Agway order me some 8-foot T-posts last year. Here is an on-line 10-foot steel post source. Another source is Stockyards Ranch Supply. Wellscroft Fence Systems also has steel T-posts. MM |
RE: The ideal tomato stake?
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| Thanks to you both for the ideas and the links. I'll check the local farm supply for long t-posts. If they can't get them for me, now I have online sources too. Happy Holidays.
Bill |
RE: The ideal tomato stake?
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| Have you considered the Florida Weave method? http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/tomato/msg052154181708.html
http://www.foogod.com/~torquill/barefoot/weave.html |
RE: The ideal tomato stake?
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| Have you tried electrical conduit with a large nylon netting? That's my main choice á la square foot gardening. Failing that, Lee Valley Hardware has some fantastic options. I love that place. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Lee Valley Hardware
RE: The ideal tomato stake?
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| Before I retired from work I was a TV repairman. When replacing a roof antennae, I would take the old 10-foot aluminum antennae pole home and use it for staking tomatoes. I'm still using them 25-30 years later. |
RE: The ideal tomato stake?
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| I know someone who does use rebar--he primes it and then paints it dark green. He says it works great...I think I'll be trying that myself this year. Tamara |
RE: The ideal tomato stake?
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bill,
have you thought of aluminum toprail from chain-link fencing? i built my vertical garden out of some leftover lengths: For around $15 you get a 22 ft length of weather-proof pipe, about 2.25 inches in diameter. One minute with a hacksaw and you'd have two 11' lengths for stakes. There are all sorts of connectors and caps available, and if you give it a good coat of primer, you can spray paint it any color. You can easly drive it with a sledge 2 or 3'. The one drawback is it's pretty slick and doesn't offer any purchase for ties. Somewhere on GW someone recommended drilling holes and pushing dowels through the holes. It is very easy to drill -- an awl and a titanium bit does the trick. Just be VERY careful, since the holes are surrounded by razor sharp metal shavings -- use a file to remove them! |
RE: The ideal tomato stake?
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I bought treated 2 X 4s 8 foot long and ripped them down the middle and sharpened one end. The boards cost $2.67 at the big box hardware, so each stake cosr $1.48 and will last for years.
Cut 1 inch stips from old pantyhose to make ties that are strong and will not bruise the plant. |
RE: The ideal tomato stake?
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| I went with 6' stakes which were 1x4, 12 for $8 at big box. I put stakes perpendicular to plant line so I get more stiffness out of the 4" wide strip. then I used heavy gage jute twine ($2.33/190 LF) and created tight netting. my plants may grow 6-7 feet, but at least I will have 5' high strong stake holding them up. also these stakes were meant for fence so they can take weather and pests for a few years. Best choice is Rebar of course! |
RE: The ideal tomato stake?
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| I plant a mix of heirloom and hybrid tomatoes so wood stakes and tomato cages did not do the job for me. I settled on rows, using three steel sign-supports 8' to 12' long. Five gallon buckets were filled with cement, then the post was put in the bucket. When dry the bucket was buried. Plastic coated wire was strung between the steel posts, 3 to 6 strands. |
RE: The ideal tomato stake?
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- Posted by jolj 7b/8a-S.C.USA (My Page) on
Tue, Jan 24, 12 at 16:36
I use bamboo poles, 4 -6 buried 12-16 inches deep.
I bought some seeds for tomatoes & pick the variety by the size of the fruit.
I planted the tomatoes with 8 feet bamboo poles.
Then I discovered they were patio tomatoes & I had 8 feet poles with 6 inch tomatoes plants:-).
The poles last 2-3 years or longer if you dry them first & take them in out of the weather at season end.
Work great for beans & any vine veggie. |
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