[tomato] Bamboo Trellis

Pete (Tomato@GlobalGarden.com)
Wed, 23 Feb 2000 22:47:52 -0500

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Good evening Maternatics, (short for TomatoFanatics).  I think I have
decided on a method of covering my tomatoes with insect netting.  I decided
to make a  A-Frame trellis made from bamboo.  Instead of making a separate
support for the netting, I'll just let the A frame support the tomatoes and
the netting at the same time.  What I haven't decide on yet, is what
variation of A-Frame support I should use.  Should I attach plastic Trellis
netting to both sides of the A frame, and let tomato vines grow up the
netting at a 45 degree angle?  Using 6 Ft. Bamboo sticks, using this method,
I could support 3 plants per side.  Will the structure support 6 plants, and
will the plastic trellis netting be strong enough?  I don't know....will the
tomato plants on the far side of the frame get enough sunlight?  Which way
should I face the A-frame if my garden is on the West side of the house?
Should I align it East-West...or North-South? Or, should I forget about the
plastic trellis netting, and instead use the same bamboo frame, but use the
hanging string method?  Using this method you hang from the top pole a heavy
twine.  As the tomato plant grows, you wrap the vine around the string.
Many people use this method, but I don't know if they use bamboo for the
A-frame.  Using the hanging twine method, the frame would only support 3
tomato plants using 6 Ft. bamboo sticks.

Whatsa say MaterNatics....which method should I use?  Anyone try this?
After everything is setup, I'd drape the insect netting over the A-Frame,
and use concrete edging sold at home improvement centers to "seal" the
netting against the soil. It would also weigh it down pretty good.

I'm actually excited, as I have a feeling I'm going to beat this TYLCV virus
this time, and actually see some tomatoes!  And I think that this bamboo
structure will actually look nice.  12 bamboo poles cost about 12
bucks....so this is a nice inexpensive way to go.

I would like as many people to comment on my idea (which I will be
implementing on Friday), especially those who have tried something like this
before.

THANK YOU!

Pete, Zone 10, South Florida

Peter,  South Florida,  Zone 10

Orchid@ispchannel.com
Videoman@ispchannel.com
Videomaker2000@aol.com





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<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
Good = evening=20 Maternatics, (short for TomatoFanatics).  I think I have decided on = a=20 method of covering my tomatoes with insect netting.  I decided to = make=20 a  A-Frame trellis made from bamboo.  Instead of making a = separate=20 support for the netting, I'll just let the A frame support the tomatoes = and the=20 netting at the same time.  What I haven't decide on yet, is what = variation=20 of A-Frame support I should use.  Should I attach plastic Trellis = netting=20 to both sides of the A frame, and let tomato vines grow up the netting = at a 45=20 degree angle?  Using 6 Ft. Bamboo sticks, using this method, I = could=20 support 3 plants per side.  Will the structure support 6 plants, = and will=20 the plastic trellis netting be strong enough?  I don't know....will = the=20 tomato plants on the far side of the frame get enough sunlight?  = Which way=20 should I face the A-frame if my garden is on the West side of the = house? =20 Should I align it East-West...or North-South? Or, should I forget about = the=20 plastic trellis netting, and instead use the same bamboo frame, but use = the=20 hanging string method?  Using this method you hang from the top = pole a=20 heavy twine.  As the tomato plant grows, you wrap the vine around = the=20 string.  Many people use this method, but I don't know if they use = bamboo=20 for the A-frame.  Using the hanging twine method, the frame would = only=20 support 3 tomato plants using 6 Ft. bamboo sticks.
 
Whatsa = say=20 MaterNatics....which method should I use?  Anyone try this?  = After=20 everything is setup, I'd drape the insect netting over the A-Frame, and = use=20 concrete edging sold at home improvement centers to "seal" the netting = against=20 the soil. It would also weigh it down pretty good.
 
I'm = actually=20 excited, as I have a feeling I'm going to beat this TYLCV virus this = time, and=20 actually see some tomatoes!  And I think that this bamboo structure = will=20 actually look nice.  12 bamboo poles cost about 12 bucks....so this = is a=20 nice inexpensive way to go.
 
I = would like as many=20 people to comment on my idea (which I will be implementing on Friday),=20 especially those who have tried something like this = before.
 
THANK=20 YOU!
 
Pete, = Zone 10, South=20 Florida
 

Peter,  South = Florida,  Zone=20 10

Orchid@ispchannel.com=20
Videoman@ispchannel.com=20
Videomaker2000@aol.com


 
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