This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0038_01BF7E50.04179100 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit 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 ------=_NextPart_000_0038_01BF7E50.04179100 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
Peter, South = Florida, Zone=20 10
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Videomaker2000@aol.com