Durgan, a question for you

**Dave'sGirl** · 04-19-2009, 05:56 AM

First, I love your postings! I love following along and wondering what is next, but I'd like to jump the gun a little....

How many tomato plants are you planning to put in and what do you plan to use for support? A previous post asked about supporting tomatoes and it really got me thinking in my case about growing so many plants. Last year I tried weaving twine thru the plants, supported by steaks, but that was a complete flop...pun intended. I like your pea and cucumber supports. What are they made of? How do you get them so straight/flat?

Thank you for any input on this

**Durgan** · 04-19-2009, 06:37 AM

Originally Posted by Dave'sGirl

First, I love your postings! I love following along and wondering what is next, but I'd like to jump the gun a little....

How many tomato plants are you planning to put in and what do you plan to use for support? A previous post asked about supporting tomatoes and it really got me thinking in my case about growing so many plants. Last year I tried weaving twine thru the plants, supported by steaks, but that was a complete flop...pun intended. I like your pea and cucumber supports. What are they made of? How do you get them so straight/flat?
Thank you for any input on this

The flat sheets of mesh are concrete reinforcing wire common and sold in all hardware stores selling building supplies. I paint the sheets, and they last for years. I plan on about 30 tomato plants, two plants of about 15 types. Mostly as an experiment. They are now growing in my small greenhouse.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Trellis 15 April 2009 Painting Trellis
Many trellises are required throughout the garden. I use 4 by 8 concrete metal reinforcing sheets. This 6 inch mesh material rusts if it is not painted. The pictures depict the painting method. Tremclad rust paint works well, and lasts several years. Maybe some day this material will be painted during manufacture. Rebar and other galvanized garden material is also painted as necessary.

For my tomatoes I use four tier, tapered cages, which came on the market about three years ago. They are strong and almost useful, and they are painted. I support the cage with an eight foot rebar, which I painted. Sometimes I tie the long tomato branches with clothesline rope (soft) and plastic ties to the rebar if necessary. There is never the perfect support for the typical indeterminate tomato plant, but this combination is reasonable adequate.

**Dave'sGirl** · 04-19-2009, 08:05 PM

Durgan, do you have a pic of your 4 tiered cages? I'm not sure I've seen them.

**Durgan** · 04-20-2009, 09:03 AM

Originally Posted by Dave'sGirl

Durgan, do you have a pic of your 4 tiered cages? I'm not sure I've seen them.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Cages 20 April 2009 Tomato Trellis System

**Dave'sGirl** · 04-21-2009, 04:56 AM

Thank you Durgan. Where did you buy these? 30 must have set you back a bit. I was actually liking your 4x8 panel and was thinking of just using those, but the rings would do nicely too.