Garden gadgets

**Russ** · 01-15-2010, 12:56 PM

Have you ever used any of the garden gadgets that all the garden suppliers have.. such as the 2 shown below? If you have, show me what you have used sucessfully.

Wall of water

Reflective red mulch film

I have these center cages... MUCH better than the cheap $1 ones on either side.

**pop goes the weasel** · 01-15-2010, 01:52 PM

I have used the round tomato cages but they have always bent for me. They didn't support the weight of the plants. Either they weren't strong enough or I had overweight tomato stalks lol

**pinetree** · 01-15-2010, 01:57 PM

I use the wall of water. They work great to set your plants out early. Just make sure to set them up early so they have time to warm the ground before you plant. Then open them up as it gets warmer and your plants grow. If you take care of them they last for years.
As for cages we make ours out of 2x2's now. The metal just bends on the wire ones.

**MomToTwoBoys** · 01-15-2010, 02:29 PM

I've used the round tomato cages and if the plant goes above the cage height, it does bend either to the left of the right. I remedied that with putting a wooden stake at the base of the plant that stands taller than the cage.

**Grainlady** · 01-15-2010, 04:52 PM

I've used Tomato Ladders from Gardener's Supply Company for more than 10-years of great service - http://www.gardeners.com/Tomato-Ladd...efault,cp.html

These heavy-gauge steel ladders don't take up a lot of space (when in use and when in storage), they hold a tremendous amount of produce without falling over or falling apart. I use them for cucumbers, squash and peppers.

Another must-have are kneelers. Just the inexpensive foam pad ones work for me.

**Contrary Housewife** · 01-15-2010, 05:40 PM

Have not used either of the first two, but I hear the wall-of-water is good if you want to put tomatoes out early (if you have a cold climate and short season, for example).

Have not seen the square cages around here so I use the biggest round ones I can find. I stand on them to sink them nearly to the first rung and then they don't tip over.

**frugalwarrior2** · 01-15-2010, 06:24 PM

Have to admit I junk for most of my garden equip. Free tomato cages. Made a cucumber fence out of wood scrap and old screen. I made a pea tripod out of old sticks.
Plastic pails support melons. Tin coffee containers w/ screen (no skeeters). Up until recently I was using my Dgranmas hoe and small shovel. I spent $50. 3 years ago to fence it fromthe dogs. It just about kilt me. I even junk for seed planters. It's l;ike a game. FREE food. And yes if the tomatoes get too tall,taller stakes tiesd w/ an old t-shirt.
And no it's not an eyesore. I hide junk behind the fence.
This year I need to stave back the hebs. They have really invaded. Choc. mint anyone??

The only tool I need is a strong Silent guy to build me raised beds and haul dirt.lol. Even bought my wheelbarrow at a garage sale.

**Russ** · 01-16-2010, 08:16 AM

Originally Posted by frugalwarrior2

The only tool I need is a strong Silent guy to build me raised beds and haul dirt.lol.

Does the "silence" make the dirt better?

**pat in east texas** · 01-16-2010, 08:21 AM

I use tomato cages (round) to support pepper plants. The fence supports tomatoes. I'm going to plant eggplant this year and will try the round cages for them also, as the plant does not get very tall.

**starlighthill** · 01-16-2010, 08:41 AM

We build a fence of pallets (that we get free) behind the tomato plants and tie them to it as they grow. T-posts are used to support the fence and if positioned correctly, the pallet will slip down over the posts.
If you only have a few plants, a heat sink made of straw bales can be built around the plants and covered with plastic when the temps drop. Once the weather has warmed the straw becomes garden mulch. With straw at $4/bale we won't be doing that this year

I've learned from bitter experience to only set out and protect a few early plants while keeping the rest in the house. We can have frost in early June some years.
Diane

**frugalwarrior2** · 01-16-2010, 09:28 AM

Starlighthill-love the bale idea but our garden is unfortunaltely too close to the house. I learned that one when I used to put bales out for Halloween display for kid pictures. The mice thought it was a grand idea w/ pumpkin brunch and indian corn for dessert.lol.
Do you raise bed garden to get it up a little. Would those upside down planter w/ a wind bolck help. MI can be garden frustrating. All our dirt has to be trucked in because we live in a glacial drift area and have clay. I was thinking of getting a canvas awning for planting because of rain. KWIM.

Russ,dear Russ, Sometimes it's not ONLY children that should be seen and not heard.lol Besides how can I enjoy the show if the show keep yapping. (who said that).

**starlighthill** · 01-17-2010, 08:48 AM

[QUOTE=frugalwarrior2;1308887]Starlighthill-love the bale idea but our garden is unfortunaltely too close to the house. I learned that one when I used to put bales out for Halloween display for kid pictures. The mice thought it was a grand idea w/ pumpkin brunch and indian corn for dessert.lol.

I'm sure the mice appreciated your efforts at providing them with everything they needed to pass the winter in comfort

I think anything you can put around them to block wind, soak up sun, and provide the framework to hold the plastic would work.
We have the opposite soil condition, sand. The conservation guy calls our soil "bleak". You have my sympathy on the clay soil; I'll take this sand instead. Will deep mulch correct clay? It seems Ruth Stout claims deep mulch will correct all soil conditions.
Diane

**Russ** · 01-17-2010, 09:32 AM

deep mulch and lots of hauling in good soil helps Michigan clay. Trust me, I'm an expert.

**branian** · 01-30-2010, 06:32 AM

hello,

no i have never done this before. but looks that you are doing from very long time. it looks really good. you are very good in that. one time I use tomato cages to support pepper plants.

thanks

**frugalfranny** · 01-31-2010, 01:44 AM

Oh dear - I have used them all and don't have anything real great to report.

Wasn't impressed with the wall o water.

Have tried not only the red plastic but the red trays too. I DO like the plastic better than the trays. The trays took up too much room - and wasted room in my garden.

Don't like the round cages - have four in my garage - want them? I like the ladders better. I have VERY ROCKY ground and found them hard to get into the ground and they didn't go deep enough to be good support. If I use anything - I use stakes that I can POUND into the ground with string wound around them for support.

For early planting, I place black plastic (open up a garbage bag and spread it out) down about a month before I plant. (anchor with rocks - I have plenty!) This helps warm the ground.

And for protection I love the cloches - the plastic ones though - not the glass -as they burn the plants too easily. My favorite (though I have both kinds) have the little opening on top to open for circulation. I use ground staples to anchor them. Have about 12 of them and have probably had them for 10 years or more. Have a green square one too that has just a hole on top - cheaper and work good but I had to take a paper punch and make a hole to use ground staples.

I didn't pay THIS for them

but here is what they look like..

http://www.composters.com/winter-ass...che_128_15.php

Mine is the smaller one......

Think I got mine at Gardeners Supply.....years ago.

Oh - I didn't see much difference with using the 'red stuff' as not using it.....and no longer bother with it! I have - wall of water, red plastic, red trays, tomato cages, solid cloches and ear wig traps in my garage........need anything?

Another thing that DOESN'T WORK - is the earwig traps!!! Lee Valley Tools offers them and they are a TOTAL WASTE OF MONEY! I caught ONE earwig!!