Organic Gardening: "Zing!" Went the Strings of My Tomato Trellises!

My old canes were too flimsy!

Well, we've set out most of the tomatoes, and have finally begun to trellis them.  Last year we used cages with little success because most of the varieties were too heavy for the wire.  The only variety for which the cages worked well was the currant tomatoes and we are caging them again this year.  

We needed another support system for the other varieties.  One alternative was to drive t-posts into the ground and tie the plants to them--my father-in-law's preferred method.  The t-posts are sturdy, but require removal with the tractor bucket as the ground is always rock-hard by the end of tomato season.

Over the winter we saw an example of our current trellising scheme on a show about a heritage garden:  training tomatoes up string attached to cane tripods with crossmembers.  I had some 1/2-inch-diameter canes from last year, but they seemed very flimsy.  Fortunately, my father-in-law had a large supply of locally-grown 1-inch cane from his pole bean experiment two years ago (result:  he returned to growing bush beans), which he generously offered.

The Resident Dragon has joined me in the garden this year, which makes it so much more fun (and I get so much more done!).  He arranged the tripods and I tied them with surplus cotton yarn since I had forgotten to order hemp twine; I hope they hold up!

Tie the strings loosely enough
to wrap around the  tomato plants
without breaking them.

The crosspiece nestles in the forks of the tripod, but you need about 8"-12" of excess on either end which determines the placement of the tripods.

My garden strips are about 20' long and it took four tripods and three crosspieces, each crosspiece about 8' long.

Next, we ran the trellis lines.  We cut the twine long enough to reach from crosspiece to ground plus about 2'.  Loop one end over the crosspiece securely (I used an overhand knotted loop), and tie the other end to a landscape pin.  We "pinned" the twine to the ground next to the plant and wrapped the twine gently around the plant.  Our tying methods demonstrate the differences between my dragon and me:  his are meticulously tied--slip-knotted and adjustable; mine are overhand and square-knotted, and are not adjustable.  I suspect his will be better, but we will see!

Repeat for each tomato vine.

Several days, and an inch of rain, later, I already see that some of the strings have stretched.  Looks like the dragon will be proven right after all!

Tomato trellises with cucumber "fence" in the background.

As we were working we noticed a few of the smaller plants had been nipped off about an inch above the ground.  Old deer tracks nearby suggest likely suspects, and we may have to fence in the garden plot to protect it.  As we were trellising the tomatoes, Jim had commented that the deer would appreciate our making the tomato vines more accessible for their nibbling pleasure!

That's one thing about gardening:  humans have to compete against bugs and varmints for any produce they enjoy.  I know; as an aspiring organic farmer, I'm supposed to work in harmony with Mother Nature, but, sometimes, it feels like a battle of the bands and I'm playing with broken strings.

We work long past sunset most evenings!

No time for self-pity, though!  We still have 3 or 4 tomato varieties to plant, most of which will need trellising.  One variety is the Italian Tree Tomato (Trip-L-Crop) which, because it is such a heavy vine, we'll plant at the foot of a tripod leg so it can climb up the cane itself.  I'm also planning to plant pole beans at the foot of the tripods to maximize space and minimize weeding (I hope).

With peppers, herbs, corn, and beans yet to plant, there's not a minute to spare, so I'm off to cut more trellis string.

What about you?

What's growing in your Savory garden?

Nancy