bammer
Tomato Fanatic
Turkaconus Freak & Mater Head
Posts: 361
|
Post by bammer on Jan 8, 2011 10:43:53 GMT -5
I know there is a thread over at the tomato Discussion on this subject but I thought I would start a thread here in the Shed with some Pics from this past season on how I started and progressed.
I will also take pics this upcoming season and try do a better job at showing the step by step procedure. Anyone growing 100s or1000s of tomatos will benefit from this system. I started out with CRW (Concrete Reinforcing Wire) years back when I only grew 50 - 100 and that worked great, but as I increased the # of varietys and decided to start marketing I found that this "Florida Weave" Technique works fantastic. I have been using this system for 2 seasons, this one will be my 3rd.
Stay Tuned
|
|
bammer
Tomato Fanatic
Turkaconus Freak & Mater Head
Posts: 361
|
Post by bammer on Jan 8, 2011 11:07:01 GMT -5
1..... My 1st time at the weave this is how I started. I put my end posts in the ground and my rows are 4' apart (Look against back fence) The Garlic in that one row will be harvested before that row gets planted. You can use any type of posts, I was lucky enough to aquire some old rusty 1 1/4" Sch 7 steel tubing cut in 7' lenghts I try to drive them in about a foot deep. Attachments:
|
|
bammer
Tomato Fanatic
Turkaconus Freak & Mater Head
Posts: 361
|
Post by bammer on Jan 8, 2011 11:18:39 GMT -5
2....... Then I figure out my spacing. My 1st year I planted 20" apart with a post every 2 plants, so my posts should be on 40" centers. Starting from end of row 1st plant from 1st post will be 10" then next plant 20" then go 10" and a post. I like putting my posts in before I plant, some folks like to wait and put the posts in after they have planted. O x x O x x O x x O Attachments:
|
|
bammer
Tomato Fanatic
Turkaconus Freak & Mater Head
Posts: 361
|
Post by bammer on Jan 8, 2011 11:33:25 GMT -5
3........ The 2nd year I used the weave I planted 18" apart and went 3 plants and a post, So as in post #2 you have to figure out your spacing.
O x x x O x x x O x x x O
From the end post put a plant @ 9" then one @ 18" and again at 18" then go 9" and a post. If my math is correct your posts will be 54" on centers This allows you to grow more plants per post. This next season I am again going to space plants @ 18" except I'll go to 4 plants and a post.
Stay Tuned
|
|
|
Post by oneoftheearls on Jan 8, 2011 12:24:03 GMT -5
maybe in the backyard garden....here's some more Blane
|
|
|
Post by oneoftheearls on Jan 8, 2011 12:33:34 GMT -5
I did something similar in a bed last year...my neighbor put out cable from his garage door...I used it on green metal posts....the best posts here I get at the metal scrapyard...Walmarts are crap...they should be hefty in your hand or they will just bend....I think the hefty ones are iron...but not for sure...I know they hold you and you can straighten them with a sledge hammer.
|
|
bammer
Tomato Fanatic
Turkaconus Freak & Mater Head
Posts: 361
|
Post by bammer on Jan 8, 2011 16:52:33 GMT -5
4........ Now that you have your spacing and or posts set, you put your plants in as always. I try to bury as much of the plant as possible leaving the top set of leaves above ground, To each his own here, I dig the hole abit large and have a mix of Cow manure=70 and Peat Moss=30 that I fill the hole with. I can do that with a few hundred at the house, but when your doing thousands like Gates, Stark and Slater I coudn't imagine. Attachments:
|
|
bammer
Tomato Fanatic
Turkaconus Freak & Mater Head
Posts: 361
|
Post by bammer on Jan 8, 2011 17:37:18 GMT -5
5....... I lay out my tomato Patch, Garden, Farm etc. in rows of 20. I have limited space. In my case I have 2 plots, both are 30' wide and I run my rows across the width which happens to be north and south. This has worked great for many years. This next season I will have approx 30 rows of 20, and in most cases I put 2 varietys in a row (10 each), some varietys get a full row (20) and some get 2 or 3 half rows thru out the plot. For example on my chart for this coming season I have planned 20 Barlow Jap plants but they will be in 2 different rows 10 each row. Here is something I have to consider when saving seeds. I don't save seeds from the # 10 and the #1 plant in the same row.
Barlow Jap / Lucky Cross O x x x x O x x x x O x x x x O x x x x O x x x x O
|
|
w8in4dave
Breeder in Training
Happy Gardener
Posts: 133
|
Post by w8in4dave on Jan 8, 2011 20:47:41 GMT -5
Man all my tomato plants got so heavy it whighed the string down and fell ... looked like a great big mess ... Yours looks great!
|
|
bammer
Tomato Fanatic
Turkaconus Freak & Mater Head
Posts: 361
|
Post by bammer on Jan 9, 2011 9:02:30 GMT -5
6....... One other thing to consider when laying out your rows is the type of variety(s) grown, Indeterminate - Semi Determinate - Determinate. I grow mostly Indeterminate varietys, because they continue to produce from late spring thru fall. Indeterminates usually grow well over 6', and most Determinates will put on one crop and usually don't grow over 4'.
Example: I grow a couple varietys that I consider short varietys (SVs) Royal Hillbilly and Grubs Mystery Green, I will put these in the same row, for (1) it allows me to use a shorter post. (2) it is easier when it comes time to string your rows as you'll see in the next few posts.
|
|
bammer
Tomato Fanatic
Turkaconus Freak & Mater Head
Posts: 361
|
Post by bammer on Jan 9, 2011 10:25:12 GMT -5
7..... The next few posts will be pics of my 1st experience stringing the weave, It only took a few trips up and down a couple rows that I decided to change things abit. I have used Sissle twine and a poly line called Orange line, both work good for this. We'll start to tie strings when plants are over 10" but no taller than 18" Pics won't open Attachments:
|
|
bammer
Tomato Fanatic
Turkaconus Freak & Mater Head
Posts: 361
|
Post by bammer on Jan 9, 2011 10:38:04 GMT -5
8...... As you can see in the last pic and this one the weaving in and out of the plants, I didn't think was needed, It was alot of work and sometimes would tear up the plants. So I changed things up as you'll see later on. Attachments:
|
|
bammer
Tomato Fanatic
Turkaconus Freak & Mater Head
Posts: 361
|
Post by bammer on Jan 9, 2011 12:45:55 GMT -5
Shoot....I cant open yer pics Bammer....but keep up the great work.... Yea Blane I don't know why they aren't showing like the others have, I loaded them the same, What a bummer. I'm trying to put this together where it's fairly simple for someone to try this system, I have a few more posts to put out and was hoping those pics will start appearing. Any help from the Mods?
|
|
bammer
Tomato Fanatic
Turkaconus Freak & Mater Head
Posts: 361
|
Post by bammer on Jan 11, 2011 15:14:21 GMT -5
9...... Start by tieing off from one end, go down one side and at every post loop once staying on the same side, get to the end of the row and either tie off or double loop and go down the other side doing the same, once you get to the end tie it off good, this pic here shows the way that works best for me. You'll want to re-string every 12"-18" whatever works for you. Attachments:
|
|
bammer
Tomato Fanatic
Turkaconus Freak & Mater Head
Posts: 361
|
Post by bammer on Jan 11, 2011 15:26:35 GMT -5
10....... For very productive indeterminate varietys especially cherrys it will be necessary to run a couple extra strings periodically (containment strings). Attachments:
|
|