Preserving

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Decisions, Decisions.........

It's that time of the year....time to make decisions! My seed inventory has been done for a couple of weeks now. Then I had to decide what seeds I "needed". Once that was done. I placed a couple of small seed orders. Which should have been enough. Then I started reading everyone's blogs. That got me thinking about some other things that I "needed" I mean "wanted". So, I placed just one more small order. Hopefully, I will have enough will power to stop! But, you all know how this is! Maybe I should join or start some type of group.....Seeds Anonymous????

This week I have been updating what varieties I am going to grow and how many of each I should plant. This leads to.....how am I going to fit everything in??? The next thing that came up is my tomato supports. The way I support them at home, doesn't work at the plots. So, I need to come up with something better. That got me doing some on-line research on tomato supports. There are a lot of great ways to support tomatoes. But, I really need to come up with something that won't take me forever to build, doesn't cost a fortune and is easy to store.

So far I have come up with two different supports that I think will work.

This one has really peeked my interest.
It's made out of PVC & Conduit.
 
I also really want some of these
Yes, the Texas Tomato Cage!
I know they are pricey.....but, "The Italian" got me the pressure canner for Christmas.....and maybe I can out live them and make the investment worth it!
 
So, what have I decided???? I think I'm going to buy one 6-Pack of the Texas cages and make some of the supports out of the PVC. I guess I better see how much they are going to cost to make first!
 
If any of you have any great support ideas....I'm open for suggestions!!
 
How's your garden planning coming along????
 

34 comments:

  1. I'm afraid our seed order is anything but small.
    My name is Sue and I am a seedaholic!

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    1. Well Sue, I think a seed addiction is a lot better than a lot of other addictions!!!

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  2. I am really going to try to just grow what I really like this year. No "new" veggies. Last year instead of the tomato glut of previous years, I had way too many green beans.

    My tomato fortress was the best way I ever supported the tomatoes. I may have to do a miniature version this year, as I'm planning on mostly determinate varieties.

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    1. Granny, I'm not going to try any "new" veggies this year, just some new varieties that may do better here.

      I want to see your fortress!!!

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  3. I'm a seedaholic but I operate a small heirloom seed company which (most of the time) supports my "growing" habit!!!
    I made my own tomato cages in 2011 and they worked beautifully!
    http://back2basichealth.blogspot.com/2011/08/on-sunday-i-made-tomato-cages.html

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    1. Hi Mary, thanks for stopping by! I checked out your cages. They look great! I am going to do a little more looking around your blog!

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  4. Oh man that reminds me I need to do a inventory of all my seeds. Then see if I need to order any. I am so far behind this year I don't even know what is going where yet.

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    1. Melissa, I'm just starting to layout my gardens. I'm sure it will change though!

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  5. Oh, I am absolutely a seedaholic. I always order way more than I need and I am crazy about trying new things. For better or worse! I'm afraid I have no great insight into tomato support as I just use regular tomato cages, but I do get the larger sized ones. But I am looking to get some better trellises for the pole beans and maybe a new cold frame...oh, the buying could go on and on, but the money is limited!

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    1. NG, The seed thing really is an addiction!!! I really try not to spend too much on the garden. But, it is our source of all our veggies and I do keep track of all spending. So, I know we are always ahead!

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  6. I'm the poster child for a seedaholic, look up the word and you'll find my picture. I went through my stash this fall and discarded at least half. I'm up to four seed orders and counting, have to replenish my supply!

    I'm planning on more greens, more onions and more Italian varieties.

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    1. Ed, I was doing good until I read your last post. Then I read your previous post. Then I just had to check out Fedco!!! So, it's all your fault :)

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    2. He does that to me every year :-) I love it!

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  7. I reviewed my seeds last weekend and worked on a small order over the week. Today I am plotting the garden plan. I was a nice break, but I love thinking about gardening again.

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    1. I like the break too...and then the planning!!

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  8. This post made me giggle, every year I love watching everyone's ideas for the elusive "best tomato support"! :)

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    1. Erin, maybe one of these days we will find it!

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  9. Hi Robin, I'm with Melissa. I'm so far behind this year. I'm going to have to kick things into high gear this week. Thanks for the wake me up! You're doing an awesome job, as usual!

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    1. Thanks Jody, Have you been sleeping on the job?? It can't be that you are a bit busy....can it???

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  10. Robin,

    Hi, my name is Sandy, I'm a seed - a - holic.
    I haven't been seedless in a long time, lol.....

    I have all of my seeds together and ready for planting this year.
    My plans are to add more above ground garden boxes and plant in more 5 gallon buckets.

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    1. Ha! We will have to come up with the twelve steps....or have ever many :)

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  11. Hi Robin, I'm with Melissa. I'm so far behind this year. I'm going to have to kick things into high gear this week. Thanks for the wake me up! You're doing an awesome job, as usual!

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  12. That's strange. I only typed it once? I kinda feel like I'm in The Twilight Zone!

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  13. I really want the texas tomato cages, so I will be interested to see what you think of them!

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    1. Vanessa, If I do end up getting them. I will post about what I think of them.

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  14. I've used many support systems over my life. The Texas tomato cages are the best I've used so far. So easy. The metal is very very strong. Of course I've only used them three years so far. Last year they were used on the melons and cukes which in my opinion don't need as much support as tomatoes do. But yes they are expensive.

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  15. Last year I had problems with my regular tomato cages falling down from the weight of the Plants. I took part of grannies tomato fortress idea. I bought the 5ft tall green steel stakes and pounded them into the ground. My tomatoes were planted in a row that was quite long. I placed one stake at the end of each row and some at even interval inbetween. I tied a rope to the end stake and pulled it to the next stake and tied it. I continue to the end stake. It worked really well to keep them from falling over. As the plants got bigger I just added more rope to keep the tops from falling and breaking.

    I also had some of the small green stakes and used them in areas that I didn't use the big ones. I pounded them into the ground next to the support of the tomato cage and duct taped the support to the stake. The tape worked great and the cages didn't pull out of the ground. I liked the bigger ones better because I could use les and get great results, but I chose to use what I had.

    I didn't want to waste all the cages I already had so modifying worked for me.

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    1. Hi Peggi, Thanks for the tip! I'm going to have to modify some of my cages and work on some new supports too!

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  16. Robin,
    I am very cheep and have used the same type tomato supports for 40 years. Go to construction sites and ask for left over concrete reinforcement wire it is 6"X6" welded wire fencing 9 gauge. it comes in 6 foot tall roles. Figure how many squares to make about an 18 in circle 6 foot tall and cut the 6" sections so the wire will wrap around and secure the circle (It Only takes every other wire to make very secure) Then cut out the last circle wire on one end this leaves 8 or 9 wires 6inches long to stick in the dirt for support. I then tye the tops to coards from the front and back of my raised beds and from each end. Cant blow over in any direction. The only thing is they are a little bulkey to store from year to year. But they are FREE yes FREE and they work great.

    Your Gardening friend
    Frank from Virginia

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    1. Hey Frank, Free is always good! I know those cages made out of concrete reinforcement wire work very well. I just don't think I will have the time to construct them and I don't have a place to store them. We shall see

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  17. Tomato supports are the holy grail of gardening... ever elusive, always just over the horizon. I am using remesh now and liking them, but I just leave them in the garden all winter, you might not be able to do that.

    As for the seed orders, I'm not one to restrain myself when it comes to seeds. I figure they are way cheaper than shoes, and with luck they will produce something edible!

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  18. I invested in regular tomato cages from Tractor Supply. I used 5 ft fence posts from Lowes and staked 1 on both sides of the cages. I used the green garden ties to tie the cages to the stakes. Worked like a charm. I stacked the cages over the winter and just layed the post behind one of my storage buildings.

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