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ipswich, ma usa

Just a point of interest for anyone that cares. I have noticed people using the plastic coat hangers to stake down their vines as they grow. They are cheap and work great, I too use them. A word of caution though via my own experiences. Be careful as to not "stake" down the vines to much with the hangers, let the vine grow about a foot or so before you force them into submission. If not and it's happened to me, these plants grow so rapidly that they break themselves off trying to grow up from the stakes. Let them grow and once on the ground manipulate them with the stakes and then pin them down. Nothing worse then staking down a main vine before work in the morning only to return in the evening and seeing it broken off at the staking point because it grew up to rapidly and broke itself off.

John (5150)

6/6/2006 1:48:26 PM

Danville, CA ([email protected])

I use wire coat hangers cut for staking down the watering system. I cut it into two "two pronged" stakes.

How do they use plastic coat hangers? Same way? Cut into two U-Shaped pins?

6/6/2006 4:44:41 PM

Ohio

John, This sounds kinda mean but it works great for me is that I have my wife stay in the hoop house to hold my vines down, as long as I give her plenty of fluids so she dont get dehydrated, then usually 99% of the time she wont want to take as many breaks to come inside the house in the air conditioning where I am ,and Im usually sitting on the couch watching TV drinking a cold one. (I only allow three, five minute breaks a day any way). It also might get a little warm for her mid day when the sun is beating down on that plastic bubble so I also make sure I check on her about ever 6 or 8 hours or so.
This also saves me a little money buying the coat hangers.

Brooks


LOL John!! I havnt seen you on here for a while, how you been?

6/6/2006 10:03:49 PM

[email protected]

Every time I turn around Brooks has found another good use for his wife. I used to think I had mine well trained taking out the garbage, preparing meals, doing laundry & cleaning.

You know what Brooks? If you get the wife a fly-swatter, you can save a pile of money on insecticides if you can train her to swat Cucumber Beetles & Squash Viner Borers. Get her a sun hat & you might save some money on water too.

Yes Petman....the plastic hangers are larger in diameter so less likely to cut into vines. They are also brighter in color so less likely to be missed & forgotten which can cause problems later in the year as the vines expand. What I haven't liked about plastic hangers is that they're loaded with inverted "V" shapes which are hard to stick in the ground in a way that holds well. "U" shapes hold better but a single hanger has only one (at the top) & it isn't very long.

I prefer bamboo tomato stakes myself by Brooks' wife sounds pretty handy too.

6/6/2006 10:38:29 PM

Ohio

lmao TREMOR!!!!

6/6/2006 10:47:46 PM

Port Alberni, BC, Canada

A word of caution for those using coat hangers to anchor vines. The wire of a coat hanger, plasticised or not, will damage the vine as it rubs against it in the wind. To avoid this, buy some 1/4 inch plastic tubing and slip a 6" piece over the "U" shaped coat hanger wire. It works great and no damage is done to the vine. One coat hanger makes two anchors. Remember to remove the anchor when the vine has rooted

6/7/2006 3:02:46 AM

ipswich, ma usa

Brooks

Been busy here with finishing up my new home and patch, throw in a wife and work and life is born. I can finally take a breath and try to enjoy some of the fruits of my labor.

John

6/7/2006 9:20:34 AM

Ohio

uHHH~~ Tremor? my wife wouldnt happen to be inside your hoop house would she? When I woke up this morning my vines was broken and she is no where in sight.

6/7/2006 9:25:24 AM

Grants Pass, Oregon

Brooks it because you didnt give her more breaks lol

6/7/2006 11:37:50 AM

Utah

yea try to blame it on your wife... brooks we all know who it was...
someone ... yes someone ... must have been out there trying to move them in the cold morning air... and snap !

6/7/2006 1:02:52 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Hey I had my wife take care of my patch last year while I went fishin for 4 days. I told her to water the patch every other day. SHe did. Took the hose out, tossed it dead center in the patch. Turned it on full blast. Took out the center of the patch and a broke all the leaves where the hose was thrown on top. A 5'3" cuke bug... I came home, said what the He==, happened . SHe said I watered like you told me to. I aint fishin this year. And I installed a three way watering system. Still aint going fishin.....

6/7/2006 1:51:25 PM

Team Munson

I have used coat hangers- both metal and plastic, bamboo stakes, 1/2" pvc and have found that either they wear holes in the vine or are to costly for practical use.

I have been useing paint sticks for the last 7 years and will use nothing else. They are wide enough to prevent vine wear, double as pollination info sticks, and only cost me $35 for 1,000 which will last me about 2.5 years for 8 plants.

My wife works for Lowes and I get them at cost, I have heard of growers laying on a desperate grower act and getting them for $5 a case. I suggest trying any home improvement store or large paint store and lay on the desperate grower act.

At any rate good luck in your search, remember they are only good for 1 year if your lucky and break down quickly.

6/9/2006 7:12:48 PM

Danville, CA ([email protected])

This may seem like a dumb questions, but what is a painting stick? Is it the "stir stick" they give away? Maybe the ones they use for 5 gallon buckets? Would seem to be good.

6/10/2006 1:30:44 AM