I have twelve bales set out aging now and we hope to plant in early May. I'm going to have tomatos, cukes, squash, peppers... maybe several kinds of each.
I have my bales arranged in two rows of six with eight feet between the two rows.
I am trying to figure out the best way to support the plants. I would not be opposed to letting them just roam except that I have a mobility disability and I cant be tripping around them and trying to work with them on the ground. So for me they are better off supported in some manner.
I don't know how much this would cost but I was thinking about using steel fence posts between the bales then just running some fencing down the center of the bales. I don't know if this would be too expensive or not.
How are you staking your bales?
thanx!
Jeff
This message was edited Apr 5, 2009 8:19 PM
What is the best support / staking system for bales?
Jeff: lots of good pics throughout the threads, especially Parts 1 - the current one, but I don't know which ones to direct you too, except check them all out.
As for me, here's a link to my diary with some pics of how I support my plants:
http://davesgarden.com/community/blogs/t/KentNC/2872/
I use a trellis for tomatoes and tobacco sticks for everything else.
This message was edited Apr 5, 2009 9:27 PM
That's awesome Ken, thanx!
I like the way you made your trellis... I hadnt thought about running it that high but it looks like you needed the height. How high is the bottom of the fencing from your bales? Was that about eighteen inches?
Kent, I had never seen that link before. That is great info. Are you still using a single row of fencing down the middle of the rows to support your tomatoes? I may try that with reinforcing wire instead of fencing around the whole row of bales. I had already planned to do a single cattle panel down the middle of the row of cukes so I could easily pick them from either side. Got the bales wrapped in plastic film but don't know how well it's going to hold up.
Doug
Doug: I've gotten away from posting on my diary, but it's a great way to keep all your info in one place.
I'm still using a single row that runs down the middle. I love the look of those cattle panels, although I used concrete wire.
I had some left over from last year, so I made another short row for tomatoes. That should give me a little over 100 plants this year @ 3/bale.
Hortonova Trellis looks interesting.
http://www.groworganic.com/item_GP946_Hortonova_Trellis_612_x_15_Packa.html
Jeff I just wonder if it's strong enought to support the weight of several tomato plants in a row? They can get very heavy when loaded with fruit.
Doug
Good question Doug... I have not actually seen any of the Hortonova Trellis, I have only read about it.
Just looking over my situation here, I aleady have a bunch of landscape timbers that I can use as fence posts, I think that I'll just go with the concrete remesh and use it for my trellis. Looks like it will work pretty well for what I am wanting to do.
We had a lot of rain here this week and especially yesterday so my bales have been soaked really well.
I think I'll start putting some AN to them over the next few days and see if I can get them cooking and warmed up!
We've had the same rain and my bales are cooking inside without the AN. Go stick your hand down in one and see how warm it is, you'll be amazed.
Doug,
Does the AN only serve as a way to jumpstart the composting process? The tomato plants don't need the AN for anything?
I'll check my bales to see if they feel like they are warm inside, if they are cooking by themselves I won't waste my money for the AN.
KentNC you mention putting three plants in each bale and a lot of folks talk about planting two per bale. You must find that three per bale are more productive than two? No crowding problems?
thanx!
Jeff
Jeff: 3 tomatoes/bale work just fine. I did 4 one year and that did get a little crowded.
Two/bale will work, but I just like the extra ones I get from that 3rd plant/bale.
The AN you use initially is just for jump-starting the bale decomposition. You'll need to feed your plants later, but you won't do it with the AN.
Everyone has different feeding methods, too.
Just don't let those bales dry out. Watch your plants. As the season progresses, the bales will hold more water and be more forgiving at missing a watering cycle.
Kent I would like to know What When & how you fertilize your tomatoes....
Thank You
Tubby
Tubby: whew! been outside planting some grapevines I pulled up from my Daddy's house, taking last year's straw and mulching around a lot of shrubbery, etc. etc!
Came in for a quick drink and saw your question.
In the past I used liquid Miracle Gro at least once/week, sometimes more, depending on how they looked, weather, etc.
Doug used Osmocote and has had a great looking garden, so I think I'm going to try some of that this year. I need to hit him up and get a better feel for how much he used and when.
Doug, are you listening! :-)
Others are sold on organic fertilizers and do well with them. Lots of ways. That's what I like about gardening.
Kent Thanks..Ya a mans work is never done..I think that is how goes..LOL
Tubby: the work is never done because the "Honey Do" list is never-ending! :-)