permaculture

[Mark <mpludwig@facstaff.wisc.edu>]

At 06:26 PM 11/11/02 +1000, you wrote:
> Hello all,
>             I've just started my 3rd attempt at a veggie patch and after 
> 2 moderate successes I just going to ask some one for advice. My tomatoes 
> will soon need sum support but finding a design that allows the tomatoes 
> to grow freely has escaped me. If anyone out there has a suggestion 
> please let me know.]

I use a cage made of concrete reinforcing wire mesh.  About 1.3 meters/ 4 
foot with 20 cm / 6 inch square openings.  This is very stiff wire which 
comes in a large roll, a bolt cutter works well to cut it.  I have started 
welding the seem which eliminates all wasted wire.  I make a short chain 
with simple hooks to hold the wire in place while I weld it so the 
fabricating goes fast. I cut the bottom wire off and jam the resulting 
points into the ground, this was enough to hold them pretty reliably, but 
some stakes or t posts help a lot too.  These things make nice tree guards 
too.  I have also wrapped the bottom .5 meter or so with clear plastic to 
protect trees from drying winter wind.
M

> By the way I live in Queensland Australia with a summer av. about 30 deg 
> Celsius with 50 -60 percent humidity, it's not relevant to the question I 
> asking but if anyone has more hints I'd listen.
>
> Go out and have sum fun !!!
> Steven B. Pearce

Mark P. Ludwig
Poultry Research Lab
University of Wisconsin -Madison
608-262-1730 WK
608-846-7125 HM