I use a 4-5 inch length of spaghetti irrigation tubing slid onto the string and then use whatever knot you want. It will be loose but as you train the plant up the string the weight of the plant keeps it steady and it is guaranteed not to girdle the stem.

I am also trying the string method for the first time and have a couple questions myself concerning the string. What kind of string do you recommend? I have a big thing of twine but that seems to rough to me and think it will cut into the stem. Also should I leave some slack in the line and if so how much?

Organic Gardening had an article on their site about the string method that recommended putting the end of the rope under the plants and the roots would hold it in place as they grew. I wonder if regular twine would sag with the weight and decompose as the season went on. Or would the vine hold it in place as the season went on. Synthetic twine or rope would stand up to the elements, but would it leech chemicals and since it couldnt go in the compost pile, could it be reused a season or two? I am going to try this with my tomatoes and pole beans.

This year i have pole beans growing up synthetic rope and it is definitely holding up to the weather, but the end is tied to a log and the beans are planted next to it.

Trial and error is slow, but the best way to learn :)

I ran clothesline across horizontally about 10 inches off hte ground, and tied the strings off to that.

I wouldn't use twine or anything natural - poly will hold up to the weather better.

Use Jute twine

I started out using jute twine around the garden to tie various things and ive noticed that at this point in the season its not holding up very well. Its been a long rainy season this year. But i hate that with synthetic i cant compost it at the end of the grow year. Maybe i could reuse the poly rope by cutting and organizing the lengths very carefully. If i like the vertical string method enough it will probably become a permanent fixture in the garden, so maybe ill be able to leave the ropes in place all year long. Just thinkin out loud here! Im in the process of expanding the garden space and i think planning is half the fun!

If you plan on leaving it out permanently, I'd consider the plastic-coated wire used for clothesline.

I just use jute baling twine b/c that's what I have - held up fine through the rainy weather last year (though the tomatoes didn't). Rotting now - I keep finding pieces here and there, but it's not a bother. Don't have to worry about it rotting out during the growing season this year - it's been pretty dry all month.

I buried the ends next to the plants last year. Don't know if the roots grabbed onto it but it did give an anchor and once the plant is a good size and wrapped around a few time it will hold. I just left extra at the top to untie and let out some if I needed more as the plant grew (they didn't grow too much - too wet - so I didn't have to do that except in July when it was dry and they grew a bit from transplant size - didn't transplant til mid-June since area was underwater the beginning of June).

I found a pretty good article on the subject

Here is a link that might be useful: String method

I found a pretty good article on the subject

Here is a link that might be useful: String method

I found a pretty good article on the subject

Here is a link that might be useful: String method

If you use tomato clips, available from Johnnys catelog but which I purchase for about a penny each in 8400 case quanity, then you don't need to tie the string to the plant. Just clip with the "jaws" on the line and the "loop" around the tomato stem. Although the process takes but a second I litterally spend hours every week suckering and clipping. Any other method would be out of the question.

Although I use this method in a greenhouse it could work wherever there is overhead support. I would also suggest the "Tomahook" for holding a spool of extra string so that as plants grow you can unwind string thereby lowering the plant to a working height.

bmoser - where do you buy your clips in quantity?

ajsmama -- you can buy them from JohhnySeeds.com

Here is a link that might be useful: Johnny seeds.com

I know, but they're expensive. bmoser said "but" so I figured he bought them somewhere else for less.

I have been using the string method for quite a few yrs now, I wouldn't do it any other way now.

I use jute twine - it ALWAYS lasted the entire season and can be composted. I used nylon and other synthetic products the 1st yr. - until I found out how time consuming it was to remove the string or wire twisted around a plant stem to save for next yr. Esp. if you till the garden soil.

I can't imagine trying to have the roots grow into the string.

What I do is wait until the plant has a couple branches then wrap the jute one complete wrap the main stem under a branch, doesn't matter where the stem/branch is located, really. The higher up the plant the less string you will need. The roots will hold it in the ground.

So 1 complete wrap around the main stem then tie a loose knot - I can't esplain how to tie knots so pick whatever YOU know how to tie, it doesn't matter, really. It is the action of twisting the string around the plant as it grows that will hold it.

So after you've tied the knot then twisted the string around the plant and between the next branch on the way up. I use a clockwise direction - do what you see fit just keep going in the same direction.

So after you've got the knot and a couple twists around the plant - take the jute all the way up to the crossbeam, wrap then tie it with the knot of your choice.

There that wasn't hard now was it? I was surprised to find that this string method held the tomato, cukes, watermelon, or whatever plant you want to trellis UP better than the cages and stakes I used esp. and during a hurricane while the plant is loaded with fruit. I was impressed.

NOW, when you are out there watering, weeding, or just walking by and see a plant has grown, give it a twist or two around the string and the string will hold it up.

Now there might be times esp. w/cukes or if you don't pinch off the suckers, you will need to run another string or two. I just pinch sucker with thumb & forefinger when I am out there.

Cukes are esp. nice cuz once they get up off the ground they will grow nice n straight and are much easier to harvest. The hardest ones to find are the ones on the ground before the plant goes UP.

IF you used just jute twine and no other plastic pieces or parts - you can just remove the plant and throw the whole thing into the compost or trash, if you want.

HTH

The commercial supplier in our area is Central Penn Irrigation, Lewisburg, PA. Nolt's Produce Supplies, Leola, PA, has an identical catelog. From either of these the clips are about a penny each. One thing I've noticed over the years is that the producer of the clips changes b/c there are slight design changes in the clip. I preferred the ones of ten years ago but they are no longer available.

In the catelog the clips are listed as "Black vine clips" cat.# PVC0087. They are now in a case of 4500 for $44.50 so the 8400 cases aren't listed anymore. If ordering, the twine is also on the same page: 6500' for $21.50. I can't find a comparable twine for the price.

• In the catelog the clips are listed as "Black vine clips" cat.# PVC0087. They are now in a case of 4500 for $44.50 so the 8400 cases aren't listed anymore. If ordering, the twine is also on the same page: 6500' for $21.50. I can't find a comparable twine for the price.

Those are some pricey tomatoes

I buy my jute twine from Walmart for a couple bucks maybe. Enuff for my garden anyway.

The Walmart jute twine has its purpose but on a per foot basis is comparable and in dependability is poor- I'm using a spool to hold up red raspberry canes for the next few weeks only. Keep in mind that 6500' is usually enough for my 750 tunnel plants (I do use close to 10M of clips). Compared to other operating costs this is a drop in the bucket but I admit I sell these tomatoes and since May 15 tomatoes have been my primary money maker at farmers markets.

For that kind of money I can buy a whole lot of fruits & veggies w/o having to put up with Deer, Insects, or Diseases (DiD).

Thanks bmoser - I used a spool (150ft) of jute from "lot" store and it sagged when it got wet (trying to "weave" plants next to fence), it's a mess. I needed it NOW so just went to TSC and bought baling twine - it's jute/sisal too but seems to not stretch quite as much, maybe I should have gotten the synthetic but I like just cutting it and letting it decompose over the winter.

Now to finish picking off the lower leaves, tie everything up again, and spray before more rain - so far have escaped LB, I haven't even really started my harvest yet!

Got some more used baling twine Sat and strung up my "leftover" tomatoes that were sprawling (they haven't gotten too bushy yet, planted those really late). Not all of them - ran out of twine. Gotta finish those today too.

gumby - you can come buy from me ;-)