PVC will break down over time due to UV light breakdown. I wouldn't invest in it long term.

I use PVC pipe to make crabbing gear on my boat and it breaks down and becomes very fragile/brittle over time. I replace it when necessary.

If the boxes are going into the empty spaces between the uprights I would be sure to anchor the thing down to the cement somehow. As the plants get taller it looks like the support would want to blow over in stiff winds. Do you have enough room to hold it down with sand bags or something so it won't blow over? Can you extend the bottom supports so they are wider, giving it a larger base? I don't know for sure. Just my $.02.

Hi All,

Since we are brainstrumming, I think a board across the pvc pipe but supported from the ground and not by the pvc pipes would work. The tainers can go on the boards for weight; be off the ground/concrete, hide the irrigation and stabilize the whole set up. When it is time for moving the set up check under the boards for snakes(young rattlers don't rattle), scorpions or centepedes and don't forget Black Widows. Looks like a big first step to lots of luscious tomatoes. Good Luck and aloha.

We had 30 mph winds for most of last week. These guys took it in stride. Didn't even hint of blowing over. Structure was made from 1 1/2" pvc.

Thanks for the replies. Since I took a foot off each post I figured I would extend the bottoms out some to give it a bigger base and I had thought about sand bags, that might do the trick. I am going to tie a slip knot around the tainers and then tie it to the top post, then it will have 2 ropes going from each box, which may help too, then tie the tomatoes up the rope. Thanks!
ChefMark

Hi Chef,

Think it work just fine. I'm going to modify mine next year to be a box like yours so I can weave twine around the outside so I don't have to prune. Here's a PIC of my set up. Works just fine, even when heavy with fruit.

cheers and good luck

bing

Here's a picture of my pvc system:

I used 1.5" diameter pvc and painted it red (which should help with the uv situation)...it is reinforced with cross braces on the sides and above...I am also attaching 14" X 14" steel shelf brackets to reinforce the top pieces and another strap on each of the posts...

I think if you add cross braces to the vertical pieced it will help with strength and stability...

With mr. potatohead's and bluemater's set up, is it not possible to cap off the feet and fill the bottom halves of the PVC pipes with sand or something?

Might look neater and avoid the possibility of having sandbags on the feet where you might trip on them.

Interesting Trellis systems for containers. Might just try it our Raybos dual cage design.