Thank you, I have 2000 tomato clips, I have just started securing them. I am worried about the chance of a storm. I had to use bailing twine to create the trellis and I'm concerned about the potential weight. Unfortunately I can't lower these. Once they hit 12ft that's it.

maybe the wife will get me a high tunnel for my birthday. I will post more pics during the grow. Good luck everyone.

I Like the setup. How are the poles anchored? They will determine how well the system will survive the weight of the plants.

You don't need to pick from a ladder or even have poles that high. Tomahooks are relatively cheap and reusable. You can unwind stringline as needed to lower plants as they grow. You can barely see mine at the tops of the lines:

Yeah, I had success using that method on beans and cukes last year, and I'll do it again this year. But as Barrie asks... the anchoring of the poles is critical, as well as what you used for the top line. The weight of my beans and cukes were too much for the distance between poles and I had too much sag in the top line of twine. That sag put too much pressure on the end support poles. To compensate, I wouldn't go too much more than 8' - 10' between poles (I tried 18' and had to put in a middle pole after the fact, and it was too late to prevent problems.) A neighbor has a stand of bamboo, so I might try that as a top 'line' this year, and drop my twine down from there. The bamboo should absorb the weight (maybe use 2 lengths together for added strength) across the top and take the 'pull' off of the end poles.

The poles are roughly 4" oaks that I was clearing out anyway. I sunk them 3 feet in the ground with about 10' above ground. I braided 4 strands of hay bailing twine together for the top string. My poles are about 20' apart. I'm thinking now I may need to place another pole between each. This was a kinda spur of the moment idea on a shoestring budget. I will use galvanized poles with 9ga wire across the top with roller hooks next year. I really appreciate all the advise from everyone.

Baling twine, even braided is not good. I thought you went with high tensile galvanized wire. Keep in mind what is at steak if the string tears.

K9, You might get away with it but I'm still worried about a storm. Why not just used the bailing twine and posts to combine a Florida weave. More robust trellis and less pruning work. If you make them tight enough you will cut down on a lot of pruning and improve production. The one overhead string-cable deal kind of puts all your eggs in one basket and with all the sunlight and wind you can support below more bushy growth where the wind effect won't cantilever the whole thing down as easily or for that matter tear it up as much.

Also since you have more than one row you can certainly run cross supports where convenient to have a 3 dimensional support to cut down on the sail. And the twine is the right price.

Best

PC

In addition to the strings, you might want to use stake every 3rd plant or so and kinda do Florida weave. This should help against the wind. This way the twine should hold the balance.

I am also stringing and will run some kind of twine, like wrapping around the posts, that are about 18ft apart. I might even add few stakes between the posts later when the plants get taller.

sey

When I need string/rope that does not stretch and sag and may have to support enormous weight, I go to a marine supply store. They have all dufferent weights, and they list the weight each will support. Prices are high, but the profuct is reusable for a few years.

I would be suspect of twine on 20 foot centers for the supporting line too. I use galvanized electrical conduit pipe and I support those about every 10 feet. I also do not use the lowering process... if the plants get over seven feet tall, they then just drape over the galvanized conduit and start growing downwards.

I gather what you are saying NC, but plants will always try to grow up.

K9 is getting a lot of different feedback of costly options when his best option may well be to hold off until his birthday. Some options may cost as much as a high tunnel. We should be directing clues to his wife.