BIG problem, need ideas

TightenUp · June 10, 2012

the BIG refers to the size of my plants in the self watering container. anyone have thoughts on adding height to my cages?

would lashing on another stake to all 4 current stakes work and be sturdy enough?

i expected the plants to outgrow the cages but not in the beginning of june. my growing season extends thru october

amideutch · June 11, 2012

I have the same type of cages which I'm using in my 10 gal Smart Pots. Go ahead and add vertical stakes to the exististing stakes on the inside and secure with tie-wraps. Then add your horizontal supports. You might think about scooting your containers up against your railing and securing your back two vertical supports to it to give added support. Ami

TightenUp · June 11, 2012

thanks Ami. i'll give it a shot.

TightenUp · June 15, 2012

Ami

was at the local HD and they had some taller stakes. the look the same however instead of being 5 foot tall they are 6. they have the same diameter so the snap on cross beams still fit. they also had what looked like 10 foot stakes however they were very thick and no way the cross beams would fit.

i got enough for my 2 SWC's and the extra foot makes a huge difference. i doubt it will get me through the season but i hope it does. they were about $2.50 each.

Tapout · June 16, 2012

I have used many different types of mechanical rebar couplers for concrete, but you can make your own coupler with some pipe a few bolts a drill and a tap and die. You can see from the picture above how it would look.

TightenUp · June 16, 2012

cool idea. i will see how far the extra foot gets me from the longer stake. i think if i cut some of the 5 foot sections down in half i could then lash them on with zip ties as Ami mentioned and have plenty of height.

amideutch · June 16, 2012

Roger the larger and thicker 10 footers. I think the 6 footers should give you enough added height as you only need to tie wrap the first 16" of the pole extensions to the top of your existing cage and that will give you another 4 1/2 feet height. When you add the extensions tie wrap them at the top, middle and bottom where they attach to the existing cage stakes. Ami

FILMNET · June 16, 2012

Why not let them turn back, to the ground?

Crandrew · June 18, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by FILMNET

Why not let them turn back, to the ground?

I had some last season that weighed too much and cracked when then bent backwards too much. Perhaps with some support it would work fine.

June 11, 2012	#2
amideutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Germany 49°26"N 07°36"E Posts: 5,041	I have the same type of cages which I'm using in my 10 gal Smart Pots. Go ahead and add vertical stakes to the exististing stakes on the inside and secure with tie-wraps. Then add your horizontal supports. You might think about scooting your containers up against your railing and securing your back two vertical supports to it to give added support. Ami __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘...Holy Crap .....What a ride!'

June 16, 2012	#7
amideutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Germany 49°26"N 07°36"E Posts: 5,041	Roger the larger and thicker 10 footers. I think the 6 footers should give you enough added height as you only need to tie wrap the first 16" of the pole extensions to the top of your existing cage and that will give you another 4 1/2 feet height. When you add the extensions tie wrap them at the top, middle and bottom where they attach to the existing cage stakes. Ami __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘...Holy Crap .....What a ride!'

June 11, 2012	#3
TightenUp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Jersey Posts: 1,183	thanks Ami. i'll give it a shot.

June 15, 2012	#4
TightenUp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Jersey Posts: 1,183	Ami was at the local HD and they had some taller stakes. the look the same however instead of being 5 foot tall they are 6. they have the same diameter so the snap on cross beams still fit. they also had what looked like 10 foot stakes however they were very thick and no way the cross beams would fit. i got enough for my 2 SWC's and the extra foot makes a huge difference. i doubt it will get me through the season but i hope it does. they were about $2.50 each.

June 16, 2012	#5
Tapout Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 355	I have used many different types of mechanical rebar couplers for concrete, but you can make your own coupler with some pipe a few bolts a drill and a tap and die. You can see from the picture above how it would look.

June 16, 2012	#8
FILMNET Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: North Charleston,South Carolina, USA Posts: 1,803	Why not let them turn back, to the ground?