How to Build the ULTIMATE 🍅 TOMATO 🍅 TRELLIS

[@joyfulparadise]

I really appreciated your modifications to the original video. You explained it very clearly so that I know exactly what to buy. I will make this trellis to make you jealous. It looks the easiest while still being sturdy.

[@LB-vl3qn]

I'm trying a version of this trellis in my garden this year but instead of tying the line directly to the plant itself, I used an extra foot or so of length and buried it in the hole with the tomato. So far, so good and I'm not concerned about wind or anything else snapping the plant off at the base. I've tugged on the lines and they don't seem like they'll be coming out of the ground without some intentional effort. Nice trellis you have there. ~ Lisa

[@NextdoorHomestead]

Oh cool! I've heard of folks doing this but never seen it in action. Please do let us know how it goes - I love the idea =)

[@caracoates4834]

I've watched hundreds of gardening videos over the last few years trying to learn about vegetable gardening. You are an awesome teacher. The videos are clear, full of information, and easy to follow. I will definitely give this a try. For some reason tomatoes love me, but they get so huge that by August I am fighting with them to not fall over.

[@NextdoorHomestead]

Thank you Cara! "Tomatoes love me" sounds like a superpower =) I'm so glad these videos have proven helpful by the way - comments like yours are why we make them!

[@Sproutupgardening]

Awesome idea with the foam in the PVC. I am totally trying this method this year. 😁

[@NextdoorHomestead]

Let me know how it goes! Can't wait to get our tomatoes in the ground and trellised up.

[@Itsgettingcrazy.]

Love the idea of using line locks! So smart! I also found some pvc end caps that fit in the pvc T that works good. Just snap it on the T and there is a half inch hole that the pipe fits in so the pipe stays snug. They are only about $1.00. I put them on the ends of all my pvc pieces to keep the bar in place. 😊 Love your videos! ❤

[@NextdoorHomestead]

Thank you so much Lisa - so glad you're enjoying them =) Also, what?! That sounds PERFECT for what I need. I feel so silly - I had no idea that even existed. Would you mind linking me to the ones you bought so I know what to look for?

[@Itsgettingcrazy.]

I know! I didn't know about them either. I got them at Gillman's and I went back in there this evening and took a picture of the label. It's called a "bushing" and there are different sizes for different size pipes. I got the 1.25" x .5". They are $2.19 each (more than I thought) but fit perfectly. I put one on each side of every T and didn't even have to use the curved piece. If you need any more info, I have a picture with all the numbers on it. Oh, also they are octagon shaped on one end and round on the other. Hope this helps! Keep up the good work! 😊

[@Itsgettingcrazy.]

Ordered some "line locks"!!! 😂

[@christinehbailey]

This is how we are doing ours. We have all the equipment and will hopefully be doing this weekend because my tomato plants are getting huge and I don’t want to have to up plant.

[@NextdoorHomestead]

I hope it goes well for you! I can't wait to get ours in the ground but have to stay patient for a while longer =/

[@blueskiesmudpies1061]

I do the foam in the PVC. I cut up pieces of cheap pool noodles from Valdemart (99c) or the Dollar Tree (1.25). I also put foam on the ends that poke out (I don't use elbows, I used all T fittings because who wants to measure and drive T-posts with that much accuracy - well not me, anyway). Anyway the bright color makes it easy to see the pokey ends so you don't put your eye out. Let it sit outside for awhile because it will shrink when brand new, or at least it does in my arid climate. I've always used T posts for my trellis. In the past I've taken cedar fence slats and cut them down and fasten them to the tops of my t-posts, to use as stabilizers for my top rail, but this year I just went with the PVC fittings even though they're kind of stupidly expensive for that, but I was short on time and energy and that was easier for me. I use 3/4" EMT conduit and where I use a connector I have a T-post UNDER that connector, to prevent sagging. Bottle gourd is heavy. For peas I just use anything that sticks at least 3' out of the ground and baling twine. I tried that plastic netting this year and while it works great for bottle gourd its a pain to put up and take down and store. Its also next to useless for things like peas, runner beans, and even cardinal climber. The vertical strands are just too far apart for things that twine and don't branch out that much, especially when the fruits are small and light weight like beans and actual flowers.

[@marcuspowell2510]

Gardening just edges out woodworking for me so when I have an opportunity to make something out of wood I jump at it. With that said your trellis looks a lot sleeker than mine and was likely a lot faster to put together. Nice work.

[@NextdoorHomestead]

Oh man, same. Exact same. I love woodworking (especially traditional joinery) but I'm both horrible at it and the materials have just gotten too expensive. I priced out doing this with wood and it wasn't realistic with 5 18 foot rows. Gonna save the lumber budget for a chicken run instead ;) I'd really like to do a bit of gardening woodwork (poorly...) on this channel too. Thanks for watching!

[@alisonebw]

Growing on the T post how about Butterfly Pea from Baker Creek. Looks beautiful and a fun plant for the kids.

[@NextdoorHomestead]

Wow, what a pretty plant! Thank you so much for the idea =) Have you ever tried growing it yourself?

[@sherimetschan961]

Liked and watched. I'm not sure that I would use this since I have 2 ft high raised beds but your videos always give me something to think about. Maybe I can use them in some way in my yard or flower beds. Always thinking! Thanks for the inspiration.

[@NextdoorHomestead]

Thanks so much Sheri! I don't use this style in my container garden either for what it's worth =) But goodness is it nice for the row garden!

[@marcuspowell2510]

I was just thinking about using this design as a 3 foot rail to keep my sunflowers from blowing over. With maybe some nasturtiums to hide the conduit.

[@NextdoorHomestead]

If you do that, I would love to see a photo. I've promised my wife to get some vines on these things ASAP.

[@sherimetschan961]

@@NextdoorHomestead I would like to do evergreen vines, possibly jasmine but it would have to be husband approved which is not likely but maybe someday. He's slowly coming around on some things. Obviously he's not a gardener : (

[@Itsgettingcrazy.]

Lol!!! Bust out a table saw! 😂😂😂 I've seen those videos!

[@pamelapetzold]

this is very genius! I already have bamboo sticks that are over 5 foot tall I wonder if I can incorporate them into the garden something similar to this method.

[@NextdoorHomestead]

Would just depend on how thick they are! But even if they wont work for this, I've always had good luck just trellising my indeterminate tomatoes to a single stick too =) Good luck!

[@shay5025]

Been really digging your channel.... great content and delivery! I'm in zone 9b in an irrigated lot with too much shade, but it affords us amazing gardening opportunities. Thanks for sharing your ideas!

[@NextdoorHomestead]

That honestly means the world to me. Thanks so much for checking out our garden and videos. It sounds like we may have some similar conditions to work with! I've been noodling on some content around varieties/plants/techniques that can excel in hot summer locales.

[@shay5025]

@@NextdoorHomestead I know it may be a limited audience but I would love that!

[@shay5025]

@@NextdoorHomestead Oh yeah, in the pruning video you mentioned data, referred to studies, and then I was hooked. 😎

[@vimondireksri8820]

You can't really find t-posts in my country locally, Thailand. They something similar but it is just a long rebar. Still some great ideas to add to the garden.

[@NextdoorHomestead]

This is why I love international comments so much! I would never have stopped to consider if these materials are universally available. Also, good to see you back on here! Always appreciate your thoughts =)

[@TheBBQKEEPER]

Awesome and easy to follow video! Thank you! Do you prune the tomato plants if they grow to tall? Depending on the type, I have seen tomato plants growing 8 plus feet. Our neighbor had each individual plant growing up a 12 foot pole. I have also seen the similar setup where the plant is taking over the top of the trellis. Would like to build one, just having a height concern. I do not have any experience in growing tomatoes, so any advice would be great!

[@NextdoorHomestead]

Heya! So we try (sometimes) to employ a system like "lower and lean" for trellises that aren't tall enough (which is most for indeterminate tomatoes. I don't have a video on this because we don't do it all that methodically and others do it better but that's the term to look up =)

[@trae74]

I was looking yesterday to see if you had a new video out yet! Lol Couldn't you also use tomato clips to attach it?

[@NextdoorHomestead]

That's awesome! Haha nice to think folks look forward to our videos =) You 100% could use clips and they would be both easier and more effective than the technique I showed. I just don't use them anymore because it's hard for me not to end up with them egetting everywhere between putting them up and taking them down. But that's a me problem ;)

[@tammyjanelle9623]

this looks like a great system. My concern is that I live in an area that has high wind storms - would these still work? Would I need to take my tomatoes or whatever down and lay them on the ground for a bad storm? (50+ mph winds)

[@NextdoorHomestead]

Argh, I really, really wish I could give you a straightforward answer but I just don't have experience with those kinds of wind speeds. Especially during tomato growing season. Our garden is also in a relatively wind-sheltered location. It is a pretty common style of trellis though so you may be able to find other videos from gardeners who deal with higher speed winds than I do. Best of luck and sorry to be of no help here!

[@tammyjanelle9623]

@@NextdoorHomestead thanks

[@theteenagegardner]

This is the same trellis as the josh sattin trellis to make you jealous.

[@NextdoorHomestead]

Heya! Nice work on your channel! Yeah - this is 100% inspired by that video. Link's in the description too but I'll add it here for anyone reading this =) kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKfUg4CBhN2UjZo

[@veraw2121]

How much weight does one tomato plant puts on a trellis at its peak? I want to make a trellis but since my tomatoes grow alongside a wall I'm looking into options to use that wall somehow 🤔

[@NextdoorHomestead]

Hey Vera! I don't have an actual weight (though that would be an interesting thing to find out but I've always been surprised at how heavy an indeterminate vine loaded with fruit can get. I've ended up having to reinforce my trellises (not this version) before =)

[@veraw2121]

​@@NextdoorHomestead Yesss, I found someone who's going to put more L shaped irons in my wall to support the hooks+wire+tomatoplants ❤

[@NextdoorHomestead]

@@veraw2121 Tomato season is on! Just picked up a spare seedling myself today - can't wait to plant 'em all =)

[@jeffk5525]

Can I put used coffee grounds in my garden and around tomato plants and cucumber plants? Is it good or bad?

[@NextdoorHomestead]

I'm personally not a big fan of doing that. Instead, I definitely recommend using your grounds in a compost bin. Coffee grounds + other nitrogen sources + free wood chips can make amazing compost. Cheers!

[@jeffk5525]

@@NextdoorHomestead Thank you. I make my own compost with all of our food scraps including coffee grinds and egg shells. (Sometimes I’ll even grind the egg shells and add them to the soil). I used vermiculite, peat moss and compost and planted Memorial Day weekend. Do you recommend I fertilize again and if so, is Miracle Grow good to use or another product? And when do I fertilize next?

[@NextdoorHomestead]

@@jeffk5525 Oh, that's awesome! Sounds like you're on it. For your fertilization question - are you referring to tomatoes specifically? If so, what stage are they at (flowering, early fruit, mature fruit, harvesting, etc.) Miracle Gro is great if that's what you like. I personally like to use a granular vegetable or tomato fertilizer but both have their pros and cons.

[@jeffk5525]

@@NextdoorHomestead they are flowering and early fruit. I planted them deep and they’ve been in the ground a good month. Finally starting to grow and I just did a major pruning. I’ve got 75 plants and several different varieties. The Early Girls are doing their job. But some are really slow growing. (Or maybe I’m impatient). I’m using a trellis system similar to the one you recommended.