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Lexington, Ky

Looking for ideas (other than plastic clothes hangers) to help vines lay down. Any suggestions? Different types of wood, plastic, homemade stakes?

4/1/2009 4:06:00 PM

North Smithfield, RI

Twigs that fell from your trees.

4/1/2009 5:50:53 PM

ordinary,VA

yep thats what i use

4/1/2009 6:13:11 PM

Woburn, MA.

Last year I used some left over wooden dowels & some twigs too.

4/1/2009 8:31:45 PM

Sequim, WA

Chopsticks from your Chinese take out work pretty well, just cross a set of them over each side of the vine. I usually just bury them as they grow so it's not much of an issue.

4/1/2009 8:42:29 PM

Woburn, MA.

Hey Tiller, that's a great excuse to get more Chinese takeout. lol

4/1/2009 9:05:00 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

Do a search for greenhouse supplies. I did so last year and located a greenhouse supplier which sold 12" green hyacinth stakes. About $45.00 for 1000. Their in my supply shed, so I have no further info. They're out there.

4/1/2009 9:14:09 PM

New Carlisle IN

Shish Kabob Skewers $1.00 for a 100

4/1/2009 10:45:58 PM

Minnesota

We have a winner, shish kabob skewers might work real well.

4/1/2009 11:25:32 PM

Farmville, Virginia ([email protected])

I actually just came up with an idea a few days ago. Took down our old TV antenna and just as I was getting ready to haul it to the dump I got the idea to break off the individual antenna arms and save them for just that purpose. I think it ought to work ok. Now all you have to do is tear down your antenna! lol

4/2/2009 12:55:38 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

I have used the shish ka bob skewers, in the past....moving them forward and outward, after the vine is rooted well!!! Even if I miss a few in fall clean up, it is no big deal!!! Peace, Wayne

4/2/2009 12:57:50 AM

Team Munson

Paint sticks are by far the best tie down stake I have used (stole the idea from Jerry Rose).

Flat face so they don't wear holes in the vines on windy days. They make nice pollination markers when teamed with a sharpie. They break down easily in the soil if you miss them when pulling your plants.

You can buy a case of 1,000 for about $35 - $45 from a big box hardware stores and last 2-3 years before reorder(better order now they only order every quarter around me). If you are really good you can shmooze a case for free.

4/2/2009 8:36:56 AM

huntsburg,ohio

Been using paint sticks for years like dave said serve multiple applications and i never pull them up as they just degrade into soil.I bought a case last year for 30 bucks and have enough for 3 years .Jerry

4/2/2009 8:40:36 AM

Lexington, Ky

Many thanks! Great ideas.

Jamie

4/2/2009 2:33:28 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

The paint sticks are a great idea unless you're in gravel-based soil like mine. It's tough enough using pointed small-diameter stakes.

4/2/2009 8:25:10 PM

Ohio

I use big sand stone rocks to hold my vine down, I lay a 30 or 40lber across the vine and never have a problem with the wind taking my vines, it might smash the vines flat but thats ok cause in case studies that 'giant jack' has done, smashing the vines is known to get you much better growth for the pumpkin.......

4/2/2009 10:28:24 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

I like white plastic coat hanger corners just because I can see the bleeping things :) For bigger, I have a vatload of 5-6' bamboo stakes that I cut up to coax the vine down with (cross them) and later replace with a hanger part.

4/2/2009 11:53:10 PM

Indiana

I sometimes use a stick on the downwind side of the vine


or dirt works good too

4/3/2009 12:39:44 AM

Ohio

old tires work also Jamie.

4/3/2009 4:56:51 AM

ExtremeVegetables.com

Plastic coat hanger corners here to.
If I slip and fall in the patch I don't have to worry about being impaled by the bamboo stakes.

4/3/2009 5:21:28 AM

Somerset,Ky

Sand Bags!

4/3/2009 6:35:02 AM

Rhode Island

bamboo stakes are dangerous to you as well as tearing into leaves etc.

plastic coat hangers corners are great but we ended up missing half of them and finding them the foillowing year when we till

the paint sticks are by far the very best as mentioned above

4/3/2009 7:15:58 AM

West By God Virginia

I've used bamboo skewers and they work very well.

4/3/2009 8:25:18 AM

Team Munson

Brooks I heard the main vine from your 1,400#er was so big you pulled a VW on it to hold it down!!!

Man your killing me LOL!!!!

4/3/2009 8:33:32 AM

Ohio

lol!!!!!!!!

4/3/2009 9:14:38 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Pap, depends on what color you use. I can see white ones, and as for missing something, at least we found my missing flipflop when we tilled (fine pinkish discoloration)... :) I don't have anywhere around here I can easily get my hands on that many paint stirrers.

4/3/2009 9:31:50 AM

Valley Falls, Kansas

http://www.amazon.com/Paint-Stirring-Stick-AST4586-Category/dp/B000FMLXHW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=automotive&qid=1238769104&sr=8-1

4/3/2009 10:32:05 AM

Lexington, Ky

Brooks!!!! LMFAO!

I wish I could find that picture of Brooks and his truck in the patch....

4/3/2009 2:32:58 PM

Billerica,Massachusetts

sticks from the woods. cheap and always a supply.

Glenn

4/3/2009 4:34:26 PM

nOVA sCOTIA

Chop sticks.

4/4/2009 12:23:20 AM

Ohio

Wex, use post hole diggers to go down 3 ft on both sides of the main vine and then set 6 ft locust posts with quick crete.

4/4/2009 4:45:26 AM

Whidbey Island

Old bricks. Trough out in front of the advancing vine, lay the vine in the trough, back fill with soil. Then put bricks on top of the soil. Never had wind pull up the vine. Sticks and clothes hangers are so narrow that a wind can create too much stress at one spot. The brick distributes the stress over several inches. The advancing tip will stay down as long as you leave several feet in front of the last brick. Cover with soil right up to the tip and she will reach for the sky.

4/4/2009 9:43:13 AM