Update mod on tomato plant hold up clips. :-)

[Don2222]

Hello
I wrote about the clips I found some really nice hold up clips because I did not have luck with the hoops. The hoops are good when adjusting them often and I know people who have had good luck with them. I like these clips because of the loop and you have some leeway and wiggle room. See this blog

Thread 'Finally - A better way to tie up tomato plants!'

Jun 22, 2024

Hello
It was time to tie up the tomato 🍅 plants and I always dread doing it!! This year a quick trip to Home Depot and bingo! Plant hold up clips! I never saw these before! What a pleasant surprise if they work! Took home a pack of 10 and the 100 feet of plant tie up with cutter! WOW easy peasy!
I already bolted in pressure treated 2x4s and used a piece of electrical conduit as a tie bar so just wrap the wire around it and pull the plant up before I twist it tight! Then as the plant grows I can untwist the wire and or change the clip to readjust it!!
We used approximately 2 clips per...

• Don2222
• Replies: 6
• Forum: DIY and General non-hearth advice

Now I just found these 4 foot plastic coated steel poles with stubs to prevent the clips from slipping! These poles with the clips really help for the heavy big boys

https://www.amazon.com/Mininfa-Feet-Supports-25-Pack/dp/B0888HB5VX

Any else use these plant stakes for tomato plants?

 

[begreen]

Those plastic coated poles are good for a season, maybe two. Then the plastic starts flaking off. Now, I just use 1/2" rebar. It's stout and stands up for a long time.

 

[stoveliker]

I agree. And after the plastic cracks in the UV the metal starts rusting and soon after if you press the rod in the soil, it'll crack, bend, break.

Btw, they have (had?) these at our local big orange box store.

 

[Don2222]

If you use rebar then, do you have to ground a point on one end?? Do you have to paint the rebar so it does not rust? Also does it come in 0.5” diameter so these clips will clip on?

 

[stoveliker]

Grinding a point: I have never done so. A hammer on rebar works well in all soil types I've used this.

I could imagine that dried out clay (think 95+ summers in Eastern TN) might make things more involved but I'm quite confident I'd be quicker hammering it in than grinding a point first.

Half inch rebar is very common.

I've used it for other reasons, not for plants, so no opinion on rust here.

 

[begreen]

If you use rebar then, do you have to ground a point on one end?? Do you have to paint the rebar so it does not rust? Also does it come in 0.5” diameter so these clips will clip on?

None of the above. Rust is not a big deal. It will never rust out in my lifetime and a little iron oxide is good for the plants. Definitely no paint and no point needed, I just pound it into the bed's dirt. Rebar comes in several diameters. I use 1/2" and just use ties. For the tomatoes I also do a Florida weave for support using twine for the weave.