Which plants need the staking kit?

[BPFSU]

No vine borer issues, but the Powdery Mildew came on like crazy after three days of rain.  Same issue last year.  I'm also starting to think the squash family is a little too fussy for me.  I got about 10 zucchini out of four plants and now their so stressed they're not putting out anything.  Must mean I need more peppers. 

BP

[tds1]

bdank, what caging system are you using? Mine is not nearly that high and I would love to get a hold of larger ones.

[bdank]

bdank, what caging system are you using? Mine is not nearly that high and I would love to get a hold of larger ones.

Check this thread out to see what I use for cages: http://forum.earthbox.com/index.php?topic=7378.0

[stephen12]

@bdank, are cages and stking systems classified as teh same thing?

[movrshakr]

@bdank, are cages and stking systems classified as teh same thing?

Stephen, not sure exactly what you are asking.

Cages and stakes and trellises all have the same principal function--to provide support for the plants to grow on or hold up, etc.

The EB system is called a "staking system", but I view it as more of a trellis.  Just symantics.  I view stakes as being "vertical poles stuck near a plant" and trellis as some form of structure.  In my view of all this, a cage is simply a trellis arranged in a closed form--circle, square, rectangle, oval, whatever.

[baileyj]

bdank,
You and me both...I feel very inept when I grow squash or zucchini---I am happy when I get 2 zucchinis from 6 plants !!  Maybe all the borers are here in our area !
I am amazed when I hear people who have tons and tons from 1 plant !

Thanks for the drench link....I think I will try that and let you know how it goes...Do you use it on all your transplants ?  Tomatoes, peppers etc...
Thanks,
Judi

[bdank]

@bdank, are cages and stking systems classified as teh same thing?

Yes, you can use the staking system that earthbox sells in stead of a cage. Because my plants tend to get larger than most, the earthbox staking system doesn't work for me, this is why I came up with my own cages; but most people have no problem using the earthbox system. Whichever you choose to use, it will cost you about the same amount of money. There are threads on this forum for very cheap options for caging/staking your crops too. You could even let everything sprawl on the ground (if you have the room).

[bdank]

bdank,
You and me both...I feel very inept when I grow squash or zucchini---I am happy when I get 2 zucchinis from 6 plants !!  Maybe all the borers are here in our area !
I am amazed when I hear people who have tons and tons from 1 plant !

Thanks for the drench link....I think I will try that and let you know how it goes...Do you use it on all your transplants ?  Tomatoes, peppers etc...
Thanks,
Judi

Judi,
I use it when I plant my seedlings into the earthbox, but really you could add it to your plants at any time. I use it for every type of plant that I grow.

[baileyj]

bdank,
Thanks so much for the info...I have ordered all I need and cannot wait for it to arrive !
Judi

[bdank]

bdank,
Thanks so much for the info...I have ordered all I need and cannot wait for it to arrive !
Judi

Judi, let me know if you see a difference in your garden this year, because now I'm curious if this is why my plants get so large. I do know that when Raybo (from Tomatoville) did a side by side test with snow peas those treated with the micros were a lot bigger than those that were not.

[baileyj]

bdank,
I was just thinking I may try a side by side with 2 boxes of tomatoes.  I did read the entire post about the drench and was considering some type of comparison.
I usually plant 12 boxes in tomatoes so I have 24 types and this year was considering more than 1 plant of some varieties, so about 15 boxes.  I will plan on using the drench on all but the one "control" box.
I will see if I can pull 2 boxes, plant each with the same 2 varieties, one with the drench when it arrives (hopefully by next week some time) and the other the usual way with just fertilizer.  They can be side by side so all variables would be the same except for the drench.
I have plenty of tomato seedlings to pick from and my garlic is almost ready so I have freed up a few boxes earlier than expected that could be used.
Great idea...I will see what I can do.  I was planning on using tomato tone on my tomatoes this year so I will continue with that.
Pictures  ..... it is my goal to learn how to post pictures this season so this may be the time to start.  As I put them in today I will take the pictures--then figure search/read up here on how to post them.
My other goal is to put in my AWS which I have some procrastination about...I have had it for about 5 years and never used it.  Silly, I know...
I will keep you posted...
Judi

[stephen12]

thabk you bdank, sorry movshakr if i confused you.

[tds1]

Thanks bdank for the link. Those cages look awesome, but for now I will stick with the $2.99 cages I am currently using. I researched the root soak as well and after further investigation, decided to go to the local hydroponic store to see if they had any. They did, but a lot of the stuff is pretty darn expensive (Great white, which seemed popular, was almost $40 for a small container). However, as luck would have it, it was customer appreciation day. They were giving out pretty good size samples of nutrients including Plant Success Soluble and Great White. At the price of free, who could resist? So, I mixed some up and poured some of the Plant Success Soluble on about 1/4 of the tomato plants, as well as the cucumbers and peppers. Can't wait to see if I can tell any difference.

[butterflygirl67]

Next year the Black Beauty Zucchini is definitely getting a cage.  Most of the plant and fruit are now on the ground.

BP

I quit growing zucchini because I can't win the war against vine borers. I tried every tip and trick out there. This year I'm growing a different variety of squash that grows on a vine and is supposed to be vine borer resistant. I still put some summer squash in the ground but don't expect to get anything from them. I'm hoping the borers will go to them and leave the rest of my garden alone. I feel like I'm the only gardener who doesn't get over-run with Zucchini.

You aren't.  I am trying a vining zucchini this year.  Things are just starting to go well, so it is about time for the borers to hit.  I put foil at the base of my plants.  I haven'tseen any sign of them yet, but things are so dense it is hard to tell.

[bdank]

bdank,
I was just thinking I may try a side by side with 2 boxes of tomatoes.  I did read the entire post about the drench and was considering some type of comparison.
I usually plant 12 boxes in tomatoes so I have 24 types and this year was considering more than 1 plant of some varieties, so about 15 boxes.  I will plan on using the drench on all but the one "control" box.
I will see if I can pull 2 boxes, plant each with the same 2 varieties, one with the drench when it arrives (hopefully by next week some time) and the other the usual way with just fertilizer.  They can be side by side so all variables would be the same except for the drench.
I have plenty of tomato seedlings to pick from and my garlic is almost ready so I have freed up a few boxes earlier than expected that could be used.
Great idea...I will see what I can do.  I was planning on using tomato tone on my tomatoes this year so I will continue with that.
Pictures  ..... it is my goal to learn how to post pictures this season so this may be the time to start.  As I put them in today I will take the pictures--then figure search/read up here on how to post them.
My other goal is to put in my AWS which I have some procrastination about...I have had it for about 5 years and never used it.  Silly, I know...
I will keep you posted...
Judi

I can't wait too hear about your results! I decided to do my own trial as well. I have 8 boxes of beans planted (all the same variety), I put the drench on all but two of the boxes.