Successful Earthbox, Failed Staking System

[stucok]

I suppose this speaks to both the greatness of the Earthbox, and perhaps a quality issue with the staking system.  Earthbox is sending me a new length of pole for $12.  Doesn't seem right that they should charge me, but it's not the end of the world. 

In the meantime, I've bent the pole back straight, but it is clearly weakened.  Any suggestions on how I should shore up the pole until I can replace it at the end of the season?  I was thinking of duct taping the new length of pole, to act as a splint.

-Stuart

[baileyj]

Stuart,

I am surprised...I have about 10 staking systems some used for several years and have never had a problem like yours, even with a full box of tomatoes like yours.   

It appears defective...IMO...  I would ask Customer service to replace it, if you got it at EB.  HSN would probably replace it also if they were the source.

I would try the splint idea in the interim to support the plant...
Good Luck,
Judi

[alwayslearning]

Would one of those green, plastic-coated, straight metal stakes fit inside the pole for extra support?

[kathy]

I suppose this speaks to both the greatness of the Earthbox, and perhaps a quality issue with the staking system.  Earthbox is sending me a new length of pole for $12.  Doesn't seem right that they should charge me, but it's not the end of the world.  

In the meantime, I've bent the pole back straight, but it is clearly weakened.  Any suggestions on how I should shore up the pole until I can replace it at the end of the season?  I was thinking of duct taping the new length of pole, to act as a splint.

-Stuart

Stuart please send me your name through the forum's message system, we will not be charging you for this replacement.  In the mean time, I would take a dowel or other wooden stake and duct tape it to the bent stake as a splint. No need to try to go inside it, a product call sturdy stake (which is the plastic coated tin rods that the Ultimato is made of) would also work, but would not be as strong as a wooden dowel. No need to try to maneuver inside the existing stake.

[stucok]

Thanks for standing by your product Kathy, I really appreciate it!

[kathy]

No problem.....I went home last night and examined all 11 of my tomato boxes, making sure I wasn't heading for a disaster, like that, I have a lot of tomatoes, and all of my plants are well over 6 feet tall. Most of my staking systems are about 5 years old. I have not seen the aluminum bend like yours before, we used to have trouble with the T connectors, that's why we went to a stronger tube connector and took out the cross bar. I am thinking it truly was a bad tube...