Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Being new to aquaponics could use a little advice.

I have seen the multiple pictures on this forum of string with the clips. Seems like an easy enough concept.

Question is, do you clip low and slowly tighten the string?

or

Do you just train the plant to grow through the clips as they get taller?


Hope that makes sense.

Thanks

Tomatoes grow from the top so there isn't much need to tighten the string. Typically additional clips are added higher up as the plant grows. When grown commercially the additional spool of line is used to lower the top of the plant as it grows to keep the fruit within reach for harvesting.

By the way, here is a good video about suckering and training tomatoes:



http://youtu.be/qJgA4n-sCE8

Thank you Jeff, great info

Jeff,excellent clip.

+1

If you sucker determinate toms you will get bigger ones but less. Indeterminate are suckered and string trained vertically and keep growing. This works if you have lots of head room. The main point is to keep the part of the plant that is producing vegetation and fruits vertical. The lower stems can be trimmed of all growth when done producing and ran horizontally. Then the productive part is ran vertical so you don't run out of headroom. Picking suckers doesn't seem to matter with cherry, grape and other snack size but they will take over. You can also put the suckers right in the GB and they will produce a new plant. I do this for grape and other snack size because they can be hard find and the kids eat them up like candy.