Thanks for the link.
I was hoping the needles would work. They break down slowly and really help keep moisture in the ground!
It’s odd.
I used to plant around one hundred acres of crops plus hay.
Doing things small scale is making me reconsider everything.
Small scale calls for different methods.
It is interesting doing things differently though.
I used to stake our tomatoes.
Last year I used circular cages. I staked the cages but they still wanted to tip over.
Next year I am thinking of running woven wire down the row and gently tying the plants to the wire.
I noticed one man even did that for his cukes.
Living and learning.
The older I get, the less I realize I know.
"Living and learning.The older I get,.." - True that !! Thats why we have the gardening forum .
We each have different climates , different climate zones, but we're here to help answer questions , and make suggestions...
Treat tomatoes like grape plants, except have 3 or 4 lateral wires , but weave the folliage
If you need to tie the foliage to the wire, use a wide soft cotton ( like kitchen twine) so it won't cut into the stem .
Prune off the unproductive side shoots hich are just foliage.
We are all here to learn how to be more productive, and to see what works , ..and what doesn't work (trial and error)!
P.S. - My circular tomato cages blew over too ! Three times ..dang ! Wish I had started with latteral wires - Too late Schmart !