I am in the process of constructing this Mittleider T-Frame for my tomato plants. Four lines of 165 lb. 9-gauge wire will run parallel to the bed at the top of the frame. Bailer twine will be looped to the base of each tomato plant, wound around the stem, and looped to the overhead wires. The bailer twine will not cut into the plant stems, nor snap under the weight of the loaded vines.
I'll be starting new tomato seeds in mid-June for planting out by mid-August. Praying for a successful fall crop by Thanksgiving dinner, LOL!
Hope this helps.
P.S. The T-Frame converts to an over-the-bed greenhouse! (see the pictures of ldsprepper's Mittleider greenhouse below). I have ordered shade cloth which I will affix to the 2x4 box at the top, to create walls around the bed. In the winter, I will convert to the greenhouse plastic covering for frost/freeze protection. The frame can also be boxed in with frost cloth.
The couplers you see will accommodate bent pvc hoops which will form a "roof" to divert rain and (in some cases) snow.
Hugs!
ldsprepper's T-Frame
MY T-Frame in progress #1
MY T-Frame in progress #2
ldsprepper's over-the-bed greenhouse with greenhouse plastic covering and vertical grow lines for his beans.
The T-Frame and vertical lines allow for growing 4x the veggies in the same amount of space. The long sides of the box at the top extend one foot over the bed. The vertical lines form a "V" and extend the plants 1 foot outside of the bed. The "v" creates an airflow & light space between the two rows of plants growing on each side of the bed.
Very efficient system to maximize growing in small spaces.
