Training Pole Material Suggestions?

[msu09]

Hello all,

I currently have six hop varieties in my garden It is a 20x20 area and the hops are in a row in the middle of the garden. I would like to put up six poles and run twine to my plants. I can't go any higher than 10 or 12 feet (per the city) so I want to put them about 10 feet away from the poles in the front of the garden. That should give me about 16 or 17 feet of run (my fiancee reminded me of a2+b2=c2). Any suggestions on what type of material I should use for the poles? I want to use something that won't tip over in the wind.

Thanks!

 

[cram]

As for cheap materials, see if you can source some used well pipe. I found some 1 1/2" used well pipe for $5/piece where I live. Each length is 20'--you could cut it to suit your needs. Other than that, galvanized post is a long-lasting choice but it will obviously cost more new. Usually you can find 10' lengths for about $20 and you can add couplers to attach another.

 

[Chrisl77]

Why not just use 2 poles and stretch a cable between them. Then you can attach the twine for the vines to the cable. If you have a harbor freight near you they sell 16 foot flag poles for $35.

 

[msu09]

I decided to go the route of two poles, and a length of wire in between. I think I'm going to use the poles that are used as runners for chain link fences. I'll run the rope up to the the wire and back down where I can attach them to counterweights. That way I can let the rope slack as they get close to the top (with the limited space). Does anyone see any major issues with that?

 

[Chrisl77]

You are not going to get 10 feet out of them. To properly secure them into the ground you will need to sink them into a footing. I would atleast sink them 2 feet into a 3 foot footing in my area. You may need to make everything deeper up there depending on where your frost line is. If you dont get the footings under the frost line they will get pushed out of the ground in the winter.

 

[Dougan]

Im probably 50-100 miles farther north compared to Birmingham MI, and 2 feet is fine here.

 

[msu09]

They are only temporary, anyway. I will be removing them in the winter (I'm renting). I sunk them in two 1 1/2 inch pipes from HD that were 2.5 feet long. They seem fairly stable. I'm not too worried about the height (they are about 8.5 feet now). I will be tying off the ropes to the steel cable and will release them slightly when they get about 2 feet away from the cable.... I'm estimating that I'll get about 15-20 feet total. It's not ideal, but the city was pretty admit that I couldn't go very high.