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Salinas, Ca

I am growing a couple of these this year. What type of set-up should they be grown in? How tall and how wide will they get?
Any suggestions or links to pictures of Big Zacs grown in the past or currently growing would be appreciated.

Mike

5/18/2005 7:11:25 PM

canal winchester ohio

I've grown them a few years now Mike. I stake them with rebar because wooden stakes don't cut it. My plants get about 7' tall before I stop them & if you sucker them correctly they won't get very wide.....Paul

5/18/2005 7:16:10 PM

Montoursville, PA

Ditto to Paul's comments. The iron rebar will also draw electical action into natural nitrogen production, for the plant.

Putting nature, on your side, using iron is best done, by having a huge iron two legged hanger with a top bar attached, to and between the two legs. Winding wire clockwise, in a spiral, from the bottom, to the top, of the legs will increase the effect, of this set up.

A few iron bars like this sticking about the patch would not raise an eyebrow in this community.

You figure how to get one good electrical storm a week so they will work. :)

5/19/2005 1:56:43 AM

Salinas, Ca

Thanks for the replys:

Paul, what does, "sucker them correctly" mean? Also, what is your definition of, "won't get very wide"?

Has anyone seen any pictures of these on this or another site that I can look at so I can see what I'm getting myself into?

Docgipe, it sounds like I'd be buidling a lightning rod, I like it!

5/19/2005 10:40:23 AM

Grandfield Oklahoma

I use electrical conduit its cheaper and works dam good

5/19/2005 11:08:16 PM

Or

The suckers are the stems that sprout between the main stem and the secondary stems. Most of them are supposed to be removed.. if not all of them.

5/23/2005 9:51:54 PM

Montoursville, PA

The electrical conduit is cheaper because I believe it is not made, of a material that even comes close, being a good conductor.

Rebar is not all that expensive. It is iron. Iron is the code material, for grounding electrical systems.

I suspect that copper would be even better but my 'o my the cost factor would be horrible.

5/23/2005 10:55:22 PM

Grandfield Oklahoma

conduit is made of iron with a galvanized coating to prevent rust, as far as the conduction factor, use a digital mulitmeter and make a comparison, also as fare as a conductor - at what frequencey are you comparing it too.

After holding the highest class radio license in the world for 30 years i can say that answer with certantiy.However how much current and at what frequencey do you want to subject your plants to.

Ok i'll give you the advantage rebar would carry a whole lot of current at 60 cycles but will your plant survive a 220 volts at 100 amps current - not!

How about .050 amps at say 900 mhz yeah but that bringe into the resonat frequency of the length of the prodcut. use the formula 428/ freq in mhz to get the answer.

5/27/2005 6:03:03 PM

canal winchester ohio

My response of using rebar had nothing to do with electric ( I don't know much on that subject), but mainly was the fact that a 3/8" 10' piece of rebar is great at holding up the larger 'mater plants.
Mike, e-mail me ( phuffer@insight.rr.com) I have some pics & articles that describe suckering tomato's. I've sent it to a few people & it has helped all of them understand it completely......Paul

6/1/2005 1:36:45 PM