Bought a cheap plastic trellis for my balcony tomatoes and it snapped in a week

I was trying to save a few bucks and grabbed a $15 plastic trellis from a big box store for my cherry tomatoes. It looked fine in the package, but after I got it set up and the plants started to get heavy, the whole thing just folded over in a light wind. One of the main support arms cracked right at the joint. Now I've got a bunch of tomato vines all tangled on the balcony floor. I should have known better than to go for the cheapest option. Has anyone found a good, sturdy trellis that can handle real weight but doesn't cost a fortune? I'm in a third floor apartment so wind is always a factor.

3 comments

3 Comments

johnfoster3mo ago

Man, that's the worst feeling when a cheap buy lets you down like that. You're totally right about the wind being a problem up high, those plastic joints just can't take the stress. I actually think @ivan_perez has a solid idea with the wood and twine, but for a balcony, have you looked at those metal grid panels? They're not much more money, but you can zip-tie them to your railing for way more support against the wind. The open grid lets the air pass through a bit so it doesn't act like a big sail.

ivan_perez3mo ago

Ugh, those flimsy plastic ones are total garbage. Did the exact same thing last season with my cucumbers. Looked okay for about five minutes until the plants had any real weight on them. That hollow plastic just can't handle wind or growth. Ended up making my own from some basic wooden stakes and twine, cost about the same and actually held up. You're right to skip the cheap stuff.

spencer_ross1mo ago

Ngl, I'm curious how long those wooden stakes actually lasted you. Did they rot out after a season or did you treat them with something? I feel like that's the trade-off with wood, it works great but then you're replacing it every year unless you seal it. Honestly wondering if the metal grid panels would be less hassle in the long run.