Where to get support canes?

[Paulottie]

Personally I object to shipping canes here and wrapping them in plastic.

If you don't know anyone with a bamboo patch, Any coppiced wood land would give you some, or farmer let you cut some hazel or chestnut i do live in the country to be fair but, at a push, pretty much any hedgerow on any lane in Britain....Try and take them in in winter and preferably stand them in a bucket of preservative first. they last a while that way.

I coppice a couple of hazels that grow on the headland at the allotment...handy that!

Not sure about fresh willow being a hot idea though...probably root!

[Jenegade]

If you want good long canes at a really good price - try Wilkinsons.

Unfortunately for us Scots, there aren't any Wilkinsons in Scotland (well actually there is one near Dumfries, but that's it)! I had a look at their website when people on here kept mentioning it! Never mind!

[RedThorn]

Failing which try freecycle.... got a load of coppiced hazel between 6 and 8 foot.

Freecycle my best friend....

[Duronal]

Could you strip the cambiam layer off the part of the pole that you're planting to ensure they don't root?

[Two_Sheds]

cambian layer is the layer under the bark responsible for transporting nutrients or food to the tree.

You could strip it off, but what a faff ... it's easier to let the prunings dry out

[Two_Sheds]

Personally I object to shipping canes here and wrapping them in plastic.

So do I.
Get hazel if you can, but I can't.
I tried various different alternatives, but nothing lasts so well as bamboo if it's lifted at the end of the season and left to dry out over the winter. I can re-use my canes for many years.

I also grow beans up strings, to save on canes. It works really well if the string is tight.