Canes!

[Two_Sheds]

I love the idea of growing my own

my friend gifted me his home-grown bamboo canes: they looked good, but were so spindly they snap apart when you push them in the soil. The imported ones are much better, but pay a bit more to make sure you get the fatter ones, reject the spindly thin ones

[noviceveggrower]

I grow my own!! Bamboo and hazel.

Just asking why type of bamboo or hazel do you grow to use?

What sort of willow do people use as an alternative to bamboo?

[Kristen]

Probably not much use as a source for purchase, because of carriage costs, but I have bought from them before (when I have had enough to make a decent sized order for carriage) and I think their price would be a good target to aim for and the weight / thickness / quality would be good.

125 x 6' for £30 - so £2.40 for 10 would be a very good price.

Horticultural Trade Supplies Cornwall Devon Somerset & Dorset - JFC Monro, UK - horticulture, agrochemicals, fertilizer, pesticide

Home bargains selling packs of 10 canes 6ft at £1.29..think that's a bargain.

provided not spindly then definitely a bargain

[MrsCordial]

I've bought the odd bunch from Msons and tbh would probably do so again. I'm okay for them atm, but as we're planning to set up the supports for raspberries, peas and beans next weekend I'll no doubt need more. I try to be creative and low-cost in most areas of veg gardening, so I'll just take the hit on canes if need be.

[Kristen]

Not sure they are the right thing for Raspberries - I reckon you may need something more robust?

[MrsCordial]

Yes you're right, we're using fence posts for them. I just meant we're getting sorted out for all these things next weekend and many many canes will surely come into play!

[Kristen]

That will work a lot better

[meteor]

I am lucky in so far as I have a woodland area to the rear of my garden bordering a forest, I use birch, willow and mainly hazel I maintain for canes. I am researching bamboo types to sow in a boggy shady area nearby. Here is a tool I made to split larger branches for bean etc.

[hellybore]

What sort of willow do people use as an alternative to bamboo?

I am growing a few Salix Viminalis willows, the sort used for living willow structures. They are only in their second year but I hope this winter I will get some nice straight rods from them to use as plant supports. Have to make sure they are very dry though or they will take root!!

[MrsCordial]

Funnily enough in ALDI this morning I spotted shortish green canes (2' or so), ideal for my young tomato plants. 99p seemed a fair deal so i nabbed them. Also just seen someone is offering coppiced hazel sticks on Freegle, so you could always try something like that.