I saw an article on the web about tensioning the top wire on a high cordon setup grape trellis using a weighted bucket and a measured distance to the wire but now can't find it. My vines are in and the trellis is up but not tensioned. I understand that about 200 lbs tension is suggested and the bucket solution seems pretty low tech and simple. Has anyone seen the article? If I canl't find it again I guess I'll just wait till it gets loaded in a couple years and tighten it then.
Dick
I think you would be far happier and better off to use a device called in-line strainers. They are relatively low tech but very efficient. The cost is only a few bucks. You can go to your local farm supply store or vineyard supply store. They are also good to use on your end posts.
The strainers are inline. Thats how I will apply tension. I don't have a tensiometer and am looking for a simple way to set the tension. As I said, I can always wait till it gets loaded and tighten as necessary. I saw the article while I was looking for something else and I thought I had bookmarked it but apparently not.
Dick
Seems like an awkward setup. I use Grapplers - and tighten as needed accoridng to load. You have to spend the 30 or 40 bcks for the too, bit after that, the grapplers themselves are cheap - and very easy.
If you haven't already done so, you will also need to be able to support or adjust the tension on your end post, otherwise when you tighten your wires, your endpost will lean inward.
Very true. Found out the hard way, myself. A few years ago, I purchased
4' 'anchors' - iron rods with a spiral blade at one end and a loop at the other for tethering to the endpost. Have them on all my vinerows now. I also discovered that the grapplers work great on the wire thethers, too. I can adjust tension on both the cordon wire, and the anchor wire - seems like they both need it every spring.Look to
Sal Coco Kansas City Kansas
I've got a strainer in the line between the anchor and the endpost also to take care of that.
Dick
Thanks Sal, thats what I needed. I had Orchard Supply bookmarked but I forgot it was there and thought of that bookmark for the catalog only.
Dick
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