It's about that time of year (although I'm about 2 weeks behind schedule) for me to start tying up tomato plants to their stakes.

I've always used a square knot, which is easy, fast and secure. What I don't like about it, is removing the knot at season's end, as I save the pieces of twine for several more seasons. I use polypropylene tying twine. So, does anyone know of a quick to tie knot, that won't slip with polypropylene, but is easy to later unknot?

With close to 200 plants, each needing about 4 pieces of twine, I'm looking at about 800 knots to tie and to untie.

Tie them like you would a shoe string but with just one bow.

Slip knots are easy to do and easy to undo but are still very strong.

Reef knot

Link has a few quick to tie options.

I make “twine” of old cotton t-shirts and tie and cut straight from a ball in a bag on my belt loop. The slight stretchiness of the knot makes for tight knots. Square knot around the stake, square knot around the stem, cut the twine. At end of season I scissor the loops off the vines, break or slash the twine on the stakes after the plant collapses, and let them decompose in the mulch.

I use two (2) green produce department "twisties" twisted together.

The Gotch

Whwoz wrote: ↑Sun Jul 02, 2023 3:51 amReef knot

I'm using polypropylene, not hemp.

Make a loop at the end using a square knot to secure the loop. Then pass the other end around the stem and pass it through the loop. No knots to untie if you want to reuse the twine.

I prefer cotton butcher twine. It is softer than polypropylene and holds up well for at least two years.