I was wondering what others experience with grow tubes are.
i'm using Blue-X grow tubes and I was wondering if others have found that the BLUE LIGHT that these tubes intensify have increased growth rates of vines.
Grow tubes
Started by
bsacco
, Oct 28 2003 01:03 PM
8 replies to this topic
#2
Joel
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Posted 28 October 2003 - 01:11 PM
I too have Blue X tubes, but have recently ran a test with another grow tube. Take a look at the results. Either way, a grow tube is better to have the first year or two instead of not having one.
http://www.winepress.us/growtubes.htm
just my $.02
http://www.winepress.us/growtubes.htm
just my $.02
#3
JDM
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Posted 28 October 2003 - 02:00 PM
bsacco,
we sell quite a few of the blue x and in my belief for several reasons two of which is cost and ease of storage....other than the cardboard type and milk cartons they are the least expensive and they store flat once you have them off the plant....problems that we hear is that the outside slip cover has a tendency to seal fast to the inner tube and has to be cut away at times thus one needs to go out and buy replacement sleeves for the tubes for the next use ....and it is difficult to get to the plant once they are on...
there was a study last year printed in wine east magazine (i believe) where they compared the many tubes out there...to synopsize the study they basically said what joel said "any of them are better then none at all"...each had their positives and negatives but the growth factor among the top brands were insignificant...i am sure the manufactures would disagree and those of you that have used different tubes it would be great to hear your thoughts on the growth comparisons.....
our most popular tube we sell is the clipper tube...it is not the cheapest but it is our biggest seller...i think it sells the most in that it is durable in age of use, stands up to equipment and animal abuse, and allows for easy access to the plant if you need to take a peek from time to time....
we carry several other types and if anyone wants a small sectional sample of any or all of them we will be happy to mail you some.... (fyi....the sample is a section of the tube and not the whole tube but it allows you to see, feel, bend, etc the tube before you buy it)
hope this helps and i am looking for to hearing everyone's else experience with their tubes....
all the best
joe
we sell quite a few of the blue x and in my belief for several reasons two of which is cost and ease of storage....other than the cardboard type and milk cartons they are the least expensive and they store flat once you have them off the plant....problems that we hear is that the outside slip cover has a tendency to seal fast to the inner tube and has to be cut away at times thus one needs to go out and buy replacement sleeves for the tubes for the next use ....and it is difficult to get to the plant once they are on...
there was a study last year printed in wine east magazine (i believe) where they compared the many tubes out there...to synopsize the study they basically said what joel said "any of them are better then none at all"...each had their positives and negatives but the growth factor among the top brands were insignificant...i am sure the manufactures would disagree and those of you that have used different tubes it would be great to hear your thoughts on the growth comparisons.....
our most popular tube we sell is the clipper tube...it is not the cheapest but it is our biggest seller...i think it sells the most in that it is durable in age of use, stands up to equipment and animal abuse, and allows for easy access to the plant if you need to take a peek from time to time....
we carry several other types and if anyone wants a small sectional sample of any or all of them we will be happy to mail you some.... (fyi....the sample is a section of the tube and not the whole tube but it allows you to see, feel, bend, etc the tube before you buy it)
hope this helps and i am looking for to hearing everyone's else experience with their tubes....
all the best
joe
#4
Joel
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Posted 28 October 2003 - 02:27 PM
Joe,
What kind is this two piece snap together? I like the versatility of it over the Blue X, as it's easier mid season to prune vine growth back inside the tube, as well as easy removal at the end of the season after full vine growth.
From here on out, I'll only buy this type. I just need to figure out what it is.
What kind is this two piece snap together? I like the versatility of it over the Blue X, as it's easier mid season to prune vine growth back inside the tube, as well as easy removal at the end of the season after full vine growth.
From here on out, I'll only buy this type. I just need to figure out what it is.
#5
JDM
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Posted 29 October 2003 - 08:24 AM
joel
if this is a two piece it looks like the snap and grow....sorry to say but it is discontinued.....we had a company resently contact us to ask questions about it in that they wanted to buy the patent from the former manufacture but as far as i know that has not gone anywhere.....
if it is three sided (does not look like it) it is the trilobite tube...new model for 2003 was the same material as the snap and grow (2002) but ourselves and a couple of other vendors had quite a few complaints about them particularly with the staying together...
your best bang for your buck is the clipper tube as i previously stated and if you want to go a little less expensive then i would go with the blue x although as you point out not as easy to get to the plant...and if you need to buy replacement sleeves year ina nd year out these actually become more expensive than the clipper (you know the saying penny wise dollar foolish)
joe
if this is a two piece it looks like the snap and grow....sorry to say but it is discontinued.....we had a company resently contact us to ask questions about it in that they wanted to buy the patent from the former manufacture but as far as i know that has not gone anywhere.....
if it is three sided (does not look like it) it is the trilobite tube...new model for 2003 was the same material as the snap and grow (2002) but ourselves and a couple of other vendors had quite a few complaints about them particularly with the staying together...
your best bang for your buck is the clipper tube as i previously stated and if you want to go a little less expensive then i would go with the blue x although as you point out not as easy to get to the plant...and if you need to buy replacement sleeves year ina nd year out these actually become more expensive than the clipper (you know the saying penny wise dollar foolish)
joe
#6
BlueDoorVineyard
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Posted 30 October 2003 - 03:20 PM
We used grow tubes (Trilobite model from Treessentials) the first year we planted and noted that a few of the vines became somewhat spindly and suffered for it last winter. We didn't have an exceedingly cold winter (by our standards anyway, only -24.6F), but some of these vines were killed right to the ground. They have come back for the most part and we're protecting them a little more this winter than we should have to once they're mature.
One definite benefit to using any type of grow tube is protecting the young succulent growth from critters like rabbits and deer.
Good luck!
Don
http://www.geocities...luedoorvineyard
One definite benefit to using any type of grow tube is protecting the young succulent growth from critters like rabbits and deer.
Good luck!
Don
http://www.geocities...luedoorvineyard
Don
Blue Door Vineyard
http://www.bluedoorvineyard.com
Blue Door Vineyard
http://www.bluedoorvineyard.com
#7
JDM
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Posted 31 October 2003 - 08:35 AM
don,
not sure in that i was not there with you but it sounds like you didn't take the tubes off early enough before winter to give the plant a chance to adjust and become hardy enough for winter....24 below...holly cow......you might have to take those tubes off in late summer because it does not sound like you have a long fall to aid them in getting hardy....lol
until you get a feel for the use of tubes you are better to error on teh side of taking them off too soon and then trying to control the animals with wildlife control products instead of the tubes which while effective were not made for that purpose
don't give up on the tubes for the benefits of the speedy growth...tubes are the best thing out there for that....just my thoughts....
joe
not sure in that i was not there with you but it sounds like you didn't take the tubes off early enough before winter to give the plant a chance to adjust and become hardy enough for winter....24 below...holly cow......you might have to take those tubes off in late summer because it does not sound like you have a long fall to aid them in getting hardy....lol
until you get a feel for the use of tubes you are better to error on teh side of taking them off too soon and then trying to control the animals with wildlife control products instead of the tubes which while effective were not made for that purpose
don't give up on the tubes for the benefits of the speedy growth...tubes are the best thing out there for that....just my thoughts....
joe
#8
BlueDoorVineyard
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Posted 31 October 2003 - 10:00 AM
Joe,
I took the tubes off in mid-August. But I also had a few factors working against me. The vines (Frontenac and Prairie Star) that had trouble last winter started slow. They were nursery-started and took FOREVER to take hold. They really did not take off until the first week of July. Then they shot up like rockets - some were over 50" tall by last fall. So I don't really blame the grow tubes for the problems. More the fact that the vines did not really have a full season's growth before they had to live through one of our winters.
I also used the tubes on my Valiants and they did great. They were bareroot plants and took hold right away and shot up and out of the grow tubes within a few weeks. Of course these vines supposedly have survived down to -70F on the Canadian prairie. Planted them to guarantee a crop even in the worst of winters.
So I probably will use the tubes again. I just need to make sure that newly planted vines are able to achieve enough growth to make it through their first winter.
Thanks,
Don
Blue Door Vineyard
http://www.geocities...luedoorvineyard
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I took the tubes off in mid-August. But I also had a few factors working against me. The vines (Frontenac and Prairie Star) that had trouble last winter started slow. They were nursery-started and took FOREVER to take hold. They really did not take off until the first week of July. Then they shot up like rockets - some were over 50" tall by last fall. So I don't really blame the grow tubes for the problems. More the fact that the vines did not really have a full season's growth before they had to live through one of our winters.
I also used the tubes on my Valiants and they did great. They were bareroot plants and took hold right away and shot up and out of the grow tubes within a few weeks. Of course these vines supposedly have survived down to -70F on the Canadian prairie. Planted them to guarantee a crop even in the worst of winters.
So I probably will use the tubes again. I just need to make sure that newly planted vines are able to achieve enough growth to make it through their first winter.
Thanks,
Don
Blue Door Vineyard
http://www.geocities...luedoorvineyard
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Don
Blue Door Vineyard
http://www.bluedoorvineyard.com
Blue Door Vineyard
http://www.bluedoorvineyard.com
#9
JDM
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Posted 31 October 2003 - 10:39 AM
don
i figured i didn't know enough to comment properly but felt it was left open tha the tubes caused the problem.....we sell quite a few trilobites, clipper tubes, blue x, carboard types and milk cartons and never heard a the tubes killed th plant unless it burnt it or was left on too long....
thanks for the clarification
joe
i figured i didn't know enough to comment properly but felt it was left open tha the tubes caused the problem.....we sell quite a few trilobites, clipper tubes, blue x, carboard types and milk cartons and never heard a the tubes killed th plant unless it burnt it or was left on too long....
thanks for the clarification
joe
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