The vines have grown enough that we need to start tying them to the fruiting wires. Since we don’t have fruiting wires, or any trellis wires installed for that matter, it’s time to get busy.
Tom and I installed the trellis wires using a spinning wire jenny mounted on a small trailer and towed by an ATV. We would drop the trailer in front of one of the end posts, and run the wire down the row using the ATV. The wires were then attached to the end posts using Gripple fasteners. Gripples are the bee’s knees; the greatest invention since sliced bread; the beau idéal.
Here is Tom running the wire up a row:
Now a reel of steel wire is very heavy and if you lose control of one (i.e., if they unravel) you can end up with a giant bird’s nest that only a Pterosaur could love. The jenny is supposed to prevent this, but you still have to be careful because the wire can jump the little arms holding it in place. If you ever have to run trellis wire, go slowly and always maintain control of the reel. Consider this a cautionary tale.
