Lilikoi vine supports

[mejiro]

I'm looking for ideas for lilikoi vine supports besides letting them run up into the trees. Does anyone have a great, inexpensive way to keep them off the ground?

[taropatch]

Fence, most any kind, even a makeshift one made of guava branches will do. The wire ( 4" X 4" squares) supported by metal posts may be the most practical. Also, some use the white plastic lattice panels.

[Lee M-S]

I ran plastic-covered clothes line (about $5 for 25 or 50 feet at Walmart) between trees. Make the line loose around the tree, and pad it to prevent damage. Use string to guide young vines up to the line. Oh, and set the line just over your head. I set one too low and literally got clotheslined.

I just let the yellow and red lilikoi grow up in the trees; they drop when ripe.
But the giant lilikoi will rot on the vine, so you have to keep it where you can reach it.

><(((*< ... ><(("< ... ><('< ... >(>

[Carey]

If you don't have fencing to start them, another good solution is to get old scrap pallets (look for untreated ones for this) plus, the carpenter bees that pollinate the lilikoi will have some lumber to drill into. An 8' length will do for a couple of seasons...but by 3-4 years, you will need more! (Add, since I was asked, a nice trellis can be made of 2 eight ft. shipping pallets attached as an A-frame, with scrap wood cross-braces attached both near the top & bottom -allowing you access to the inside of the A-frame for fruit collection)

That said, we have most of 2 or 3 of our vines growing mostly into ti/draceanea plants...and trim both down at the end of the season to keep upward growth within reason!

[kalakoa]

I ran plastic-covered clothes line

The plastic-coated steel cable from a "dog run kit" is more durable, and almost as cheap.

[mejiro]

Thanks everyone!

[Kelena]

I have a tripod made of three ohia branches about 6 feet tall. The lilikoi wraps around this structure. When it wanders, I tuck it back in. You do have to train it. It then forms a kind of thick bush as it spirals. Got the idea from a friend.

[Radiopeg]

A friend of ours used the clothes line idea, running it back and forth across from several trees. It is high enough it is over our heads, but the fruit hangs down in plain sight. Makes a nice shady spot, like the grape arbors of my childhood.

Peace and long life