Making Tomato Cages [Archive]

nhlivefreeordie

09-01-2009, 08:16 PM

While trying to find tomato cages locally I have stumbled upon something that I thought I should pass along to others.
First off, nearly everyone was sold out long ago, even the small size which are useless. I saw the sign at Lowes 54" LARGE tomato cage $5.68!!! After you bury the three flimsey legs into the soil you have maybe 3' of cage for you plant. I needed 10 ,ore due to garden expansion....$56.80 !!! :( WTF?..for cages that are pure crap....I started doing some research online, determined to make something suitable...but what??
With a bunch of possible ideas I went out looking for material, and stumbled upon what I think is the balls for cages.....CONCRETE reinforcement mesh....it comes 5' by either 50 or 150' rolls, and it also comes in 5' X 10' sheets. All I could find were 150' rolls for $142.50, which I could get 30, 18" diameter cages out of, and even though they would be far superior to the store bought cages, they would still cost $4.75 ea.... :-[....and I only needed 10, not 30, then I found a place that had the 5' X 10' sheets for $5.40 ea, you get two cages out of each sheet. Went up there at lunch today and bought 5 sheets, enough to do my 10 cages, brought my bolt cutters with me to cut them in half right at the supply place so they would fit in the bed of the truck. $28 later I was on my way.
It took me a few minutes to think through how I wanted to do this, and after having the first one come out OK, but not exactly what I wanted, I did a couple things different on the second and it came out perfect.

When you buy them they have one end that has tag ends on it, be sure to make your cut so that you have two pieces 5' wide and they both have tag ends to secure it with.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/dj88ryr/Gardening/DSCN0702.jpg

Bend your tag ends at almost a 90 degree angle to help catch the opposite end when you roll it.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/dj88ryr/Gardening/DSCN0703.jpg

Lay the cage on its side and in the middle start bending your tag ends around the opposite end, working from the middle out.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/dj88ryr/Gardening/DSCN0705.jpg

nhlivefreeordie

09-01-2009, 08:18 PM

If you take care you can wrap the tag end around 4 times and create a nice strong grip.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/dj88ryr/Gardening/DSCN0706.jpg

Last couple tag ends to be connected, then roll and bend into a rounded shape.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/dj88ryr/Gardening/DSCN0707.jpg

Then stand on end and with cutters, remove 1 horizontal wire at one end to create 6" legs that will go into the ground. This is all the support you will need, it creates a very stable cage because of shape and number of points it is connected to the ground.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/dj88ryr/Gardening/DSCN0708.jpg

Cut off all of your other tag ends and it is ready to install.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/dj88ryr/Gardening/DSCN0709.jpg

AlchemyAcres

09-01-2009, 08:30 PM

They work famously.
I started using them over 10 years ago.
I use light wire to connect the rounds and take them apart and flatten them out in fall for easy storage.

~Martin

09-01-2009, 08:43 PM

It's common to use old sheep fence around here too. I cut to length, and then wrap the wire around a medium size barrel to get the shape i want.

DM

nhlivefreeordie

09-02-2009, 04:26 AM

They work famously.
I started using them over 10 years ago.
I use light wire to connect the rounds and take them apart and flatten them out in fall for easy storage.

~Martin

Well Martin, I wish you would have said something before I went into a meltdown trying to figure this out...:lol:

They do work fantastic, and the 10' sheets supported with the green 6' stakes make an awesome trellis for vining plants.

Anon001

09-02-2009, 07:49 AM

Well Martin, I wish you would have said something before I went into a meltdown trying to figure this out...:lol:

Hey, it pays to come here and ask before going in to so much research and leg work. :lol: You can't beat concrete wire for tomato cages. I guess some of us just assume that it is common knowledge when maybe it isn't.

I enjoyed the pics.

TNDadx4

09-02-2009, 08:56 AM

Excellent ideas, Guys! I bought some tomato cages and staked the rest to see which would be better. The plants rapidly outgrew the cages, so I still had to stake them so that they wouldn't fall over.

I'm going with the custom cages next year for sure.

Thanks, again!

MrGreenJeans

09-02-2009, 06:07 PM

I,ve got 38 of them. But had a bad blight this year. I read not to reuse old stake's or cage's if they were blighted. My question is can i take a heavy bleach solution and spray them down a couple of time's. Would this help get rid of it. I,d hate to loose that many for next year. Got a large investment in them, mine are 20 to 28 inche's inside mes. Can't seem to find or get a straight anwser on this. If you have had this before give a hollar.

nhlivefreeordie

09-02-2009, 06:24 PM

MrGreenJeans,

I am not sure the blight spores will stay on the cage, but I do know they stay in the soil anyway, so unless you are going to garden in another spot, I don't see the need to worry about the cages. The weather conditions bring on the blight and start the dormant spores, it is there all the time waiting for the right conditions to flush.
If you are worried about it, I think a good coat of red rustoleum would cure the cage problem, my plants got hit this year, I just cut out the blighted branches and am still harvesting tomatoes from those plants. Long cool wet periods will bring it on regardless and ya just have to deal with it.

AlchemyAcres

09-02-2009, 06:27 PM

nhlivefreeordie

09-03-2009, 04:14 AM

I flame them.
I take part three or four cages and wrap them around a standing cage and wire them together tightly.
Fill with wadded-up newspaper and light.

~Martin

Now THAT is using your noggin, great thought..

Rick

09-08-2009, 05:32 AM

That's why I like this place...

Flame on!!!

NCLee

09-10-2009, 05:36 AM

Martin, that's using your nogging, for sure! :yes2:

On another note, a neighbor of mine uses a different approach for tomato "cages" that works well. He plants loads of Roma's, and some slicing tomatoes, so it works for both.

Chooses a spot in the garden for his row of tomatoes. Pounds in metal fence posts and attaches whatever wire he has to make a temporary fence. Plants tomatoes along side the wire. During the growing season he makes sure the main growing tip is engaged with the fence. Side branches, too. He'll snip, early, any branches that grow outward from the fence, which encourages those on the other side of the plants to grow through the fence.

At harvest, they are easy to pick. Simply go down one side of the fence and up the other side.

At the end of the season, pulls the plants, rolls up the wire and inserts the posts into the coil. All ready to repeat next year in another spot in the garden.

Lee

Pokeberry Mary

09-13-2009, 07:14 AM

I love that idea. My old neighbor in Wisconsin did her grapevines that way --posts and wire. I love it!

So simple and clean.

gunsmoke

09-18-2009, 05:48 AM

THIS is an OUTSTANDING THREAD!

A real example of the spirit, value, and worth present on this forum!

Travis

12-07-2009, 12:41 PM

Great idea, got to ask is there a benefit to round cages versus square? I think I could make square ones easier.

nhlivefreeordie

12-07-2009, 12:53 PM

I don't think there is an advantage one way or the other, if you prefer square cages, by all means make them square. I think all you would need would be a 90 degree corner to bend around, this wire is pretty stiff, you may need to use a hammer to bend them, the round ones pretty much go into shape by themselves.

12-07-2009, 02:32 PM

Great idea, got to ask is there a benefit to round cages versus square? I think I could make square ones easier.

It's hard to get any easier than wrapping the wire around a barell, and hooking it back onto itself.

DM

Blacksmith

12-07-2009, 03:33 PM

do here in the NC Mountains is either sink two creosote poles about 50' apart brace them with angled 2x4 of oak and run heavy wire at the top of one to the top of the other. Every 10 feet put in another support pole. I keep my poles at about 6' or 7' from ground level. Tomato plants go in about 15" apart along the row. When they are about a foot tall I stake them and tie around the main runner. I sucker constantly and when tomatos appear, all the foliage below the first group of tomatos is cut off. I never allow a new sucker branch to form and tie the plant constantly upwards on added wire on the poles until they can be tied to the top wire.

Another method is using bamboo and wire ties and make a large rack system. I drive 16" x 1/2" square(or round) steel spikes in the ground and leave about 8" exposed. The Bamboo uprights just slip on the steel for support, the cross beams of the rack are wire tied. Works great...disassembles and stores easily.

nhlivefreeordie

12-08-2009, 05:16 AM

Another method is using bamboo and wire ties and make a large rack system. I drive 16" x 1/2" square(or round) steel spikes in the ground and leave about 8" exposed. The Bamboo uprights just slip on the steel for support, the cross beams of the rack are wire tied. Works great...disassembles and stores easily.

I use bamboo the same way to make temporary trellis' for vining flowers, it works great and does disassemble easily for winter storage. Wire ties are VERY handy, I keep a bunch of several sizes handy.

CapeCMom

02-17-2010, 05:03 AM

Do you think that this metal mesh could be fashioned into something to grow my peas on?

ohara1000

02-17-2010, 06:26 AM

Good idea to use concrete reinforcement wire. I was planning the same thing. I'm glad to get the information on how to haul and form them as well as how best to put them together.

I have tried the bamboo poles and the flimsy cages that can be purchased locally and I find they are never tall or strong enough. Not to mention the price.

Sarah

nhlivefreeordie

02-17-2010, 06:35 AM

Do you think that this metal mesh could be fashioned into something to grow my peas on?

CCM,
You sure can, just keep them in the 10' lengths, or buy a roll to make it any length you want, then stretch out and use the green fence posts or even sink a couple 4x4s I use 10' lengths for cucumbers, saves a lot of space, and I also had snow peas on one last year as well.

ohara1000

02-17-2010, 06:39 AM

I think this would make an excellent trellis for peas. I would use some steel fence post to attach the wire to so you could remove it when you cleaned your garden off. It is tall enough to support a bumper crop. May also be used for beans and cukes.

02-17-2010, 07:06 AM

Do you think that this metal mesh could be fashioned into something to grow my peas on?

I stretched a length of sheep fence in my front garden last spring, and let the pea's and climbing beans go right up it. You can see them in the upper left corner of this pict...

http://fototime.com/783DD1B534343C0/orig.jpg

DM

Gracie

02-17-2010, 10:25 AM

In our garden we hammer in rows metal fence posts, then attach hog panels with zip ties, and intertwine drip hose in panels then put out our 'matoes. As they grow we intertwine the plant into the panels, so no need to tie them up with twine. This also works well for cucumbers. This year we plan to zip tie or twine the drip hose to the panels, will be easier to do and much easier to take down in the fall. Our 'maters did poorly last year, hoping for better in 2010 :0).

Gracie

02-17-2010, 10:28 AM

Blacksmith and DM,

You both sure had pretty gardens.

CapeCMom

02-17-2010, 10:57 AM

I agree Gracie! Everything looks so healthy. Thanks for the info guys and gals!

nhlivefreeordie

02-17-2010, 11:44 AM

Here is a photo of very early last spring, I think it was the first week of April, maybe a little latter.
Up against the shed, is a run of wire that has snow peas climbing it.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/dj88ryr/Gardening/DSCN0692.jpg

Tomato cages at work
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/dj88ryr/Gardening/DSCN0744.jpg

02-17-2010, 12:54 PM

I agree Gracie! Everything looks so healthy. Thanks for the info guys and gals!

Thanks for the kind words...

It's all about using LOT'S of mulch, as i don't use any chemical fertilizer in my gardens,

http://fototime.com/125F0E00139E44D/orig.jpg

It sure keeps the weeds out,

http://fototime.com/0AC2909A66C35C6/orig.jpg

And my garden needs a lot less water,

http://fototime.com/FDFA40E681AE42B/orig.jpg

I even mulch my sweet corn in heavy,

http://fototime.com/92735E1E5399422/orig.jpg

And all of it gets tilled down in the fall, to feed next years plants.

DM

CapeCMom

02-21-2010, 02:47 PM

Nice pics guys!
DM, are those pine needles? I always get a bunch myself but was wondering about soil acidity. We have very acid soil here anyway-we have to lime a bunch of stuff every year, but our Rhodies and azaleas love it! Last year I put grass clippings in the paths and around them. We didn't get to till in the fall-isn't six weeks the minimum settling time needed to plant after you till in the Spring? I want to get it done but there is still snow on the ground.

NH-you have soil like we used to in Indiana-I am jealous-it's so dark. I see your peas-what is that planted behind the shed?

02-21-2010, 03:22 PM

No, it's tall grass and grass hay, but i have used pine needles in the past. You just have to use a lot of lime to counter the needles.

In the late fall, i till it all under and it leaves my gardens with rich black soil,

http://www.fototime.com/EFDBC8842607B10/orig.jpg

to plant in, in the spring.

http://www.fototime.com/EF3C6EF6EA10F9A/orig.jpg

DM

Idaholady

02-21-2010, 06:40 PM

This is such a great thread. I don't like using the tomato cages and I think I'll try the concrete mesh this year and also try a metal mesh fence down a row. Thanks so much for the timely info. I'm already for spring to start getting the garden going. Yummm tomatoes....

Quietgentleman

02-21-2010, 07:05 PM

I made my tomato cages out of the same wire but I used upholstery rings in all four corners so in the fall I can just lay them flat for storage.

QGM

nhlivefreeordie

02-21-2010, 07:56 PM

NH-you have soil like we used to in Indiana-I am jealous-it's so dark. I see your peas-what is that planted behind the shed?

Rhubarb....mmmmm...yum

CapeCMom

02-22-2010, 05:27 AM

nhlivefreeordie

02-22-2010, 06:14 AM

Oh OK-I thought it looked like rhubarb, but the purple flowers planted behind it fooled me. I like Rhubarb too-I have a big bunch of it that is planted in my rose garden-have to move it this year to the vegi patch now that I have it going.
I want to find a recipe for canning rhubarb with strawberries for pie filling. Right now I just have a bunch frozen but I have little freezer space so I would rather can it.

Those are blue columbines behind it, the garden on the other side of the shed is a shade garden with Columbine, Astilbe, Lily of the Valley, tulips and daffoldils. The last year and a half, I have sort of left the flowers be in favor of plantings that made food...:wink:

I should finish using the last of the property this year by putting in more berry plants in a few new beds, then the following year, I can start paying attention to the flowers again.

CapeCMom

02-22-2010, 07:31 AM

I let a lot of my flower beds go this past year, and in the Fall I could see that I have paid for it-I have a lot of work to do in the Spring. Everything went to the vegi garden last year, and this year at least in the Spring, it will be the same. I love shade gardens, NH, I have quite a few since we have so many trees still.
Thanks for the cage ideas, I think I am going to try them for my cukes and such also.
I hope the weather improves soon, it's only 7 weeks or so until I can put peas in.

bookwormom

02-27-2010, 11:44 AM

I used Gracie's method before. I then had to untwine the plants in the fall. Now I just put up a hoop or two of cattle panel and they grow over it. underneath, in the tunnel part I grow some lettuce in semi shade. It is the very simplest. I also like how the tomatoes hang in there. We later covered the hoop with tarp, stacked a few bales of straw in it for instant pig housing. I love cattle panels, they are my friend.

your cages look impressive Wayne, but too much for me.

cartershan

02-27-2010, 10:20 PM

we used the same as Wayne for tomato cages. DH made about 20 last year and we inherited 25 more. Although, our tomatoes just did horrible last year, we were pleased with the cages. I plan to put cukes on a few this year. We also use the same gage of fencing for rattlesnake green beans with rebar and posts at each end. Last year I planted loofah on the same fencing with the green beans in July and still got more gbeans than I wanted and lots of loofah at the end of the season. It held everything up just fine. Even with the tremendous winds we can have here at times. I harvested gbeans on into October with Loofah gourd on top of them!
Thats the best way for tomato cages as far as we have found.
I think I will torch them since we did have blight last year. Man, what a crappy year for tomatoes that was!