DIY Tomato Cages - Save the Maters!
Our indeterminate (climbing) tomatoes needed a way to grow and rest but the traditional cages were expensive and didn't work well. So...we made our own.
We used concrete reinforcement, formed it into cages - we've used them for two years with great results.
It was super easy. My grandson helped me put them together in the garden - getting kids involved is a great way to teach them gardening.
One caution in using metal in the garden - this type of fencing/reinforcement is very rough and if you don't sand down the edges, you will get lots of scratches (from the cut ends) while weeding and picking the tomatoes. BUT, they are so functional - they work so fabulously, it was very worth it for me.
You also need to keep an eye on the plants to keep them inside the cage - they tend to wander out and then they become so long you have a hard time feeding the back into the cage.
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
Comments
Join the conversation
2 of 60 comments
-
I have been using concrete reinforcement wire to make tomato cages for forty years. They last for many years. When the bottom tines rust off, cut the bottom horizontal ring off and you get new spikes to sink into the ground. As tomatoes grow, push any wayword branches back into the cage and you end up with six and seven foot plants, with all tomatoes off the ground. You can not find a more simple and efficient method of growing tomatoes. The cost of roll of wire is spread over a number of years, and is very cost effective.
-
Agreed. We've used them for a couple of years now and find them to be quite useful. I could never go back to the traditional cages you see in the stores. Thanks, Bill.
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
How do you store these in the winter? Are they full circles or two half circles put together?