best cage/support

[TightenUp]

whats the best tomato cage or support system? i only have about 15 plants in my small garden so getting new cages isn't a big deal. right now i have a bunch of the green poly tomato cages or ultomato cages. check out the pic, hope it works

[fortyonenorth]

Depends on the tomatoes you're growing. For determinates and compact indeterminates, I use the biggest, sturdiest "garden center" cages I can find.

For the larger indeterminates, I like the 18" Texas Tomato Cage. TTC also makes a 24" model, but I found that it's overkill, in most cases.

TTC aren't cheap - the run about $100 for six (last I checked), but IMO they represent a good value. They're easy to put together, very sturdy and collapsible, so very easy to store.

http://www.tomatocage.com/

[Granite26]

I still think its hard to beat concrete rewire cages

[organichris]

Originally Posted by ChefJeff

whats the best tomato cage or support system? i only have about 15 plants in my small garden so getting new cages isn't a big deal. right now i have a bunch of the green poly tomato cages or ultomato cages. check out the pic, hope it works

I tried one of those cages you've pictured here. I didn't like it. In theory, its good because you can adjust it. But I think a better design would have more plastic pieces to attach to the poles.

I agree with Granite26. That concrete wire seems to be the best. I'd like to have some, but I can't see buying a whole roll of wire and trying to construct some.

[recruiterg]

I second the concrete reinforcement wire cages. They are excellent.

[TightenUp]

looks like i have the sissy version. where do you get this concrete wire? home depot maybe?

[Granite26]

Around here its Menards but I would guess Home Depot would have it. I use 5'per cage...50' rolls and 150' rolls available here.

[TightenUp]

how long are the lengths you cut? and what method do you use to attach the sides to make it round?

[TightenUp]

Originally Posted by Granite26

Around here its Menards but I would guess Home Depot would have it. I use 5'per cage...50' rolls and 150' rolls available here.

thats a 5 foot length?

[Granite26]

Yep the squares are 6"x6". I cut off right against a verticle wire leaving a 6" " prong. When I roll the cage I bend over the "prongs" to connect/hold the two sides together. I also cut off the end wire which leaves "prongs" that I push into the ground. This is all the support they seem to need. Its a little difficult to explain but hopefully you get the idea with the pictures. Depending on current pricing of a roll (it seems to vary alot) I end up with $2.50-3.00 per cage. I use 500 cages! They seem to last a very long time.

[husker nana]

We got a roll last year and built cages for our tomato's. Our garden last year with the rebar cages. I think it is one of our best investments to date. Going to try to post photo for first time. Hope it works!

[recruiterg]

I have some that are 24" in diameter and some that are 19" in diameter. I could only find 150' rolls at Home Depot here. I think I got 20+ cages out of a 150' roll. The rolls sell for around $95 here. If you search in tomatoville, you will find a thread with instructions on how to make the individual cages. The rolls weigh about 100#, so you need a helper. It is alot of work to make the cages, but a good investment.

[Granite26]

Weee! Those are some healthy looking plants! Nice job Husker Nana!!!

I will ad an inexpensive boltcutter works great for cutting the re-wire.

At 19-24" your cages are bigger around than mine. I get 30 per 150' roll. I am thinking mine are around16".

[BigdaddyJ]

I own and use both the homemade CRW cages AND the Texas cages. CRW are good. Texas are OUTSTANDING! No comparison really. BMW vs Beetle

[TightenUp]

Originally Posted by BigdaddyJ

I own and use both the homemade CRW cages AND the Texas cages. CRW are good. Texas are OUTSTANDING! No comparison really. BMW vs Beetle

i hear ya. i find the price a little steep so the CRW will do. wish there was some middle ground.