I have an idea...see what you think

[GIZZARDFARM]

I am going to be short about 10 or 15 tomatoe cages this year and while in Lowes looking for some hogwire an idea hit me. I hope someone has tried this and it works otherwise Im gonna try it. My idea is this, using 3/4 or 1 inch pvc and drilling holes in the first 1 foot of each section. drive that end into the ground (4 of em) and use T's and 90s to make a box on top of the four driven in the ground. As the maters grow one could "build" the frame as needed. One could also fill up the structure with water and slowly water the roots. Is this an absurd idea..Whatta ya'll think.

[Leroy]

As a cage it will be ok. But how many feet of one inch pipe would it take to hold a gallon of water?

[matereater]

I believe someone who frequents this site already has a design for pvc cages, but I'm not sure who it is.

[Barryblushes]

Mater is right here is the link.
http://www.feldoncentral.com/garden/tom_pvc/

I use pvc instead of wood for tying up tomatoes.I got tired of the wood breaking off.On my paste tomatoes,I drilled holes for deep watering.Putting a cap on the end that goes into the ground ,then water from the top.Hope the link opens for you.

[GIZZARDFARM]

Thanks guys.......I dont know how much water a 3/4 pipe fashioned in that manner will hold but i would say enough for a couple days water..
Gizzard

[harleysilo]

I like the idea, decided not to try it because I thought too much PVC in the garden would be an eyesore. But with that new adheres to plastic spray paint one could paint them so that at least aren't bright white. The idea to bury the base and incorporate holes for watering is an interesting one. Perhaps the base pipes could be of larger diameter for more capacity, and then as they exit the ground you could reduce down to 1" pipe.

[Worth1]

I hate to say this but yet again you are getting close to the price of Texas tomato cages. (if not more)

You can get 6 of these for $100 how many of those can you build for $100.

I wish I was ultra rich I would send all of you guys TTC's8)

Make up a parts list and then price it out before you get sticker shock.
You may think about someplace else to get PVC and such as HD is NOT the cheapest place to get it.

A few years ago I almost kicked one of my young foreman's @#$%'s for getting supplys there instead of a supply house.


Just a thought.

Worth

[bbb123]

I priced 3/4 inch sch. 40 $.20/foot at HD and $.24 at plumbing supply. Those 4 way connectors were $2.00 at HD 90's were $.35 and I thik T's were $.80.

[GIZZARDFARM]

Worth.....I can build these pvc cages for about $10.00. I have saw the pics of your cages and they are like my 250 built from hogwire and heavy concrete wire and have never found anything better. The reason for the pvc was mainly the ability to get plenty of water and nutrients to the roots. I would love to have some of those cages like you have just a little costly for an old country boy with 300 plants. Where do you get them? Do you have any updated pics of your patch, I remember seeing some sometime back and that was one pretty garden, just interested in the progression.

Harley that idea never occurred to me but i think that would prob give one an extra quart or so...something to think about..

[Soilsniffer]

It's the 4-way connectors that make this project too expensive. Why are those puppies $2+ a pop?

I have a roomful of PVC pipes and fittings, but still looking for bulk pricing on the 4-ways. Anyone know where they're available at a good price? Why are all the other fittings significantly under a buck, but the 4-way is $2, even in a so-called contractor's pack @ Home Depot and Lowe's?

Worth: What's a 'supply house'?

J

[Worth1]

Worth: What's a 'supply house'?

Jay It's an old term for where you get contractors supply's.
some of the stuff at HD is cheap to draw you in and then some of the stuff you need is over the top in price.

Stuff like fittings for conduit and such is cheaper if you get it at a supply house in bulk but most folks don't want to buy bulk so they go to HD for a pack of 5 lock rings like my foreman did when he should have went and purchased 1000 lock rings some place else.

The cross fittings will kill you in price as they don't sell that many, most pipe fitters work around this by using two tee's.

Gizzard I will post pictures when I am not so busy and that will be soon. My plants are around 2 feet tall right now and growing like weeds. Nice and bushy too.
I'm starting to get lots of mater's on the vine.

Worth

[feldon30]

Just a minor correction. 6 Texas Tomato Cages are $136.70 or $22.78 each.

My cages, incidentally, cost me ~$4 each.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by feldon30

Just a minor correction. 6 Texas Tomato Cages are $136.70 or $22.78 each.

My cages, incidentally, cost me ~$4 each.

They had my Texas Tomato Cages on sale at Wall-Mart.8)

I like your cages too and you should post a link so Gizzard can see them.

Worth

[GIZZARDFARM]

Thanks again Worth...Looking foward to pics...Im still about 2 weeks out before planting....Little mater plants doin good though..

[feldon30]

Texas Tomato Cages are great, just pricey. I have 12 of them now. They will be great to put at the corners of the bed and on the larger plants, and then tie it altogether with zip ties.