Making Tomato Cages from Concrete Mesh

[Polar_Lace]

Building tomato cages

Will this work Thawley?

~* Robin

[piegirl]

Because Nebraska is very windy, I cut the bottom wire off the cages. Then you can push the 'legs' into the ground as anchor w/ t posts. Also use the electric fence posts PaulF mentioned. May have you bring me a bunch - way more tha .89 here. Piegirl

[tomakers]

I always use bolt cutters on the CRW, makes things much easier. I use 10 squares (5') giving about 17" diameter. If this is not tall enough I let them fall over the top to the ground (that makes 9').
To hold them up I cut off the bottom wire leaving 6" spikes to go in the ground. If that isn't enough I use a stake or 2 pounded into the ground along side the cage and a zip tie to hold them together. Works for me.
I have about 70 cages. If they become bent or deformed too much (son hit them with the riding lawnmower) they become cuke cages or bean towers and make some more.
JMO,
Tom

[Ruth_10]

Originally Posted by Barbee

Looks great! I am shocked you can buy the CRW that has no rust. Here, the rolls are nasty and you get covered in rust just loading them into your vehicle.

The wire Thawley is using is galvanized, so no rust. This is distinct from the concrete reinforcing wire, which is not galvanized and comes "pre-rusted." I suspect the galvanized wire is slightly more expensive, but I've never done a pricing comparison of the two. And, yes, you want to watch out when you're working with those rolls. They can jump out and bite you.

I used the galvanized wire from a large roll as in Thawley's photos. A large T-bar pounded into the ground and wired on supports the cage.
DSC_7046 Tomato plot 04-July-2007.jpg

[Polar_Lace]

Very nice looking Ruth. Did you leave the cages out there all winter long?

~* Robin

[Barbee]

Galvanized! I didn't know they made such a thing. I've got to check that out.

[Thawley]

Originally Posted by Ruth_10

The wire Thawley is using is galvanized, so no rust.

Never seen galvanized... I used the regular, garden-variety mesh everyone else uses. (I really crack myself up sometimes...) It comes lightly oiled and was stored it indoors where I got it.

Fast forward two days from the photos that started the thread and it's now got the standard, terra-cotta tint patina we all know and love. They're now the same color as my dog...

PS – that's a great looking tomato patch Ruth. Makes me want to dig up my lawn for more space.

[Worth1]

Spray em with Ospho.

Worth

[Polar_Lace]

At Home Depot: 5 Ft. x 100 Ft. 14 Gauge 4 x 2 Mesh Galvanized Welded Wire

3 Ft. x 100 Ft. 14 Gauge Galvanized 4 x 2 Mesh Welded Wire

The 7 foot length was there last week, can't find it now. Maybe in another HD.

~* Robin

[Polar_Lace]

Ospho.com

MSDS Materials Safety Data Sheet: PDF

Will they glow in the dark, Worth?

~* Robin

[Worth1]

No but it will ruin a paint job on a car and if you get it on the ground it will boil.

Its good stuff.

I always have different acids and stuff around the house.

Worth

[korney19]

I bought galvanized sheets a few yrs ago and made a large variety of cage configurations. Triangular cages I use 1 plant in each corner. I also make 3ft x 7ft "pens" and various sizes of "stalls."





Here's a 3ft x 7ft pen that holds container tomatoes, anywhere from 8 thru 12 plants:



And here's a way to both anchor and EXTEND the height of your CRW cages:




You cut the bottom ring where it joins each vertical wire (only 1 cut per square) and then bend each down, from horizontal to a vertical position.

Hope this helps.

[Ruth_10]

Originally Posted by Polar_Lace

Very nice looking Ruth. Did you leave the cages out there all winter long?

~* Robin

I do leave them out, though I do move them onto my strawberry bed to keep the deer from eating the plants.

I would put them inside, but I have too many (about 60 now; good problem to have, IMO).

[Polar_Lace]

Good thinking Ruth (putting them on your strawberry plants.)

But I think I need some Rabbit/Chicken wire liner outside. I seem to have 2 vegetarian dogs!! LOL!!

They've eaten spinach, carrots, broccoli, cabbage, peas and string beans straight off of the plants this year! They now have cable runners set up to avoid digging in the garden and perusing the veggie crops. And I thought it was funny when they started to eat the frozen veggies that fell on to the floor..........

This is and old, old link I first saw before about setting up veggie cages in 2004.
Tomato Baskets

And this one too: You have to scroll down the page to see the pictures, which you click on so they can get bigger:
Pea And Bean Growing & Trellising

Thank you very much, Victory Seed Company!!!

~* Robin

[korney19]

Big trans-Atlantic BUMP!!!