Have a great invention to help with gardening? Are you the self-reliant type that prefers Building It Yourself vs. buying it? Share and discuss your ideas and projects with other members.
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#31 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Illinois, zone 6
Posts: 8,407
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The cheap cages do also ok with fence posts attached to each one. Similarly, the CRW cages can also be made with thinner, cheaper woven wire if they are held up with a post.
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#32 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: California Central Valley
Posts: 2,542
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#33 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MA
Posts: 903
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One of the most useless tool I ever bought is a combo hatchet/hammer/nail puller from HF. Doesn't do any of its intended functions, and dangerous to use. |
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#34 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: northern new jersey
Posts: 683
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Livinonfaith, I agree with you.. going to use them too for my cucumbers and squash.. going to make use of some in the narrow beds where I know they do not get in the way and for smaller plants .. but the bigger beds and plants, the florida weave method for sure. I used my tomato cages for years and the cons are 1) too small for the big plants 2) tough to weed and hill around the base of my plants because the four wires are in the way 3) they need additional support and fall over when mature plants weigh or storm winds blow. 4) the wire is too thin and the vines usually need twine support anyway or the vine breaks on the thin cage wire. 5) they eventually rust at the bottom and break after a few seasons and aren't cheap compared to bamboo or 2x2x8 or 1x2x8 pine wood stakes which can be cut to length and fewer to set for your plant support requirements. 6) Cages are harder to set up and maintain and picking fruit is harder compared to maneuvering between a Florida weave row. I think I covered everything
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john Last edited by nnjjohn; March 27, 2014 at 10:24 AM. Reason: edit |
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#35 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina
Posts: 1,332
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It's nice to hear that I'm not the only one using them. Now I don't feel so stupid!
![]() One thing I haven't tried but have hardly ever heard good things about is the Topsy Turvy tomato kit. I don't know of a single person who used theirs more than once. I've never had a lot of luck with those little peat pellets than you use to start your seeds either. (but some people seem to do okay with them, so it may be a difference in maintenance or humidity conditions.) |
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#36 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: California Central Valley
Posts: 2,542
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They've been around for a few years, though, and the first time I saw them I thought they were a fad that wouldn't last more than a season. |
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#37 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Illinois, zone 6
Posts: 8,407
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They bred a tomato variety for those planters called 'Topsy Tom.' I tried to grow them in hanging baskets last year, and the vines would not cascade. Then I realized what should have been obvious - they were not bred to cascade over the sides of a basket, because they don't have to. The planter is upside down. Duh.
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#38 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MA
Posts: 903
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Hi
>>> I've never had a lot of luck with those little peat pellets than you use to start your seeds either Me and DW use hundreds of these every season, to very good effect. A couple of important rules we follow: 1) Use only the bigger ones from Jiffy (36 to a tray). They keep a more even moisture, and give more room to the little seedlings to grow in until potting up. The little ones (72 to a tray) are a waste. 2) Always remove the surrounding net before potting up |
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#39 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Cypress, TX
Posts: 963
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The only problems I have ever had with Jiffy 7 Peat Pellets has been when I did not get them thoroughly wet when I started them. And also I always use the Jiffy Brand. Burpee had some one year that were coir and the plants took a couple of months to grow to transplant size even with fertilization.
MikeInCypress
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"Growing older, not up" |
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#40 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Southlake, TX
Posts: 743
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Don't buy an Ultimato tomato cage system. It's modular, but not very strong, and not tall enough; all and all not a bad idea, just poor quality. I actually had better luck making an impromptu cage/teepee with cheap-o bamboo rods.
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#41 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7
Posts: 3,207
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#42 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7
Posts: 3,207
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#43 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7
Posts: 3,207
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What a great idea! How many beans per cage stack? I was trying to figure out an inexpensive structure for pole southern peas and long beans. Moving soon and I sold my cattle panels to make the yard look nicer.
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#44 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Pilot Hill, Ca.
Posts: 307
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Seems like you could use the smaller, flimsy cages turned upside down and they would suffice for cucumber trellis'.
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-Dennis Audios, Tomatoville. Posted my final post and time to move on. |
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#45 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Missouri
Posts: 407
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I grow a garden not just for the food I harvest, but for the creation of life itself. Johnny Cash |
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