Making Tomato Cages from Concrete Mesh - Page 4

huntsman · August 27, 2009

Wouldn't square be better, mate?

You can still hinge them, and triangular would leave a very small centre, or would require really large sides. Just a thought...

RJ_Hythloday · August 27, 2009

I seem to remember seeing square panels of CRW at HD. It was taller than the rolls, but would have to be bent in the middle to use as half of a square as they were pretty big. Square would be awesome in a SFG. Or course taking up most of 3 squares.

mjc · August 27, 2009

A square cage with 24" sides will give you an area of 576 sq in inside.

A triangle with 24" sides will be about 250 sq in.

A circle with a 24" diameter will be about 484 sq in.

Templeton · August 27, 2009

I was thinking triangle for stability reasons, but if seated properly to the ground, a square might work. I thought about the internal volume issue, but if some of the plant spills out of the mesh, I was thinking that it might be sufficient.

ovenbird · August 30, 2009

I really like the illustration in #27 so the tree cages are just about 2" different in diameter and can be nested in the off season, so long as they are not crumpled by being hit with a riding mower

Feinstein · November 13, 2009

Been using 7' concrete mesh from Home Depot for tomatoes. Like idea of using for pumpkins. Use twist ties to form tube shape. Like idea of bending ends into hooks - get tired of cutting twist ties and hemp ties. Small dia. wire mesh cuts vines of the pumpkins as they hang so will add old panty hose or misc. netting hammocks to support body of pumpkins. Good ideas -- thanks.

k3vin · November 13, 2009

I use the cheaper 5 foot concrete mesh. Instead of placing the cage on the ground, I wire it about a foot up off the ground, using a single T post as support for each cage. This serves to keep the bottom wire from rusting thru over time as well as extending the cage up to 6 foot. Cages are zip tied one-to-the-next in the row, giving a plant spacing of about 2.5 feet. One T post and two zip ties provides three very sturdy anchor points for each cage.

yotetrapper · January 10, 2010

Bumping this for anyone who wants it. I plan on making at least one big rolls worth of cages this year.

Granite26 · January 10, 2010

I use a 5" section of rewire cutting the bottom edge off which makes a bunch of prongs to stick into the ground. This holds them in the ground well for me.
My cages last season:
June 03 2009

July 11 09

July 27 09

desertlzbn · January 10, 2010

I bought a roll of 7 ft high wire, 100 ft long. I have made some GREAT cages, but now I may have to cut some (3) of them down to be able to cover with tarps because of the colder weather coming later in the week.

Paul R · January 13, 2010

This has worked good for me, I used field fence. The video is a little long.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIfrkZAS7TA

desertlzbn · April 7, 2010

I have found a use for all of my old irrigation tubing. I cut it so that I can slip it onto the top of my cages, that way I can put the shade cloth up and not have the cages ripping up the shade cloth. I also am using it to put on the top edge of the hardware mesh that I have around my gardens. That stuff just rips up clothes. I will post a picture soon.

ovenbird · April 7, 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertlzbn

I have found a use for all of my old irrigation tubing. I cut it so that I can slip it onto the top of my cages, that way I can put the shade cloth up and not have the cages ripping up the shade cloth. I also am using it to put on the top edge of the hardware mesh that I have around my gardens. That stuff just rips up clothes. I will post a picture soon.

Very good idea.

recruiterg · June 15, 2010

Thawley, thanks for this post.

I bought a roll of CRW and made some cages last weekend. It wasn't too difficult and the cages are very sturdy and will last for years. I made 10 with 13 squares (23" diameter) and a bunch with 11 squares (19" diameter).

Byron · May 15, 2012

I have used concrete wire for several years. I like the large squares that you canget your hand through and get a nice big tomato out. I like to cut the bottom horizontal wire off and I can just step on the wire above and press the vertical wires into the ground to keep the cages upright.

August 27, 2009	#4
Templeton Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: One Tree Hill, Bendigo Australia Posts: 87	I was thinking triangle for stability reasons, but if seated properly to the ground, a square might work. I thought about the internal volume issue, but if some of the plant spills out of the mesh, I was thinking that it might be sufficient. Last edited by Templeton; August 27, 2009 at 05:33 PM. Reason: spelling

November 13, 2009	#6
Feinstein Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: West Los Angeles Posts: 1	Pumpkin Supports Been using 7' concrete mesh from Home Depot for tomatoes. Like idea of using for pumpkins. Use twist ties to form tube shape. Like idea of bending ends into hooks - get tired of cutting twist ties and hemp ties. Small dia. wire mesh cuts vines of the pumpkins as they hang so will add old panty hose or misc. netting hammocks to support body of pumpkins. Good ideas -- thanks. Last edited by Feinstein; November 13, 2009 at 06:34 PM.

November 13, 2009	#7
k3vin Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Nebraska Posts: 139	I use the cheaper 5 foot concrete mesh. Instead of placing the cage on the ground, I wire it about a foot up off the ground, using a single T post as support for each cage. This serves to keep the bottom wire from rusting thru over time as well as extending the cage up to 6 foot. Cages are zip tied one-to-the-next in the row, giving a plant spacing of about 2.5 feet. One T post and two zip ties provides three very sturdy anchor points for each cage. Last edited by k3vin; January 13, 2010 at 11:31 PM.

August 27, 2009	#1
huntsman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Johannesburg, South Africa - GrowZone 9 Posts: 595	Wouldn't square be better, mate? You can still hinge them, and triangular would leave a very small centre, or would require really large sides. Just a thought...

August 27, 2009	#2
RJ_Hythloday Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Logan, UT Posts: 207	I seem to remember seeing square panels of CRW at HD. It was taller than the rolls, but would have to be bent in the middle to use as half of a square as they were pretty big. Square would be awesome in a SFG. Or course taking up most of 3 squares.

August 27, 2009	#3
mjc Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: WV Posts: 603	A square cage with 24" sides will give you an area of 576 sq in inside. A triangle with 24" sides will be about 250 sq in. A circle with a 24" diameter will be about 484 sq in.

August 30, 2009	#5
ovenbird Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Eastern Iowa Posts: 27	I really like the illustration in #27 so the tree cages are just about 2" different in diameter and can be nested in the off season, so long as they are not crumpled by being hit with a riding mower

January 10, 2010	#8
yotetrapper Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Oakland MS Posts: 231	Bumping this for anyone who wants it. I plan on making at least one big rolls worth of cages this year.

January 10, 2010	#9
Granite26 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2009 Location: Western WI Posts: 359	I use a 5" section of rewire cutting the bottom edge off which makes a bunch of prongs to stick into the ground. This holds them in the ground well for me. My cages last season: June 03 2009 July 11 09 July 27 09

January 10, 2010	#10
desertlzbn Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Tucson Posts: 659	I bought a roll of 7 ft high wire, 100 ft long. I have made some GREAT cages, but now I may have to cut some (3) of them down to be able to cover with tarps because of the colder weather coming later in the week.

January 13, 2010	#11
Paul R Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Avilla IN Posts: 300	This has worked good for me, I used field fence. The video is a little long. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIfrkZAS7TA

April 7, 2010	#12
desertlzbn Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Tucson Posts: 659	I have found a use for all of my old irrigation tubing. I cut it so that I can slip it onto the top of my cages, that way I can put the shade cloth up and not have the cages ripping up the shade cloth. I also am using it to put on the top edge of the hardware mesh that I have around my gardens. That stuff just rips up clothes. I will post a picture soon.

June 15, 2010	#14
recruiterg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Edina, MN (Zone 4) Posts: 945	Thawley, thanks for this post. I bought a roll of CRW and made some cages last weekend. It wasn't too difficult and the cages are very sturdy and will last for years. I made 10 with 13 squares (23" diameter) and a bunch with 11 squares (19" diameter).

May 15, 2012	#15
Byron Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Byron, GA Posts: 24	I have used concrete wire for several years. I like the large squares that you canget your hand through and get a nice big tomato out. I like to cut the bottom horizontal wire off and I can just step on the wire above and press the vertical wires into the ground to keep the cages upright.