Making Tomato Cages from Concrete Mesh

[duderubble]

I used flat panels of CRW (remesh) on green fence posts this year and planted on each side alternately. Plants are easy to weave through the mesh. I'm sure it's too short, we'll see what happens when they overtop the fence.

[Skaggydog]

A roll of CRW @ abt $110 w/o rust. I roll it out standing up about 30' at a time and give the kids paint rollers and trays with red oxide primer. Cut with bolt cutters. The best cages I ever had.

[sprtsguy76]

If only I could find CRW thats galvanized! Life would be perfect!

Damon

[Doug9345]

You need to look at cattle fencing.
This place is in Colorado but I'm sure other places can get it.
http://www.stockyardsupply.com/page3/

[tjg911]

i have read comments so many times about crw rusting. why do so many people comment about rust on crw? i'd rather have rust dropping off in my garden than paint chips or the galvanized zinc coating.

so they are brown, why's that such a problem? my soil is brown too, it all kinda blends in.

tom

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by tjg911

i have read comments so many times about crw rusting. why do so many people comment about rust on crw? i'd rather have rust dropping off in my garden than paint chips or the galvanized zinc coating.

so they are brown, why's that such a problem? my soil is brown too, it all kinda blends in.

tom

I agree and besides it adds iron to the soil.

Worth

[barryla61]

Initial investment is costly but I still have some cages that I made over 20 years ago.
And they are REALLY brown!

[tomakers]

Originally Posted by barryla61

Initial investment is costly but I still have some cages that I made over 20 years ago.
And they are REALLY brown!

I think some of mine are close to 30 years old. They still work fine. And it is a lovely shade of brown that matches the leaves I use as mulch.
Tom

[desertlzbn]

My cages are brown too, I just don't think that is a big deal, but some people care about aesthetics more than I do.

[Byron]

Mine are close to 20 years old and they are still brown. They don't seem to rust away. You can buy galvanized fencing of different heights. The CRW is sturdier and it has holes large enough to get your hand through even with a big tomato in it. CRW can be useful for all kinds of things. I use it for compost bins and to protect plants in the winter. My bananas com through freezes down to 15 degrees. I put CRW around them in a circle and fill it with pine straw and cover it with a tarp. If you don't keep it dry the banana plant will rot. Ask me how I know that. In the spring I just use the pine straw in my beds or around my tomato plants. Just cut 3.1414 time as long as you want the diameter if you remember your geometry. If I didn't have CRW Iwould have to invent it and brown doesn't bother me.

[sprtsguy76]

Some of us urban gardeners care about aesthetics too, thats just how we roll. Lol. BUT the rusty brown look hasn't bothered me so much that I'm throwing my cages away.

Damon

[Athena]

Has anyone by chance tried making a Wire Mesh Bending Brake to make cages for containers? CRW is much cheaper than commercial garden fencing but I have yet to be able to bend it to fit.

Athena

[sprtsguy76]

CRW is bendable but it takes some hand strength and body positioning. But a brake would be sweet. I thought about buying one but then thought what else would I personally use it for and where would I store it in my dinky 2 bedroom duplex?

Damon

[Athena]

The one in the plans seems to come apart for portability. I haven't bought the plans because I'm not sure I would ever use it once I'd finished my cages. I need rectangular case and would like to use CRW like we always had a home -- rustic and rusty

[Tapout]

Originally Posted by Athena

Has anyone by chance tried making a Wire Mesh Bending Brake to make cages for containers? CRW is much cheaper than commercial garden fencing but I have yet to be able to bend it to fit.

Athena

Yes I was going to make one then I decided not to because I didn't want it sitting around for 25 years till I needed to make more.

I am kicking around the idea of making galvanized 4 gauge cages for sale. I was a fabricator/union welder/concrete finsher/ect.. ect.. hehe and I miss working with metal.