My tomato cages

Organic Mechanic · December 30, 2012

I'd like to share the tomato cages I built last year. I only built two to see how they worked after I had problems with the purchased wire cages collapsing. They seem to work really well even after having a wind storm that knocked down half of our corn. I already started making more for the next grow season. The cages stand 6 ft tall and only take two 2x4x10's cut in half to construct. They fold flat for storage. As luck would have it an 18 gallon tote made into a self watering container fits nicely into the bottom suspended off the ground. I plan on testing this set up come spring.

Redbaron · December 30, 2012

That option for containers is cool, but I suspect it would be better if the container was actually on the ground, due to the weight of the soil and water. Maybe try both ways? See what works best?

Rockporter · December 30, 2012

Those are vrey nice and I am with Scott, the weight of the container will eventually buckle the container on you. Try placing some bricks or wood planks under the container to support it.

Kazfam · May 18, 2013

So Organic Mech...how is the set-up working?
They look great...I love the folding up feature.

lakelady · May 18, 2013

those are really nice looking! I like anything collapsible too as space is always at a premium for storage.

Organic Mechanic · May 19, 2013

Thank you, so far so good! I ended up building a dozen cages for the garden and was able to plant my tomatoes a week ago. I spaced them 4 feet apart in the rows and 6 feet apart between the 2 rows. For the self watering container and cage I put 3 screws with flat washers inside the tote on both sides to secure it to the lower rung, that has been set up for 2 weeks and has been working good so far. I'll be sure to keep updating this post throughout the season.

MrBig46 · May 20, 2013

The wood is beautiful material
Vladimír

sjoella · May 20, 2013

I love your cages, what a great idea! I have a similiar set up for my cucs, squash and the like why didnt I think of this!

I will look forward to seeing them through out your growing season

Great Idea!

Organic Mechanic · June 23, 2013

Five weeks from transplant, so far so good! The variety is 'Santa Maria' from The Sample Seed Shop.

Paul R · June 25, 2013

Great idea.

Paul R

Organic Mechanic · July 18, 2013

What a great season so far!

JamesL · July 18, 2013

Well done! That is a pretty picture. Would love that view out the window!

luigiwu · July 18, 2013

What a great idea! Your garden looks fantastic!

Crandrew · July 19, 2013

Cool update picture. Looking good!

Organic Mechanic · July 21, 2013

Thank you for the compliments! Here is a pic of the entire garden, it is one of three. In it we have 12 different varieties of tomatoes, glass gem corn, potatoes, pumpkins, sunflowers, carrots, radishes and onions.

December 30, 2012	#2
Redbaron Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 4,488	That option for containers is cool, but I suspect it would be better if the container was actually on the ground, due to the weight of the soil and water. Maybe try both ways? See what works best? __________________ Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture

December 30, 2012	#3
Rockporter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Texas Coastal Bend Posts: 3,205	Those are vrey nice and I am with Scott, the weight of the container will eventually buckle the container on you. Try placing some bricks or wood planks under the container to support it. __________________ In the spring at the end of the day you should smell like dirt ~Margaret Atwood~

May 18, 2013	#4
Kazfam Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Upstate South Carolina Posts: 113	So Organic Mech...how is the set-up working? They look great...I love the folding up feature. __________________ God Almighty first planted a garden, and indeed it is the purest of human pleasures. It is the greatest refreshment of the spirit of man, without which buildings and palaces are but gross handiwork. Francis Bacon

May 18, 2013	#5
lakelady Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: northern NJ zone 6b Posts: 1,862	those are really nice looking! I like anything collapsible too as space is always at a premium for storage. __________________ Antoniette

May 20, 2013	#7
MrBig46 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Czech republic Posts: 2,534	The wood is beautiful material Vladimír

May 20, 2013	#8
sjoella Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: chesapeake, virginia Posts: 89	I love your cages, what a great idea! I have a similiar set up for my cucs, squash and the like why didnt I think of this! I will look forward to seeing them through out your growing season Great Idea!

June 25, 2013	#10
Paul R Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Avilla IN Posts: 300	Great idea. Paul R

July 18, 2013	#12
JamesL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 1,992	Well done! That is a pretty picture. Would love that view out the window!

July 18, 2013	#13
luigiwu Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: ny Posts: 1,219	What a great idea! Your garden looks fantastic!

July 19, 2013	#14
Crandrew Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: asdf Posts: 1,202	Cool update picture. Looking good!

July 21, 2013	#15
Organic Mechanic Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: WI Posts: 13	Thank you for the compliments! Here is a pic of the entire garden, it is one of three. In it we have 12 different varieties of tomatoes, glass gem corn, potatoes, pumpkins, sunflowers, carrots, radishes and onions.