Operation: Tomato Cage

[isuhunter]

Over the past 3 years I'm trying to find the perfect tomato cage. I think I'm going to take the time to make some cages.

Unsuccessful attempts include: posts and weaving with baling twine, rebar cages (hard to store and need to be larger than I made them

Here is my plan:
1. purchase cattle panels that have 6x6" or 8x6" openings
2. cut panels to 18" or 24" sections to make a 4 sided cage
4. zip tie or hot ring corners

I want panels vs. a CRW that i can collapse and sore in the 2' opening under my deck. I need to make 15 cages.

[AlittleSalt]

I think your idea is good. I would like to see pictures.

For me, the main drawback of using cages. Even if you have extra space for them - they still get in the way. We're growing over 160 tomato plants this year, I wouldn't want that many cages to deal with.

I'm not sold on growing on horizontal lines yet either. Pruning and tying gets to be a pain when growing so many plants.

[Durgan]

I have tried most and they are all wanting. I am dealing with a maximum of 50 plants. My solution is an overhead string system. It is the best for me. A bit of work, but an amount that is acceptable. Every cage inhibits growth to some degree.

The commercial growers in my area use a twin system with two strings on each side of the row. A lot of work, but probably the only system acceptable for a large field.

Here is my backyard system.
http://durgan.org/2016/April%202016/...Supports/HTML/ 30 April 2016 Overhead Tomato Supports
A area,24 feet by 8 feet, was prepared for 21 tomato plants. An overhead support structure using rebar and fence posts about 6 feet high was built. Tomato plant will be supported by strings tied to the overhead structure. The plants will have no obstacles inhibiting growth of the fruit, and strings are added during the growing season as required. The structure is fastened at appropriate places using plastic ties.

[Cole_Robbie]

The commercial growers in my area use a twin system with two strings on each side of the row.

I'm moving to the same idea. The plastic posts are 3/4" conduit. They work for dwarfs and peppers. The wood posts are 8' 2x4s, ripped into 2x2s and sharpened on one end to drive as a stake. I've been standing on a ladder and driving them as far as I can into the ground. I connect the tops with whatever scrap board I have laying around.

The attached pic is just the beginning. There will be a lot more string used.

[Aerial]

I like both of these design. Easy to implement too.

Stake A Cage, $2 a piece!
http://oldworldgardenfarms.com/2013/...-stake-a-cage/

The World’s Best Tomato Trellis, Just Weave and Harvest!
http://www.highmowingseeds.com/blog/...omato-trellis/

[Durgan]

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

The commercial growers in my area use a twin system with two strings on each side of the row.

I'm moving to the same idea. The plastic posts are 3/4" conduit. They work for dwarfs and peppers. The wood posts are 8' 2x4s, ripped into 2x2s and sharpened on one end to drive as a stake. I've been standing on a ladder and driving them as far as I can into the ground. I connect the tops with whatever scrap board I have laying around.

The attached pic is just the beginning. There will be a lot more string used.

The commercial field that I studied was growing determinate tomatoes for the fresh produce market, hence only two strings per side of the row. The support poles were probably three feet in height. The fruit was being harvested by TFW, Temporary Foreign Workers, from probably Jamaica.

[imp]

Originally Posted by Aerial

I like both of these design. Easy to implement too.

Stake A Cage, $2 a piece!
http://oldworldgardenfarms.com/2013/...-stake-a-cage/

The World’s Best Tomato Trellis, Just Weave and Harvest!
http://www.highmowingseeds.com/blog/...omato-trellis/

The 2nd one is sim. to how Iam doing the tomatoes this year- but with T posts and really old but sturdy chicken wire- all free including much of the labor ( or not really free as the one owes....<smile>).

Put in 3 T posts per 8 ft run and the wire, will also use some slanted out for the melons to be trellised up and supported - the smaller ones and the vining squashes, as well as beans.

Now, I just need a good walk board or the weather to just dry out enough to get all the tomatoes tied up ( Tomato Bondage- coming to a theater near you!!!).

[fonseca]

I am building new cages right now with 1/2 EMT. I have been using 1/4 sections of cattle panel in an A-frame shape, as well as 3-sided cattle panel cages, for several years. They work great, but I think some of the fungal diseases that decimate my plants in the humid summer weather can be mitigated with better airflow. So I am mounting each 2'x8' section of cattle panel in a conduit frame with zip ties. I ordered 1/2" metal elbows from homedep*t.com for under $2 each, less than half what the elbows in the physical store cost.

I started with 2', 1/2" rebar to mount the trellis, but with more than half the length in the ground they were too short. Trying 4' now.

I'll put up some photos when finished, but there are already some good pictures of conduit trellis systems (using netting) on this site.

Cost estimate so far:

24x 1/2" elbows: $50
24x 1/2" EMT: $60
24x 4' rebar: $75
3x cattle panel: $60
Total: $245 (already had the cattle panels so $185 new cost)

I will have 12 trellises that should support 24 plants. Not cheap, but will last forever. I plan to build another dozen using netting for cost savings.

[fonseca]

Originally Posted by Aerial

Stake A Cage, $2 a piece!
http://oldworldgardenfarms.com/2013/...-stake-a-cage/

The World’s Best Tomato Trellis, Just Weave and Harvest!
http://www.highmowingseeds.com/blog/...omato-trellis/

The Stake-A-Cage in the first link is certainly economical, however they must be growing determinates. They use 4' stakes, which means their trellis is only 3' tall. For indeterminates you could use 8' stakes and larger sections of welded wire. That would be a 7' tall trellis, which means an indeterminate vine would still reach over the top and back to the ground.

I think this would be a great option for peppers if you used a wide enough section of 20" tall mesh to form a complete circle around the plant. All the branches need support when loaded with peppers.

I like the trellis in the second link. I was actually thinking about using two 4x4s as posts to suspend a 4'x16' cattle panel off the ground and trellis 6-8 plants. I changed my mind when I realized I might need to pour concrete to keep it stable.

[pmcgrady]

I growing 120 plants in concrete mesh cages, with rebar stakes, they cost around $3/ea plus labor.
No twine/string to clean up every year. If I need to Tye plants to cage I use sheets or rags they decompose well. Some cages I'm using are 10 years old... Cost= .30 cents/year

[AlittleSalt]

I want to make some concrete remesh cages and use T posts (I have a lot of T posts) But make only 24 of them for the main garden. I'm going to space them at 3 or 4' apart next fall and convert three rows of tomatoes into space for other vegetable plants.

[Worth1]

I got the wild idea last night for a take apart PVC cage with no fittings.
I am stupid for not thinking of it before now.
Well I did but I forgot about it.
The pipe is cheap the fittings are what limit you and the specialty ones are expensive.
Nor will this contraption be tied together with wire or string.
Plus you will be able to make it infinity taller with still no fittings.

Worth

[TC_Manhattan]

Originally Posted by Worth1

I got the wild idea last night for a take apart PVC cage with no fittings.
I am stupid for not thinking of it before now.
Well I did but I forgot about it.
The pipe is cheap the fittings are what limit you and the specialty ones are expensive.
Nor will this contraption be tied together with wire or string.
Plus you will be able to make it infinity taller with still no fittings.

Worth

Okay, Worth, let's have it! (Plans + photos!)

I'm game..

[Aerial]

That's exciting. Can't wait to see (& copy) them! Or are you going to trademark that if it's a groundbreaking new design?

Originally Posted by Worth1

I got the wild idea last night for a take apart PVC cage with no fittings...

Worth

[Worth1]

I am afraid to post it because this one might very well get me out of the poor house.
I dont want it stolen from me it is that good.
It is not made yet but I know it will work it is so simple it is down right stupid I am supersized no one has done it yet.

I need some help with this one, if I post it in a few days please dont rip me off.
I bought the lathe you may know about to start making a line of gardening products for people that will be cheap and affordable for everyone.
Worth