Tomato cages

[w33blegurl]

So after multiple attempts with bamboo string and various heath robinson combinations of the two, I want o properly support my bush tomatoes this year so that i get more tomatoes than the slugs do! I've looked at buying something and making something and to be honest a lot of the cheaper buy-able ones look way to flimsy when I think about the weight of the tomatoes we had last year! I think I want something like the picture below.


I've seen a version to buy, but only available in the US and not shipping here. But there are lots of tutorials on the web for making similar out of mesh panels. Trouble is I'm not sure where to start and when I look online, the mesh panels they are suggesting (concrete reinforcing mesh) is horribly pricey! So, I have come to the font of all knowledge (the Grapevine obvs!) to see if anyone has made something similar/better and if they can help me!!

Cheers!
Julia

[veggiechicken]

I've used odd bit of wire fencing (the green plastic covered stuff and chicken/pig wire), rolled into a circle big enough to enclose the plant. A bit of wire to join the ends together and some canes stuck into to keep the wire upright.
Doesn't look very elegant but it does the job.

[w33blegurl]

I've used odd bit of wire fencing (the green plastic covered stuff and chicken/pig wire), rolled into a circle big enough to enclose the plant. A bit of wire to join the ends together and some canes stuck into to keep the wire upright.
Doesn't look very elegant but it does the job.

That's helpful thanks - I don't need elegant (it'll be on the allotment) as long as it keeps the tomatoes off the ground and is cheap those are the main things!

[Miss Mousetrousers]

It might sound daft but just buy a cheap metal extendable outdoor clothes-airer that you can pull up to whatever height you need. All you need then is some green plastic cane clips or that rubber plant tie that comes in a ball. Look for "Flexi-Tie 2.5mm (narrow)" on the Amadzonian site. It's great stuff, re-useable (if you're good at un-doing knots) and doesn't chafe plant stems, then all you need are some anchoring pegs to hold the airer into the ground.

[gardening_gal]

Pvc overflow pipe. Wonderful stuff. 3m length is around £1.20 ish depending where you get it and the corner joints are usually around 50p ish.

You could either make a 'proper' cage that looks similar to your picture or you could just have a top rail and 4 legs pushed into the ground with the kind of wire fencing that VC mentioned, cable tied round it. Gives quite good support.

[Mr H]

Pvc overflow pipe. Wonderful stuff. 3m length is around £1.20 ish depending where you get it and the corner joints are usually around 50p ish.

You could either make a 'proper' cage that looks similar to your picture or you could just have a top rail and 4 legs pushed into the ground with the kind of wire fencing that VC mentioned, cable tied round it. Gives quite good support.

Wow where do you get 3m for £1.20? I was considering using it for my fruit cage later in the year.

[gardening_gal]

Wow where do you get 3m for £1.20? I was considering using it for my fruit cage later in the year.

Local builder's merchants. Check out any independents near you.

Alternatively Toolstation have a pack of 10 for £11.50 which is only £1.15 a length. (Free delivery if you spend £10). Most folk would need a few lengths at least so it might be worth buying a pack?

[Mr H]

Local builder's merchants. Check out any independents near you.

Alternatively Toolstation have a pack of 10 for £11.50 which is only £1.15 a length. (Free delivery if you spend £10). Most folk would need a few lengths at least so it might be worth buying a pack?

Thanks for the advice.

[w33blegurl]

Thanks all - super interested in the PVC pipe option, might take a look at trying that! Something even my dreadful DIY skills could manage!!

[mrmauy]

PVC pipe can be quite flimsy especially at length. if you want to strengthen it up once you have rammed one end into the ground back fill it with sand - helps give extra strength and reduces wind rock. I've successfully used this technique in the past to build a walk in rabbit run.

[Cadalot]

Solvent Weld Pipe

I could not find the fitting they used in the photo above so I worked out how to do it with the fittings I could get hold off from DIY shops below


Fittings to make a cage


5 Bamboo canes per Flower Bucket

[Cadalot]

Or you can buy £24.99 Of TomatoPot with cage see https://www.elho.com/en/collection/p...mato-pot-33cm/



I've been sent one to play with and it's going to make my other 21 square flower buckets look so common in the back garden.

[Derbydal]

is it just me or do others go out and cut post and bean sticks ,there's quite a lot of scrub land round here thats waiting to be developed thats covered in weed trees (ash ,willow,sycamore ) ! I make frames to suport stuff like you want from six stakes 1.5 mtrs long x 35to 40 mm dia. sharpen four at one end and knock em in the ground 300mm ,then use tie raps to fix the other two to the top of your post making a cross and tie the midle you can add some thiner stick to the sides as and when needed , also stakes can be used single to hold stuff up or to put your hat on and they are biodegradeable ! atb Dal

[Amypinga]

I was wondering about doing this with ‘weed trees’ from my allotment, but worried that they might root and then I’d have even more to get rid of!

[Derbydal]

I was wondering about doing this with ‘weed trees’ from my allotment, but worried that they might root and then I’d have even more to get rid of!

they won't root if you but them in upside down ! atb Dal.