Tomato cage system question

[Johan]

Hi,
I have been searching for quite some time for the perfect tomato staking system.
I have tried poles, and single wire growing systems as well as a flat grid aginst which the tomatoes are braided. On these systems you have to prune some side shoots out otherwise the plant will get too wide.

I have not yet tried a tomato cage yet.
I have looked at the following three types:

EZ tomato cage:
E Z Tomato Cage | Plant Support Cage made in Owatonna MN USA | A fine gardening tool.


Tomato Ring:
http://

A homemade system:
Laura Vanderbeek: Tomato Cages - inexpensive and long lasting


The tomato ring is adjustable (up and down but not side ways. All three appears to be working equally well.
I have just one question: do yoy let it grow as it wants or do you prune some side shoots to make it fit inside the system? My logic say that all three will work well if you only let sya 3 - 4 shoots grow up. Side shoots from these 3 or foor stems should be removed or it will get too big to fit inside and when too dense growth, fungus growth may start and it will be difficult to harvest.

Which one is the most popular?

[Stu8706]

My favourite is the third one. Mainly because I can make them myself free!!! Then I can spend more on brewing equipment!!


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[solway cropper]

I'm a bit like Stu. I fasten mine to a stick and leave them to get on with it while I sit with a glass of beer!

[Thelma Sanders]

Cages are good for bush tomatoes, but in the uk indeterminate/cordon tomatoes are usually pruned and tied to a single cane.

[Alison]

Cages are good for bush tomatoes, but in the uk indeterminate/cordon tomatoes are usually pruned and tied to a single cane.

I think that's the critical point really, it does depend on the sort of tomatoes you're growing. I mainly grow cordons as they're much easier to support in the tunnel and they are all grown up twisted round lengths of string which are attached to the bottom of the plant and the top bars. With bush toms, when I do grow them I tend to just use random canes as necessary but guess the cages would work well too.

[Johan]

I have done some enquiries today and I have visted our building supplies.
They have two sheets of rebar mesh, with a 200 mm (8 inch) grid. The sheets come in sizes 6 m (240 inch) by 2.4 m (96 inch). It comes in two thicknesses: 6 mm (1/4 inch) and 4mm straight walled rod (3/16). The thinner one is also Spring steel.

The height space in my Shade house provides for only 1.8 m (6 feet) high cages and the space of the raised beds in width is 1.26 meters. I therefore can only make square cages of 400 mm x 400 mm or (16 inch x 16 inch). In a bed I can exactly fit 3 in a row.

Providing for the spaces in between (that I will lost due to cutting) I will manage to make 24 panels of 1800 X 400 mm. That will give me exctly 6 cages per sheet. I will galvanise the panels and make hinges from thick wire rings to make it in the shape of a M when folded. This will last a lifetime. I will post pics in the future when completed.