How to Make Homemade Tomato Cages: A Gardener’s Guide to Thriving Tomatoes
Making homemade tomato cages is a cost-effective and customizable way to support your tomato plants, ensuring healthier and more abundant harvests. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of how to build sturdy and reliable cages, saving you money while providing optimal support for your tomato plants.
Why Build Your Own Tomato Cages?
Commercial tomato cages, often flimsy and undersized, rarely provide adequate support for mature tomato plants, especially indeterminate varieties. Building your own cages offers several advantages:
- Cost Savings: Constructing cages from readily available materials is significantly cheaper than purchasing them.
- Customization: You can tailor the size and strength of your cages to suit the specific needs of your tomato varieties.
- Durability: Homemade cages, built with robust materials, last for many years, making them a sustainable gardening solution.
- Environmental Friendliness: Reusing materials reduces waste and minimizes your environmental impact.
Types of Homemade Tomato Cages
Several methods exist for creating homemade tomato cages, each with its own advantages and disadvantages:
- Concrete Reinforcement Mesh (Remesh) Cages: These are extremely durable and long-lasting.
- Hog Wire Cages: Similar to remesh but with larger openings, offering good ventilation.
- Rebar Cages: Constructed using rebar and wire, providing exceptional strength.
- Wooden Cages: Aesthetically pleasing but may require more maintenance.
This guide focuses on building remesh tomato cages, striking a balance between cost-effectiveness, durability, and ease of construction.
Materials and Tools
To build remesh tomato cages, you will need the following:
- Concrete Reinforcement Mesh (Remesh): Available at most hardware stores. One sheet typically yields multiple cages.
- Bolt Cutters: For cutting the remesh.
- Work Gloves: To protect your hands from sharp edges.
- Measuring Tape: To ensure accurate sizing.
- Safety Glasses: To protect your eyes.
- Heavy-Duty Zip Ties or Hog Rings (optional): For extra secure fastening.
- Pliers (optional): For manipulating hog rings.
Step-by-Step Construction
- Measure and Cut: Determine the desired diameter and height of your cages. A good starting point is 18-24 inches in diameter and 5-6 feet tall. Use bolt cutters to cut the remesh to the appropriate size. Measure twice, cut once!
- Form the Cylinder: Carefully bend the cut remesh into a cylindrical shape.
- Secure the Ends: Overlap the edges of the remesh by several inches. Secure the overlap using heavy-duty zip ties, hog rings, or by bending the wire ends together. Make sure the connection is very secure.
- Reinforce (Optional): For extra stability, add additional zip ties or hog rings along the seam of the cage.
- Smooth Edges: Use pliers to bend any sharp wire ends inward to prevent injury.
Tips for Long-Lasting Cages
- Use Heavy-Gauge Remesh: Thicker wire provides greater strength and durability.
- Secure Connections: Ensure the overlapping edges are firmly secured to prevent the cage from unraveling.
- Store Properly: Store cages indoors during the off-season to protect them from the elements and extend their lifespan.
- Consider Adding Stakes: For particularly heavy plants or windy locations, drive stakes into the ground next to the cage for added support.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using Too Small Cages: Tomato plants can grow surprisingly large. Choose a size that will accommodate mature plants.
- Using Flimsy Materials: Inadequate support can lead to broken branches and reduced yields.
- Neglecting Safety Precautions: Always wear gloves and safety glasses when working with remesh.
- Improper Storage: Leaving cages exposed to the elements can shorten their lifespan.
Cost Comparison
Here’s a comparison of the approximate cost of building vs. buying tomato cages:
| Type | Cost per Cage (Homemade) | Cost per Cage (Purchased) |
|---|---|---|
| Remesh | $5 – $10 | $15 – $30 |
| Commercial (Wire) | N/A | $5 – $15 |
As you can see, building your own tomato cages can save a significant amount of money, especially if you need multiple cages.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is remesh, and where can I find it?
Remesh, also known as concrete reinforcement mesh or wire mesh, is a welded wire fabric used to reinforce concrete slabs. You can find it at most hardware stores and home improvement centers. It is usually sold in large sheets or rolls.
What size remesh should I use?
A standard remesh sheet typically has a wire gauge of 10 or 12. Thicker wire (lower gauge number) will result in a stronger and more durable cage.
How tall should my tomato cages be?
For indeterminate tomato varieties (those that continue to grow throughout the season), cages should be at least 5-6 feet tall. Determinate varieties (those that reach a certain size and stop growing) may only need 3-4 feet.
What diameter should my tomato cages be?
A diameter of 18-24 inches is generally sufficient for most tomato plants. However, larger varieties may benefit from a wider diameter.
Can I use other types of wire mesh besides remesh?
Yes, hog wire and poultry netting can also be used, but they are generally less durable than remesh. Hog wire offers larger openings, which can be beneficial for ventilation.
How do I prevent my tomato cages from rusting?
You can paint your tomato cages with a rust-resistant paint before using them. Storing them indoors during the off-season will also help to prevent rust.
Do I need to anchor my tomato cages to the ground?
In windy areas, it is recommended to anchor your tomato cages to the ground using stakes or U-shaped garden staples. This will prevent them from tipping over.
How do I get my tomato plants inside the cage once they start growing?
You can guide the tomato plant stems through the openings in the cage as they grow. Alternatively, you can install the cage before the plant gets too big, making the process easier.
What if my plants outgrow the cages?
If your plants outgrow the cages, you can add extensions using additional remesh or other support materials. You can also use twine or tomato clips to tie the stems to the cage.
Are there any other uses for homemade tomato cages besides supporting tomatoes?
Yes, homemade tomato cages can also be used to support other vining plants, such as peppers, cucumbers, and eggplants. They can also be used to create temporary fencing or protect young plants from animals.
Can I make square or rectangular tomato cages?
Yes, you can adapt the construction process to create square or rectangular cages. However, cylindrical cages are generally more efficient in terms of material usage and stability.
How long will homemade tomato cages last?
With proper construction and storage, homemade remesh tomato cages can last for many years, providing a durable and cost-effective solution for supporting your tomato plants.