Tomatoes need support to remain upright, improve air flow and reduce the risk of disease. Support keeps the fruit off the ground which helps reduce contamination from contact with soil. Traditional, store-bought cages can be effective for small, container tomato varieties but are often insufficient for most tomato varieties.
You can build a stronger tomato cage using concrete reinforcing mesh. Multiple cages can be built with a roll 150 feet long and 5 feet tall. The openings between the wires are large enough to fit your hand through for harvesting and allow even large slicing tomatoes to slide through. Cut the wire at the desired length and create a cylinder that will wrap around the tomato plant. If you cut the wire to six-feet long, the diameter of the cage will be almost two feet. Wrap the cut wires around the other end of the panel to make a cylindrical shape. Secure the cage by attaching it to multiple wooden stakes hammered into the soil several inches.
