Upham says home built cages are more sturdy in state’s windy conditions
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Retail stories mean well, but most tomato cages sold for home gardeners are often too ‘wimpy’ for Kansas conditions, said Kansas State University horticulture expert Ward Upham.
Fortunately, he adds, you can make much more sturdy tomato cages on your own, using concrete reinforcing mesh, or wire.
Upham said concrete reinforcing mesh is normally 5 feet high, with the mesh forming 6 inch squares. “The shortest rolls are usually 50 feet long, but some lumber yards will cut off just the amount you need,” he said.
“Cages can be made in different sizes, but I like a 2 foot diameter cage so I can space my tomatoes at 2 feet, and then use a T post between each pair to stabilize them in the wind,” Upham said.
It will take about 6 ½ feet of mesh to complete one cage that is 2 feet in diameter, according to Upham.
“You will need to cut the mesh in order to make the cages; small bolt cutters work well for this,” he said. “Be careful when cutting because the mesh comes in rolls that will spring back into a cylinder as the last cut is made.”
The steps for making a sturdy tomato cage include:
• Count off 13 squares, then cut each horizontal wire at the end of the 13th square, leaving 12 complete squares horizontally with prongs on the 13th square.
• Use the prongs to make a cylinder by bending them over the vertical wire on the first square.
• Cut the bottom horizontal wire to leave prongs that can be pushed into the ground. Drive a T post into the ground and tie the cage to the post to help with stability.
“These posts will last for years, but they do take up a great deal of storage space when not in use,” Upham said. “If you don’t have room for storage, there are heavy-duty tomato cages (available online) that will either fold flat or disassemble to make storage easier, such as Texas Tomato Cages, Titan Tomato Cage and various others.
“Regardless of what you use, tomato cages need to be staked if your garden is in a windy location.”
Upham and his colleagues in K-State’s Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources produce a weekly Horticulture Newsletter with tips for gardening and maintaining home landscapes. The newsletter is available to view online or can be delivered by email each week.
Interested persons can also send their garden- and yard-related questions to Upham at [email protected], or contact your local K-State Research and Extension office.
FOR PRINT PUBLICATIONS: Links used in this story
K-State Horticulture Newsletter, https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/info-center/newsletters/index.html
K-State Research and Extension local offices, www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/stateandareamaps.html
K State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county extension offices, experiment fields, area extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K State campus in Manhattan. For more information, visit www.ksre.ksu.edu. K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Story by:
Pat Melgares
785-532-1160
[email protected]
For more information:
Ward Upham
785-532-6173
[email protected]
