tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536895335969103038.post6282521409422171165..comments2024-03-27T21:15:11.245-06:00Comments on BLD in MT : Living a Simple Life in This Interconnected World: DIY Hardcore Tomato CagesBLD in MThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06449967376288331137noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536895335969103038.post-44396264806190620402021-04-14T11:44:51.260-06:002021-04-14T11:44:51.260-06:00How do you support them?How do you support them?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05959850887865420899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536895335969103038.post-31388727731275825822012-10-15T13:51:35.607-06:002012-10-15T13:51:35.607-06:00I'm glad to hear they hold up so well...even i...I'm glad to hear they hold up so well...even if the tomatoes do try to out grow them!!!BLD in MThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08497511995276601468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536895335969103038.post-89017790037985108882012-10-05T16:23:09.544-06:002012-10-05T16:23:09.544-06:00We also made these 30 years ago and still have the...We also made these 30 years ago and still have them. Some of ours are from 7 foot high reinforcing wire,.. and as you know the indeterminate tomatoes go up and over these at times!! :) My husband actually made the reinforcing mesh that is used in your cages for the company he retired from. Over the years you may have to redo the bottom pieces that poke into the ground as they rust off. We also made some shorter and smaller ones for the taller pepper plants. SarahAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536895335969103038.post-57704959082870754942012-08-13T08:56:38.105-06:002012-08-13T08:56:38.105-06:00: )
And aren't they just awesome?!
I hope yo...: )<br /><br />And aren't they just awesome?!<br /><br />I hope you're having a great day!BLD in MThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08497511995276601468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536895335969103038.post-91320363419208325092012-08-11T09:03:23.357-06:002012-08-11T09:03:23.357-06:00this is what we did too!!!!!! it works perfectly. ...this is what we did too!!!!!! it works perfectly. great minds...Barefoot Cleanershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01844042786094594869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536895335969103038.post-33986369050539831602012-07-10T16:14:30.482-06:002012-07-10T16:14:30.482-06:00You know (and this is probably stupid of me) but I...You know (and this is probably stupid of me) but I have never paused to consider what commercial, large-scale tomato cultivation would be like. Yes, cages wouldn't seem super practical. I can't really imagine a full field of them....I bet it is really something! Thanks for all your thoughts!BLD in MThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08497511995276601468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536895335969103038.post-13651868829580762772012-07-10T15:44:50.137-06:002012-07-10T15:44:50.137-06:00For the most part the plant grows and stands up, o...For the most part the plant grows and stands up, once the fruit is well established the vines simply drop lower and lower with the weight until on the ground. We space our plants 24 inches apart. We live in Indiana, in the central part of the state they grow fields and fields of tomatoes, and obviously it is not practical to use cages on this scale, yet the tomatoes grow well, in fact the fields are rather pretty to drive by in mid August as they are primarily green with the vines lying around everywhere but everywhere you look are red orbs of tomatoey goodness!<br />We found plenty of willing takers for the cages :) <br /><br />BeanBeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14484707482492844677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536895335969103038.post-56788396511836536742012-07-10T11:51:00.869-06:002012-07-10T11:51:00.869-06:00You know, it really did help with spacing. They lo...You know, it really did help with spacing. They look so much happier (not a mass of tangled vines) than last year already!BLD in MThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08497511995276601468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536895335969103038.post-38564110381900629032012-07-09T20:10:08.205-06:002012-07-09T20:10:08.205-06:00that is brilliant! I'm going to show this to ...that is brilliant! I'm going to show this to my husband. He plants our tomatoes too close together and this tomato cage would also help with spacing.Margohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16345165456341197559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536895335969103038.post-62014326282266745332012-07-09T14:24:39.606-06:002012-07-09T14:24:39.606-06:00Since those are so tall, a tall stake might be all...Since those are so tall, a tall stake might be all you need to hold them secure against wind. The pins might not be enough to hold them in place but would be another layer of security. <br /><br />I would stop by roadside dumps, trash on the curb, just anything nasty and pick up mops and brooms to take home. When the nasty mop head or broom head is sawed off, the sticks make fine stakes. Paint them to help them last longer. The metal handles don't work well, just wooden ones.<br /><br />ThePractical Parsimonyhttp://www.practical-parsimony.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536895335969103038.post-54801779878865163922012-07-09T08:52:10.043-06:002012-07-09T08:52:10.043-06:00Thanks! And that is just the sort of review I lik...Thanks! And that is just the sort of review I like hearing!BLD in MThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08497511995276601468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536895335969103038.post-77756167113852749312012-07-09T08:51:43.981-06:002012-07-09T08:51:43.981-06:00Good idea on the anchors. We really do need to ge...Good idea on the anchors. We really do need to get our rears in gear and get them secured somehow. <br /><br />A "farmette" is totally what we're going for...slow and steady. Thanks for your encouragement! Its a great labor of love.BLD in MThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08497511995276601468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536895335969103038.post-36894868368132746052012-07-09T08:50:06.585-06:002012-07-09T08:50:06.585-06:00No worries at all, Bean!
So, do the plants vine...No worries at all, Bean! <br /><br />So, do the plants vine and sprawl outward more like say, squash, or do they bush up on themselves? Do they take up more space than when caged? I am very curious. I've never known anyone who didn't grow tomatoes caged or trellised in some fashion.<br /><br />I bet the recipients of your old cages were appreciative! They don't come cheap, usually.BLD in MThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08497511995276601468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536895335969103038.post-80904382760119650602012-07-09T06:00:37.679-06:002012-07-09T06:00:37.679-06:00My brother made some of these nearly 30 years ago ...My brother made some of these nearly 30 years ago and is still using them. Good luck with the tomatoes!Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15032479084775154076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536895335969103038.post-14749631581066233312012-07-07T20:06:35.841-06:002012-07-07T20:06:35.841-06:00Those are some handy, dandy tomato cages. I have o...Those are some handy, dandy tomato cages. I have one like that. A guy gave it to me, one his father made 30 years ago and not as tall, fatter. But, it was homemade on the same principle. <br /><br />You are going to be using these cheap cages to good use and eating like a king and queen! <br /><br />One suggestion--since tomatoes are heavy plants and the cages are so tall, you might want to anchor them with coat hanger "bobbie pin" like anchors. A strong wind will take down a fence with tomatoes on it. <br /><br />Your backyard is going to be one fine "farmette" with Matt able to make the structures you need and both of you working on the garden chores. I like watching the progress.Practical Parsimonyhttp://www.practical-parsimony.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536895335969103038.post-21511291933918370002012-07-07T07:09:07.520-06:002012-07-07T07:09:07.520-06:00Hello Again,
I fear my comment may have come acro...Hello Again,<br /><br />I fear my comment may have come across as less than charitable, and I certainly did not mean to rain on your parade :), I apologize if any offense was taken. Your husband did a splendid job making the cages and they look very nice.<br /><br />Blessings to you,<br /><br />BeanBeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14484707482492844677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536895335969103038.post-38246057525222121662012-07-06T18:54:03.426-06:002012-07-06T18:54:03.426-06:00We used tomato cages for many years. We always loa...We used tomato cages for many years. We always loathed disentangling the cages from the dead/dying vines in the fall so one year decided not to use them. Our tomato plants grew very well without support, our yield was still very good, and no more disentangling in the fall, we have not used cages in several years and this spring we gave all of them away. We grow a lot of tomatoes each year, around 50 plants, so we had a lot of cages to give away.Beanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14484707482492844677noreply@blogger.com