Vegetable Garden - Supporting your Tomatoes Part 1

[SocalDNM]

Are those cages bought like that or did you make them? Also how big on average do your tomato plants get with cages like these??

[webcajun]

@SocalDNM ... I make all my cages now with 5 ft. concrete reinforcement wire. The height of the plant depends on the variety which can range from a few feet to over 10 ft. tall......Donald

[aquariussal]

That looks like a very well kept farm/garden you have there! :) Do you grow all of your own food? If you do, how big is your farm area? Just wondering what sort of size of farm you'd need to be realistically self-subsistence. Love your accent! :)

[webcajun]

@aquariussal ... Each family is different but with the right planning a person could easily grow all the vegetables needed for a family in an area ½ - 1 acre (probably less depending on row spacing) and have lots of extra to give to family and friends. Canning is a big part of that. Even if you don’t grow everything you need, you can make a huge dent in the food bill. What accent? LOL…..Donald

[crdennis123]

What is the diameter of the tomato cages you use and how do you keep the main tomato stem growing straight in the cage??

[webcajun]

@crdennis123 ...The cages I'm using now (concrete wire) are about 22 inches across. For the most part the stems will grow straight up, some branches will have to be pushed back in the cage......Donald

[chandlerjeremyd]

Wow! That's some garden you have there Donald.

[webcajun]

@chandlerjeremyd ... it is big and lots of work......Donald

[KLisaLisa]

@webcajun

Do you do all the work yourself--or do you have help?

Thanks for the videos--very interesting and informative!

[webcajun]

@KLisaLisa ... 99.99% of the work I do alone........ Donald

[henrycems]

I like the method of using zip ties for the top of the cage. I have been just looping my twine around each top section of the cage and it is hard to get all of them tight. I my have to try this way next time thanks.

Alfred

[webcajun]

@henrycems ... It does work well....... Donald

[spainmd]

6 foot t posts donald?

[webcajun]

That's correct........  Donald

[bobbyd218]

Very inventive......Do you make your own cages out of fencing???? Could you tell me how tall and the hole size??? I use wire mesh for concrete; good but heavy....I like your method..

Thanks for posting and keep up the good work.....

[webcajun]

I recommend the 48" tall 6 inch fencing for the tomato cages. I use the 32" and it just a little too short....... Donald

[member699]

You could probably just hit a groove into the top of each cage (on both sides) and then just slot the rope into the groove. That would save plastic ties and probably give more support overall. 8)

[webcajun]

Good idea, thanks......  Donald

[wgseagal]

let me guess what your passion is gardening lol i guess thats what happens when we all get older we turn in to gardeners i love gardening nothing like eating a home made tomatoe from the garden knowing you grew it and took care of it yourself i like the tomatoe support i will be doing that this year

[webcajun]

Works great when you plant the whole row at the same time. I plan on spacing my plantings out so I may have to go one post per plant this year....... Donald

[ShushLorraine]

Very interesting way to tie the cylinders together. Using that post and also using wire cages rather than as a fence makes the fence easy to move from year to year. I like it.

[webcajun]

Works pretty well when planting all you tomatoes at the same time. This year will be just a little different...... Donald

[MrBooojangles]

Thats different. As a rule in the UK tomatos outdoors are tied to or twisted around a bamboo cane. In a greenhouse where a lot of people grow them they are tied with a string or thin cord with a loose loop around the stem below the bottom main leaf and then the string is tied to a wire running the length of the roof of the greenhouse and the top of the string is tied to this wire. The plants are then twisted around the string as the plants grow.

[webcajun]

That's what's nice about gardening, so many different ways of doing things. Whatever feels right for you is the way to go...... Donald

[99Paully123987]

i like your setup...& cute doggy too!

[webcajun]

Thanks. That cute puppy has grown into a big pain...... Donald

[Kamisha100]

Do you think your system could work well if you grow in containers? Do you use this staking system for other plants that need a stake?

[webcajun]

There is no reason I can see why this wouldn't work with containers. I also use tomatoes cages to support my cucumbers although not exactly the same set up as for tomatoes. Check out the video on "Planting Cucumbers"

[ichabod1101]

nice system

[login762]

Hi there,

Great idea and very tidy, thanks for sharing.

Cheers

cg