There are lots of tomato cages and staking options on the market and even more DIY methods shared gardener-to-gardener.
But what’s the easiest, most productive way tosupport a tomato plant?
Stories of failure on both sides of the debate are prevalent.
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Grow your plants upright by first understanding the pitfalls of these popular methods.
Cages come with their own challenges.
Flimsy, 3-foot-tall cone-shaped cages often crumple to the ground under the weight of foliage and fruit mid-season.
Credit:Robert Cardillo
Plus, cages can be more cumbersome to store over the winter than stakes.
Tomato plants naturally weave in and out of the support system.
Caging also usuallyproduces more tomatoesthan staking.
Staking often exposes fruit to sunlight which increases the chance of sunscaldessentially sunburn on tomato fruit.
Cage-grown tomatoes have ample foliage to prevent sunscald and fuel the plant for increased fruit production.
Wooden or plastic cages can work, but aren’t as strong or long-lasting as metal ones.
Cages should be at least 4 to 5 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide.
Roll a 6-foot-long piece of hog wire or concrete reinforcing wire into a 2-foot-diameter tomato cage.
Use a 9-foot-long piece of woven wire to make a 3-foot-diameter cage.
Strong wire cutters are essential for cutting the woven wire.
Drive stakes into the ground on opposite sides of the cage to support the cylindrical structure.
Galvanized livestock fencing is another material for building your own tomato cage.
Make single plant cages by using bolt cutters to cut fencing into the desired length.
Tie sections of the livestock fencing together to form a square tomato cage.
Tips for Using Tomato Cages
Cage your tomatoes with these must-know essentials for success.
Pair a heavy-duty tomato cage with regular water and ample sunlight and you could expect a bountiful harvest.
