Cylindrical Tomato Cage
The Vegetable Gardener’s Book of Building Projects by the Editors of Storey Publishing (Storey Publishing, 2010) is a collection of DIY projects for your garden. From how to make a compost bin to building a lawn chair, you’ll find instructions on how to make your garden more productive and enjoyable. These instructions for a tomato cage will give your tomatoes the support that they need.
Of the many methods of holding and supporting tomatoes, the classic cylinder is a top choice. It’s easy to train the vines with this support. And you’ll find that picking your ripened tomatoes is a breeze, particularly if you’ve had to cope with sprawling, earthbound vines before.
Materials
Lumber
Supplies
• 70 inch × 42 inch piece of wire fencing (with 2 inch ×3 inch mesh)
• Light-gauge wire or twine
Tools
• Wire cutters
• Pliers
• Tape measure
• Hammer
• Wood saw
Constructing the Cage
1. Shape the wire fencing into a circular cage, overlapping the edges and binding them together with wire or twine.
2. Use wire cutters to cut a number of 6-inch square openings in the grid that will allow you to gain access to the plant as it grows.
Installing the Cage
1. Place the cage around the plant.
2. Drive the tomato stakes into the ground on opposite sides of the cage, and fasten the cage to them with wire or twine.
More From The Vegetable Gardener’s Book of Building Projects:
Excerpted from , © by Storey Publishing, LLC, Photography by © John Gruen, illustrations by © Michael Gellatly, used with permission from Storey Publishing.
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