This year, I'm finally done with these things.
In my opinion, they just do not really work. They are too small, too flimsy, and rust too quickly. I cover more in this video.
VLOG - THE END OF TOMATO CAGES
So, if I'm done with tomato cages, I'm sure that you may be wondering what my replacement will be. I've been experimenting for a few years now, and I'll be using cattle panels and other fencing.
I've tried weaving the plants as they grow, and it has worked out well in the previous years. Rather than trying to fight through the little cages, I'll be able to harvest the tomatoes in more of a two dimensional method, which should work just fine. Also, since the fencing isn't actually beneath the surface of the soil, it won't deteriorate as rapidly as the bottoms of the tomato cages.
This method worked pretty good last year, and I'm excited to continue to work on developing my technique this year. I'll keep you posted on how it works out! Thanks!
As always, I'm @papa-pepper and here's the proof:
proof-of-being-done-with-those-inferior-cages
Until next time…
https://steemitimages.com/0x0/https://ipfs.busy.org/ipfs/QmSKT3AhEpV8JXA2eaE1HQPogXev5rzG4uxMzTi3ieE3Tc
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Got that shirt on right now!!!
Do you still have the same PO box my friend?
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Yes, I do!
Keep your eyes open in the next week or so !!
Good reminder for me, I've got tons of mail to ship out!
Nice!
You can never be caged!
NEVER!!! FREEDOM!!!!!!!!!
My grandmother grows tomatoes in her garden.
And, I can say that tomatoes from her garden taste 10 times better than the ones bought in the store.
They are sweeter and have a lot more taste.
Same can be said for her strawberries.
She brought me some yesterday.
Oh, the smell is the best.
The ones from the store don't even have the smell.
I know exactly what you are saying.
The @little-peppers just ate some fresh ones recently. I asked them if they tasted as good as the store-bought ones, and they just laughed!
Yes, homemade and bought and in store can't be compared.
Sure, homemade strawberries are smaller (atleast the ones from my grandma) and they don't look as good, but they are organic and taste a lot better.
By the way, you have really cute kids.
It seems like you're living pretty good life surrounded with your family, animals, and nature.
That has to be one of my dreams for sure.
To live without stress, and eat what I grow.
It is a nice life, and we rather enjoy it. Thank you!
Tomato cages are for the birds! They don't work worth a darn for me. Never have. But now, cattle panels...I have never seen them here. They look to be made from heavy gauge wire. Do you think I could manufacture my own cattle panels?
Good call @papa-pepper...in fact that is what I am doing this year as well. Getting away from the typical cage and going with a panel! Looking forward to seeing your success!
Well this just saved me a bunch of money next year :-)
I'll have to try your trick on my tomatoes next year (if I'm allowed to try and grow some more. It didn't go too well this year. We only got two tiny tomatoes off the plant before it died)
Cool is already thriving, soon this tomato will bear fruit,Tomatoes are very good for health, I like to eat raw tomatoes.
Oh yes, it is already set some small tomatoes!
Yes,I am excited to see all the plants in your garden.
tomato cages. my advice is to use a net from the rope over the wire again or a little twig. krn steel wire gives a different effect with wood on the plant.
Good advice! Thank you!
Just say no to tomato cages! I hate the damn things, refuse to have anything to do with them. When you transplant, how much do you bury/leave above ground? I always bury almost the entire plant when I transplant (leave 2-3 inches sticking out) and tie that little bit to a sturdy stake and then let the plant spread as it wants. I know that's not always feasible but it sure makes for some massive/productive plants.
Amen... In the past i tried using fence posts and paracord but the cattle panels work so much better. Hog Panel will give you smaller squares if you are wanting to weave more.
Too small for you lucky southern boys with your 9-month growing seasons...lol... Up here in northern Maine my tomato plants look up at the top of their cages and ask why the sun doesn't get stuck in that when it goes by...
LOL! I hear you man!
I tied the branches with threads and tied them to an equal trunk, so I left them on the ground. I will try to do otherwise .. it is incredible to consume what you harvest. I will copy your techniques ... I follow you.
I invite you to visit my profile, I would love to have your help. Thank you.
I have been without those garbage things for a while. I only use fence for my matos. I now have an overhead line run that will allow for me to tie up the long running branches. It is just so much more effective, stronger, easier to pick, easier to support, and just more aesthetic I feel.
Welcome to the future... 😜
The future has arrived!... or, future, @papa-pepper has arrived!
RIP 🍅 cages
Indeed, they are dead to me now.
Those little cages are junk. Defiantly time for an upgrade.
Yup - Even young men know that! LOL!
I bought about 4 cages for my tomatoes. I have way more than 4 plants but I wasn’t about to buy a cage for each one. My aunt says she lets her plants just do their thing. They lay on the ground, so there’s some rotten ones, but otherwise she says it works out ok. Obviously, this method would take up more room.
Interesting! It would take more space, but that is a neat idea! Thanks for sharing!
That's funny I just found this post, I was buying soil a few hours ago for more tomatoes and saw cages for $1 and thought about getting some but they were just so ugly so I decided to find an alternative.
LOL - You wouldn't even buy them for $1~ LOL!
This so lovely @papa-pepper hard working man you never stop producing food for the nation #homesteading cudos sir you deserve some accolades Here in Nigeria we normally use peg to. Raise the plant so that the fruit won't get spoilt
Good idea! Thanks @lashbank!
I use the same set up, plus plastic zip ties to secure the vines as they grow.
FREE RANGE TOMATO's
Yes, finally.
#FreeTheTomato
#AllTomatosMatter
I was given tomato cages a couple years back. I tried them out. My plants crushed them. I use sturdy poles (which we just put up today) and tie up the plants as they grow.
Good idea!
It probably dosent make your work easy sir weldone @papa-pepper
This should work better! Thanks!
Good post friend and good idea too, regards.
Once more experiment you are goinh to do great idea you are conitnuously doing a creativity job stuff full of energy and really need a hard work and dedication time spending gem its new cages will be rocking for you i know it will because you have mind genious man in agricultural world agriculture is blowing with your ideas i thing your experiments and ideas will be taught in agricultural universities for better future in agricultural world its a great environment safe work its a virtue you have been doing and sharing with us i really heartly like you your work your dedication everything superb mindblowing
Hey @papa-pepper, I'm laughing as I read this. My garden spot is tiny tiny tiny. I just wrote a blog a couple of hours ago about two volunteer tomato plants that randomly appeared. See it here. I just stuck them in my little garden among the other already-planted and thriving tomato plants. It is going to be a crowded mess. But it's a FUN mess. I so love to garden!
I drive re-bar down in the center of the cage which helps some. At least gives me something sturdy to tie them onto.
But no matter. It's just all a wonderful time. And SO MUCH FOOD! LOL
Thanks!
Hi bro, really long time. You are awesome.
This is well a ULOG. A trend is building up. I expanded on it a bit here
I could not find a recent blog of yours to reply to Terry, so dropping this here, thanks for the nice vote on my post.
I have struggled here for months with what people have said about me, and the nasty stuff, lost a lot of support so I appreciate it a lot.,
Be well, thanks again.
You are awesome too! I'll look into it tomorrow! Thanks!
You are so old now!
You are 77!!!!!
That is amazing, I can barely count that high since I was edumacted in tha state educashun system and all
lol
Have a good weekend PP.
thank you bro
Great idea!
Memaw uses cattle panels (or is it hog pannels?) that her husband rigged up years ago. They are cut & bent into a 3 sided box... Probably 20x20in? On 3 sides (one solid piece, bent). With rebar welded at 2 or 3 corners/edges, as legs.
They stabd probably 4-4.5ft tall.
They are going on 15 years of use! And are super strong & sturdy.