Pea fence

[Wildcat]

I read somewhere about using "pea fence" to build tomato cages. Has anybody ever tried this? I'm not ever sure what a pea fence is and how big the openings are. Also does Lowe's carry something like it?

I need something to build my tomato cages up to 6 feet tall. I'm growing them in the Earthbox and they always over grow every tomato cone shape tomato cages I've got so this year I want to try something different.

 

[TX300mag]

I've layered concre wire to make tall cages.

 

[Chapman]

I thought pea fence was like a plastic mesh. I don't think it would be good for tomatoes What if you used some rebar in the ground around your cages that goes past the tops of your cages? You could add some wire to the rebar for added height.

 

[fishboy1]

I've layered concre wire to make tall cages.

x2. Works good. sturdy and tall.

You DO have to prune/sucker your plants though or you wind up with a giant tomato jungle.

 

[Wildcat]

This is the kind of pea fence I'm talking about. I have not been able to find them with the large openings. I really hoped I would not have to use concre wire, until the plants have grown over it it looks all rusted.

I would like to find something like this for my Earthboxes.

 

[Chapman]

That looks like it would work good.

 

[Wildcat]

Before I moved most of my tomoato plants got that big. Last year I lost a bunch of my leaves to caterpillars and the sun killed my tomatoes.

I used to have to put in steel farm fence posts to stake them and it was a lot of trouble. this year I'm doing something different and I know I'll get the plants to grow that biger or ever bigger so I want to support them right like that lady is.

 

[LA man]

is that a aquaponics setup

 

[Wildcat]

is that a aquaponics setup

No, it's EarthBox.

http://www.earthbox.com/

 

[Wildcat]

I found them. After I posted the link to the Earthbox site I went to the forum and started looking around and there they were.

I copied the pictures last year hoping to build the same thing and then forgot where I got them. I had posted on the forum a couple times asking questions but never went to the trips and tricks where they were.

I'll order my sets tomorrow.

 

[TX300mag]

I've layered concre wire to make tall cages.

x2. Works good. sturdy and tall.

You DO have to prune/sucker your plants though or you wind up with a giant tomato jungle.

I reluctantly prune minimally on my staked maters, but don't sucker anymore. I don't prune or sucker any of them in cages.

And I end up with a GIANT mater jungle.

I try not to injure the plant in any way if I don't have to. I'm really succeptable to diseases/fungus/pests for some reason.

 

[woodchuckc]

I've layered concre wire to make tall cages.

x2. Works good. sturdy and tall.

You DO have to prune/sucker your plants though or you wind up with a giant tomato jungle.

I reluctantly prune minimally on my staked maters, but don't sucker anymore. I don't prune or sucker any of them in cages.

And I end up with a GIANT mater jungle.

I try not to injure the plant in any way if I don't have to. I'm really succeptable to diseases/fungus/pests for some reason.

Same for me - no pruning / suckering. The more foliage, the stronger the plant and the better the tomatoes are shaded to minimize sun scald. I fertilize my plants once within a couple of weeks of planting with triple 15, then no more since the fertilizer will just make huge plants and cut down on fruit production. I do use concrete wire cages I made about 12-13 years ago that are 5' tall. I tuck the branches back through the wire as they grow and poke out, and when they grow out the top of the cage they just cascade down the outside of the cage. It makes it easy to pick the tomatoes because the openings in the concrete wire are 6"x6". I use one green T fence post per cage for support, tying the cage to the post near the top with a piece of baling wire.

 

[Wildcat]

is that a aquaponics setup

No, it's EarthBox.

http://www.earthbox.com/

Whatever you use, you probably should still stake them so the wind don't blow them over once they get that tall.

I already do. I use rebar to stake them into the ground.

 

[Mike Belt]

I use 6' 2 X 4 wire and make hoops 2' in diameter (hog ring them together). I drive a couple of stakes into the ground just inside the hoops and tie the two together. I cut sections away to be able to run my hands inside and pick the tomatoes. Be sure to tape over the cut areas or you'll end up with cuts all mover your wrists. These will support any tomatoes.