How to Build a Tomato Cage Your Grandchildren will Inherit

Tired of the lousy tomato cages on the market. Here is a tomato cage you can easily build with a simple hack saw and pliers that may passed down from generation to generation.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Thirty feet of rebar( 1/2inch metal reinforcing bar for concrete).
• Hack saw/chop saw
• Wire Cutting Pliers
• Tape Measure
• Tie Wire (1/2 lb coil)
• High Visibility Paint (oil base)
• Sponge brush/paint brush
• Metal File
• Saw Horses

1. Cut 3 bars, with hack saw or chop saw, at 5 feet and 9 bars at 18 inches. File the burs off the ends so they are smooth to the touch.

2. Paint all bars with high visibility paint. Let bars dry overnight.

3. Drive three five foot bars (at 75 degree angle) approximately a foot into the soil equidistant around newly planted tomato plant. Your tomato cage should resemble an upside down pyramid.

4. Wire tie (with pliers) 3 eighteen inch bars 1 foot off soil, 3 at the top of cage and 3 in the middle. Add more bars depending on the variety of tomato being grown.

5. Dismantle cage in fall and store in pvc pipe over winter. (see article on “How to Store Rebar”)

Tips & Warnings

• Call your local lumber yard to see if they will cut the re-bar, at least the larger pieces, for you. This will save a lot of time.
• See my article on “How to Paint/Stain Spindles and other Cylindrical Items.”
• See my article on “How to Store Rebar.”
• Follow shop standards when working with power tools.