Tomato Cage Made Easy: Cheap, Efficient, and Recyclable Technique

Discover a cheap, efficient, and recyclable way to tie up your tomato plants using T-Posts and twine. Learn how to create a lattice to support your plants, keep them off the ground, and provide optimal access to sunlight. Improve your tomato garden with this simple, eco-friendly technique!

[@coolbeansgardening]

Note: for longer rows, you may want multiple posts within the row, for stability. You can also tie the twine together if the tomatoes begin to push it out. (As seen here)

[@1ntuthukozwane]

Jow many tomatoes do you get per plant on average?

[@coolbeansgardening]

@@1ntuthukozwane it always depends on the variety, but these Willeford Heirlooms (indeterminate) produce through the whole season, anywhere from 10 to 20 lbs each plant, even though they're golf ball to baseball sized tomatoes. Off of the three rows you see here, I've already harvested over 25 lbs of tomatoes, used for salsas, spaghetti sauces, salads, etc.

[@1ntuthukozwane]

@@coolbeansgardening 9kg is a lot. Last year I got about 4kg each plant BUT, I didn't trellis well, planted in Winter, had a horn worm epidemic and didn't plant deeply so my plants ran out of space to grow, it grew too hot, lost about a third of my fruit and died in early summer. This year, I planted deeper, have more determinates and planted 2 months ago is early autumn for a winter to summer crop and have transplants growing for when these die. I also planted more than I needed but my trellises are just shorter than yours but I use wooden poles and I don't really trellis until the first 5-6 flower sets have start developing and fruiting so I let it grow off the ground until then but I have to prune quite a bit as I use no fertilizer, manure or pesicides/insecticides. My first Romas and store-bought slicing tomatoes are producing now but I have about 54 in ground and another 60 still growing - all at various stages and various heirlooms and cherries. Wanna see how long I can eat when I plant like this as I quie fancy growing 1 season for own consumption and selling the rest to fund my garden.

[@coolbeansgardening]

@@1ntuthukozwane holy cow! As I read that i was thinking that's a ton of good tomatoes! And well done! Always good to pay for your hobby with the hobby! That's awesome!! Wish I had that kind of room to be sure!

[@1ntuthukozwane]

@@coolbeansgardening It's a privilege but I also plant quite closely like you do. Just trying to see what the best I can do is. All the best. Will keep on watching.

[@Steve197201]

This is such a simple idea that it so effective! Here I am, putting stakes in the ground, which gets expensive if you have a lot of plants to stake. All I have to do is put two, maybe four stakes, and then just run the string around them. I'll have to try this next season. Thanks for this great idea!

[@coolbeansgardening]

Glad I could help!!! Happy gardening!

[@joytiller6542]

This is a great idea! Thanks for sharing!

[@rach_just_rach]

Thanks. I might set another post about 12" for a little more room, I hope my Hungarian Hearts are as big as they say they are, lots of support!!!! They are doing very well in the hot humid south, best tomato yet.

[@coolbeansgardening]

That's awesome!!! Definitely worth it. And for larger tomatoes always use a thicker twine. They create a ton of pressure. Best of luck with those Hungarian ones!

[@danieljosevski1169]

Brilliant idea. Going to do this for my garden

[@snappbackcoach]

I going to try this

[@coolbeansgardening]

Go for it! Simple and easy!

[@MetalAsFork]

My first year growing a hugelkultur in my backyard I used some bamboo stakes with twine for some pea plants, and they didn't have the notchy hook things, nor the stability and rigidity of these T-posts. It looked super janky, and needed frequent re-tying and adjusting. Time to go buy some T-posts. Thanks.

[@coolbeansgardening]

It certainly helps! And look on FB marketplace, or post in a neighborhood page, specifically new home subdivisions. Lots of folks would let you pull theirs out for free!

[@ScottRoberts-el2jn]

Great idea! Oh,and I love your garden boots lol!

[@coolbeansgardening]

😂 thanks and thanks!!

[@keishaj.2001]

Thank you! Awesome idea.

[@coolbeansgardening]

Thanks! And thanks for watching!

[@lilpanini1351]

Theres no way me and you have the same irrigation with pvc and florida trellis , such a good way to organize your plants ! Great Grow

[@coolbeansgardening]

Heck yea!! Only the best figure this system out;) thanks! And thanks for watching!

[@lindaswedenlifestyle]

This is great ideas. Thanks for sharing with us👌❤️

[@Eric-gi9kg]

This is a great idea as long as your tomatoes are determinate. Indeterminate can easily grow over 8 feet tall. I use a system similar to how the pros. A single post at each end. The height at least 8 feet. Across the top a horizontal plank (2x4) with rungs approximately 2 feet in length (screwed to the horizontal plank). Add hooks to the underside of the ends of the rungs. Attach a string at the base if the plant.. the other end to the hook.

[@noneyabusiness1302]

The only way I grow tomatoes now. 👍

[@Chrisbuildsbadassfences]

Ahh I'm definitely going to try this.

[@coolbeansgardening]

Absolutely! It's a great system!

[@andyakomagaling8695]

thanks for this cool trellis. must try this one

[@coolbeansgardening]

Thanks!! And good luck! Be sure to use thick twine for heavier plants, with a couple stakes in the middle to support if you have long rows!

[@Grace-vk3jd]

THANKYOU❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@coolbeansgardening]

Thanks for watching!

[@Kelgore]

i see a socks and sandals gardener, i subscibe

[@coolbeansgardening]

😂 no greater combo!

[@milliejoneel9437]

Cool idea!

[@coolbeansgardening]

Thank you!

[@jaysmith3652]

You got me thinking about fried green tomatoes!😋😋😋

[@OC1621.]

I use sticks and tie them with old stockings.. I will try this next year, cant do this twice.😂

[@JoseOrtiz-zb7gq]

Awesome

[@bluemountaincottage]

Wow!

[@mjcechman]

I love this! Would this be for both determinant & undeterminant ?

[@coolbeansgardening]

Yep! And works for tomatillos, peppers, pretty much anything you want to contain! Just remember with larger tomato plants, find a thicker twine, and add more t- posts in between to carry the weight!

[@katmcleod4327]

At what point should you start to do this? How long after planting your tomatoes into the soil?

[@casid9929]

I used to use 10ft 1/2 in. electric conduit since mine got taller than that. I started using the 5 ft sticks with a coupler so in case of hail, I can cover the plants from damage. I then add another 5 ft stick since hail season is usually over by the time the plant gets to five foot height.

[@coolbeansgardening]

Great multi use idea and preventative work! Love it

[@IrieVibes8]

@casid9929 great idea! What did you use to tie the tomato plant to the pipe?

[@jaesunsturkie7674]

This is like the Florida weave, but not as good. The California weave if you will. Jk. Looking good

[@coolbeansgardening]

😂 Texas weave, as that's where we're at. And yes. It's the lazy version of it! But it's worked for me for years and years!

[@inharmonywithearth9982]

If a deer or large dog runs through the whole garden is a tangled mess. I gave up the Florida weave 30 years ago. A catastrophic failure that needs daily maintenance.

[@ruthinater4322]

I've been growing tomatoes forever now and this is the 1st year I've done the Florida weave. I have to say that I'm not impressed. It might be user error but the twine seems to loosen after time and plants topple more 😢

[@anthonyfesta7010]

Florida weave

[@mariap.894]

Yep! And do not use jute! It won't last❤

[@DeepStateDestroyer]

Good idea give credit to the right person for the idea

[@coolbeansgardening]

I'm not sure there's.. any one person to give credit to.. stuff like this has been done for longer than any gardener alive today.

[@DadMarkTV1311962]

❤

[@user-gm5vb5no9m]

What the name of your device to push the pole down please

[@coolbeansgardening]

Usually called a Post Driver. Here's a link to the exact version I use here. www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-3-in-x-9-in-x-24-in-Metal-Fence-Post-Driver-901147EB/205960880

[@sadjaxx]

Where do you get the posts?

[@coolbeansgardening]

T posts from any tractor supply or hardware store, or, look free Facebook pages, marketplace, or in neighborhood apps. People are always getting rid of them. New neighborhoods especially. Builders put them on every tree

[@apost099]

Do you just compost the twine when you’re done?

[@coolbeansgardening]

You can, yep!

[@Areallycleverjoke]

I’m having issues getting pollinators to my tomatoes, there’s a marigold that has helped but the tomato flowers don’t seem to be attracting any of them, advice?

[@coolbeansgardening]

Sure! Great question! A few ideas. One, you can take a q-tip and manually pollinate them. Lightly brush each flower around the inside of the flower, touching the stamen. Go down one row, and then back up the same row. That will pollinate. Two, cut away any leaves and branches that impede the view of the flowers from above and the side. Tomatoes can handle a heavy pruning, and that will make them visible and open air. That may also help them self pollinate in the wind a bit. Third, Bright, scented flowers often encourage pollinators to come, if you have the funds, go purchase a flowering plant, one that you can clearly see pollen on the stamen of the flowers, that also had new buds that will open soon, and place it out there near your tomatoes. Best of luck to you!!

[@Areallycleverjoke]

@@coolbeansgardening I’ll do just that thanks!

[@jaesunsturkie7674]

Tomatoes are self pollinating. You can just shake the bush a little. Usually wind does the job though. Tomato blossoms are not very attractive to bees because they dont have much of what they are looking for

[@krissifaith6709]

Get some candelabra flowers...they grow super fast and tall...

[@benzworks8453]

Chanclas and socks.😂

[@coolbeansgardening]

No better way! Socks keep the ants off, chanclas are easy to go outside whenever.

[@lovehealthmarket]

this is called a florida weave for anyone interested

[@zigman3105]

Messy af

[@coolbeansgardening]

Ahhh, but it works, and works , and it's cheap!

[@jimhudson1737]

No thanks!

[@coolbeansgardening]

@@jimhudson1737 it's not for everyone!

[@MarkSmith-qk2rl]

Hell naw ! That twine and t post are expensive ! Use bamboo and used pantyhose !! Problem solved !

[@coolbeansgardening]

Would have to be pretty thick bamboo rods to support the weight of a row of tomatoes, and also, i don't know where you source your panty hose but it's certainly not cheaper around here than a roll of twine! Would be potentially sustainable though for sure

[@OC1621.]

Yes! Yes.. the panty hose is the best been doing this for over forty five years..😊😊🎉

[@OC1621.]

​@@coolbeansgardeningI used the ones that have a run in them ..cut them in strips to go around the wood.

[@MarkSmith-qk2rl]

@@coolbeansgardening what a dumbass statement !!

[@MarkSmith-qk2rl]

@@coolbeansgardening what an ignorant statement

[@sandraisaak3802]

Bull! Commercial wire and lean and lower is faster, cleaner and way less string to toss.

[@coolbeansgardening]

Yes, can use cattle panels or wire fence to accomplish the same, but twine and posts is almost no expense.

[@cptnd3851]

idk why my dumb ass was going one string at a time tying and knotting everything in a florida weave when i could have just wrapped the twine around in one big go

[@coolbeansgardening]

It's just how you learned! Nothing wrong with that! You can also just connect one side to the other with a bit of twine if it bulges too much too! For longer rows add a stake in the middle, and also use a heavier twine.

[@joytiller6542]

This is a great idea! Thanks for sharing!!

[@coolbeansgardening]

Thank you! And thanks for commenting!