Best way to cage tomatoes

[Beekissed]

@Beekissed post pix please. Something else to make me feel like slackard. Learned something.

Well, I just don't happen to have pics real handy of commercial tomato farms in the area....they aren't of much interest to me, though I have bought tomatoes and hot peppers from them before in a pinch. If I ever get down that way again(a couple of counties over from me)I'll be sure and try to bring my camera.

I used to drive past these farms on my way to school over in OH for 2 long years, so got a snootful of the vista during that time. Miles and miles of mater and corn farms over there along the river, on both sides.

 

[Beekissed]

Hey...scratch that. Did a search and found one....

 

[seedcorn]

Interesting. Assume hand picking?

Here, they lay on ground, machine harvested. Once and done. They go for ketchup here. Red, green, they all go at once.

 

[Gardening with Rabbits]

DH and I have been planting them along a wire cattle panel and letting them cling/climb on that.

The first ones I planted I put wide row because I read they would hold each other up, but they all fell over, which they were not like the package said 2-1/2 feet, more close to 4 feet. Last year I planted next to some lattice and some wire and ran rows of string next to them, but they got taller than the fence and tops fell over. My neighbor is planting next to a chain link fence and I asked how he is going to keep them from falling and he is going to push them through the holes in the chain link, but I don't think that will work. The thread about tomato trellis going through cattle panels, sort of like this picture I have. Wondering some sort of something like this, but also I have Tall Telephone Peas and I am just going to have to have something taller. [ATTACH=full]7346[/ATTACH]

 

[MontyJ]

I use my tomato tunnel method. It's prune, stake and tie, but it's very solid. I have never had it blown over in even the strongest storms. The tops of the stakes are bolted together, so they fold up at seasons end for storage. Each stake pair is tied to the next, and each end is anchored with a guy and tent stake.

 

[Beekissed]

Interesting. Assume hand picking?

Here, they lay on ground, machine harvested. Once and done. They go for ketchup here. Red, green, they all go at once.

Yep, hand pick as far as I know...the same migrant workers. These mostly go for ketchup as well. Any left after the big harvest are sold at road side for those wanting to can and such.

The first ones I planted I put wide row because I read they would hold each other up, but they all fell over, which they were not like the package said 2-1/2 feet, more close to 4 feet. Last year I planted next to some lattice and some wire and ran rows of string next to them, but they got taller than the fence and tops fell over. My neighbor is planting next to a chain link fence and I asked how he is going to keep them from falling and he is going to push them through the holes in the chain link, but I don't think that will work. The thread about tomato trellis going through cattle panels, sort of like this picture I have. Wondering some sort of something like this, but also I have Tall Telephone Peas and I am just going to have to have something taller. [ATTACH=full]7346[/ATTACH]

How does one harvest from the plants growing in the middle of that panel?

 

[MontyJ]

Forgot to add that for Romas, I just cage them with cheap cages. Many of them fall over, but the are all ready at once, so I just pull the cage and all up to pick the tomatoes. It keeps most of them off the ground.

 

[Beekissed]

I use my tomato tunnel method. It's prune, stake and tie, but it's very solid. I have never had it blown over in even the strongest storms. The tops of the stakes are bolted together, so they fold up at seasons end for storage. Each stake pair is tied to the next, and each end is anchored with a guy and tent stake.
View attachment 7347 View attachment 7348

Monty, those are some sturdy, nice looking mater supports! I love it that you bolted them so they fold down for storage.

 

[MontyJ]

Thanks Bee. It works well for what we do.

 

[journey11]

I use my tomato tunnel method. It's prune, stake and tie, but it's very solid. I have never had it blown over in even the strongest storms. The tops of the stakes are bolted together, so they fold up at seasons end for storage. Each stake pair is tied to the next, and each end is anchored with a guy and tent stake.
View attachment 7347 View attachment 7348

They look really nice and tidy too. I take it you don't have to drive them into the soil? That would make my hubby happy. After about 60 stakes, he starts to get a little annoyed with me. Also, what kind of lumber did you use? Is it treated?