Using Tomato Cages is the lazy man’s way of supporting your growing tomatoes. It is important to do something to support those tomatoes and cages are a cheap and easy way to do it.
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Using tomato cages is one of three different methods of supporting your growing tomatoes. The other two methods are staking and trellising.
Why you should be using tomato cages
I choose to use tomato cages for one main reason, they are easy, and I’m lazy!!
Using tomato cages really doesn’t require much other than the initial investment and remembering to set them out each year. That makes them the best choice in my busy life!
Using some type of support with tomatoes is important. Tomato plants can get quite large and the fruit is very heavy. Without support, the vines will collapse to the ground where all kinds of problems can occur.
Many tomato diseases are soil-borne. If your tomatoes are growing on the ground there is a much bigger chance those diseases will transfer to the plant early in the season and ruin your crop.
When your tomato plants are sprawled on the ground, it is much easier for pests (both insects and critters) to get access to the ripening fruit. Tomato cages help both problems by supporting the plants and keeping the fruit off the ground!!
Buying Tomato Cages
What should you look for when buying a tomato cage? My biggest piece of advice to you is spend a little extra money!! Those cheap $3 cages you see at most big box stores (and some time even the grocery stores) are terrible!!!
They are too small and are made of light-gauge wire. After only one season they will be helplessly bent. They usually collapse under the weight of your tomato plants or blow over in the wind.
Instead, choose more expensive cages made from heavy gauge wire. (Follow this link for the type I buy)
You can see from this photo how strong and heavy the wire is on these cages. The one in this picture is 6 years old and still hasn’t lost its shape.
Also, be sure the cages you buy are at least 4 feet tall. They should have long legs that can go deep in the soil for support. This helps the stability of the tomato plant as it grows.
Which cage shape is best?
There are two different types of cages in my collection, both heavy-gauge wire.
Overall, I really like the square ones
, they fold up for storage and are very stable. I have eight of them, but I seldom use them for my tomatoes because they are so handy for other plants like peas and cucumbers!!
The round cages are very strong and go deep in the soil. This makes it possible for them to support the weight on my mature plants. These are the cages I use most often in my garden and I currently have 16 of them.
How and when to put them out
I always install my tomato cages as soon as I plant my tomatoes. I’ve found that if I don’t get them out right away then I forget and they end up being a pain to put on the larger plants later.
To install simply position the legs of the cage around the tomato plant and press the legs deep into the soil of your garden bed. Try to get at least 10 inches of the leg into your soil.
When your tomato plants grow, gently move the branches of the plant back inside the cage until the central leader of the plant comes out the top of the cage.
I have found tomatoes cages are better for determinate varieties of tomatoes. Indeterminate tomato varieties grow too tall and are better suited for a trellis, some staking or fences.
Tomato cages are so easy to use! The plants just need a little bit of guidance at first in the cages and then it is so simple after that because you don’t need to worry about them until fall. My busy life appreciates that easy approach!
Would you like to learn more about growing tomatoes? My Growing Tomato Heaven course is the perfect way to learn all you need to know to grow your best crop of tomatoes ever!! Learn more about the course by clicking on the picture above.
Growing Radishes
I’ve read several of your articles. All were well-written and very helpful. I’m planning to start seeds this year, for the first time, so especially appreciated the articles on seed-starting mixes and pots. One request: could you update the link to the round cages? That product is no longer available. Also, one question for clarification: you recommend cages that are at least 4′ high. Is that measurement before or after they are installed? Then, the round cages you recommend are not that tall: 37″ overall; 32″ installed. Is that because you don’t use them for tomatoes, but for other veggies? Again, thank you for such excellent and thorough information.