Tomato cages are apractical, affordable option, especially when you’re growing just a few plants.
Cages come in several shapes including square, triangular, cone-shaped, and rings.
Vertical stakes extend at the bottom to anchor cages in the soil.
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A mature plant supported correctly should not fall over or collapse the cage.
Plenty have a bushy growing habit with shorter, thicker vines to support multiple fruits.
A cage four feet tall and two feet wide constructed with sturdy materials is usually adequate.
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Triangular or square-shaped cages work well for determinate tomatoes.
Indeterminate tomatoes produce fruits all season, harvested as they ripen.
This reduces weight load, however, vines often grow to 10 feet in length.
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A taller six-foot cone-shaped or square cage with a three-foot diameter is better suited for indeterminate tomato varieties.
Anchor stakes should fit down inside the pot without bending.
When to Add Tomato Cages
It’s always a good idea to add cages at planting time.
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Add cages to potted tomatoes right after planting to check that everything fits snugly and correctly.
They are entering intovegetative growthwhen vines grow rapidly and root systems begin to spread.
Cages provide additional support and help you manage vines for better disease control and fruit production.
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Strong vines will support fruit.
As vines lengthen upwards they are attached to the next horizontal support in the same manner.
The idea is to reinforce their weight-bearing capacity along as much length as possible.
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When used correctly, a tomato cage allows good air circulation in the plant’s center.
Tip
Pruning tomato plants to two or three fruit-producing vines helps prevent disease and yields better-quality fruit.
This is done byremoving suckersearly for several weeks after transplanting.
Position the cage with the plant in the center.
Apply pressure to the top of the cage to push the anchor stakes evenly into the soil.
Set cages on pot-grown tomatoes right after you plant them.
You will need to add single anchor stakes to the exterior since cage stakes are now at the top.
