Concrete Mesh ~ - Page 2

Tomstrees · February 21, 2006

I'm sitting here @ my desk with my ruler, and with 24 inchers I'm going to need a much bigger garden lol ! I'm going to have to see what "fits" in regards to the space that I have ... 24 would be nice though ~ Tom

Tomstrees · February 21, 2006

John ~

you read my mind ... :wink: ~ Tom

Tomstrees · February 21, 2006

has anyone else had success with smaller than 24 inch home made cages ? ~ Tom

Tomstrees · February 22, 2006

didnt have a chance to measure the mesh - but it looks like I wont be able to do 24" ~ not unless I bring in the bulldozer !!! lol - Tom

jwr6404 · February 22, 2006

Pi xDiameter= 3.1416 x 22= approx 69"=5ft 9 inches

geol · February 23, 2006

You could cut a 5' cage in half (any dia.) and have two extentions. Cut side down, with a 5' cage on top, fastened with ty-wire would give you a couple more ft.

Tomstrees · February 23, 2006

geol ~

I think I'm getting the picture ...
That would give me more height not width right ? Because I'm thinking 24 inches is way to wide for my garden ~ more like 18 would be suitable
(for what I have, not for what I REALLY want :wink: )

~ Tom

geol · February 23, 2006

5' stock will make 19" dia. cages any ht. you choose. At 7' you could get 7 from a 50 ft roll.
That same 7 ft piece if rolled the other way, would make a 26" dia. cage, but would only be 5' tall.
What I was saying was, If you had three 26" dia. cages (5' tall), cutting one in half, and using the pieces to extend the other two, would yield two-26" dia. cages 7.5 ft. tall.

Tomstrees · February 23, 2006

jtcm05 -

I hear you on that - I just read an article last night that said you get much higher yields from caging, compared to staking ~ I'm assuming due to the "prunning factor" ...
Having a taller cage is almost like having a big stake right ? and would require you to prune ...
Huh ... this may get tricky - or may need some experimentation for 2006 ~ Tom

geol · February 23, 2006

.I use both stakes and cages. New stakes go to the bigger tomatos- as the bottoms rot off, I'll use them for smaller varieties. When they get too short, I use them to support the one or two cages that need some extra help.In addition, for the ones in cages I will tie up a few stragling branches here or there. As none of my cages are more than 5 ft., (I like stakes for the big ones) if a plant does outgrow it's cage, it's an indivdual judgement call. I might add a stake, prune it back, or just let it flop over. Sometimes not very neat in appearance, but seems to meet the needs of individual plants. Hope this gives you some ideas.

Tomstrees · February 23, 2006

yes I agree with the above - I did use the $.70 tomato cages from the garden center so I HAD to use exterior staking to keep heavy toms off the ground ... this year should be interesting ~ but I also agree with the 5ft tall min. ~ need to figure out diameter ~ Tom

geol · February 23, 2006

"but I also agree with the 5ft tall min. ~ need to figure out diameter ~ Tom"
Not sure what your asking?

Tomstrees · February 23, 2006

re geol : not sure what you are asking?

geol,
I have to get into my garden this weekend and take some measurements to see what diameter I can get away with ~ Tom

geol · February 23, 2006

Tom, what type tomato? Varieties differ slightly. But you can get by with a wide range, as it is not critical to be exact.
I wasn't sure what you mean by 5' min.?
I have some 3' cages that are perfect for a short bushy beefsteak type I grow that just needs a little help keeping it's fruit up.

Tomstrees · February 23, 2006

geol -

Thats a great question:

I know I'll be able to get by with the older cages
(or smaller homemade cages) for the
GDC, Silvery Fir Tree, and MAYBE Opalka ~

NAR, Mortgage Lifter, Kelloggs, Thessaloniki ,
and my Yellow (to name some of the "chosen", lol),
I'm certain they'll be getting the big ol brandy
new ones ~ last year was too much of a jungle .

This was 2 1/2 months into the season with
those $0.70 garden center cheapies !!!
I need them to go up ; rather than out ~ Tom

February 21, 2006	#16
Tomstrees Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Bayshore Posts: 3,848	I'm sitting here @ my desk with my ruler, and with 24 inchers I'm going to need a much bigger garden lol ! I'm going to have to see what "fits" in regards to the space that I have ... 24 would be nice though ~ Tom __________________ My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~ H. Fred Ale

February 21, 2006	#17
Tomstrees Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Bayshore Posts: 3,848	John ~ you read my mind ... :wink: ~ Tom __________________ My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~ H. Fred Ale

February 21, 2006	#18
Tomstrees Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Bayshore Posts: 3,848	has anyone else had success with smaller than 24 inch home made cages ? ~ Tom __________________ My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~ H. Fred Ale

February 22, 2006	#19
Tomstrees Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Bayshore Posts: 3,848	didnt have a chance to measure the mesh - but it looks like I wont be able to do 24" ~ not unless I bring in the bulldozer !!! lol - Tom __________________ My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~ H. Fred Ale

February 22, 2006	#20
jwr6404 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: University Place, WA Posts: 481	Pi xDiameter= 3.1416 x 22= approx 69"=5ft 9 inches __________________ Jim

February 23, 2006	#21
geol Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NJ - 6/7 Posts: 109	You could cut a 5' cage in half (any dia.) and have two extentions. Cut side down, with a 5' cage on top, fastened with ty-wire would give you a couple more ft.