Ten Tomatoes Worthy of A Texas Tomato Cage

greenthumbomaha · February 18, 2018

Placing an order for the well reputed cages with extensions, with hopes of them arriving in time for planting.

For fun I would like to grow majority new to me varieties this year, primarily red and pink beefsteaks and slicers for this "tall" project.

What would be your choices to fill this mighty cage?

- Lisa

Worth1 · February 18, 2018

Neves Azorian Red.
Had one one year grow out of the top of the cage and down the top of my grape arbor about 5 more feet.
One of the best red beefsteaks you will ever grow.

Worth

edweather · February 18, 2018

Big Beef

Labradors2 · February 18, 2018

Pruden's Purple

Linda

kath · February 18, 2018

George Detsikas Italian Red was a gargantuan plant for me and produced loads of huges fruits.

Goodloe · February 18, 2018

Hey Lisa,
I plant on 9 cages every year, 3 plants per. I made cages out of leftover concrete reinforcing wire I picked up around some construction sites. Mine are 5' tall with a 24" diameter.
This year, I'll be planting Early Girl, Big Beef, Park's Whopper, Delicious, Chapman, and Chef's Choice Pink.
Good luck with yours!

Jon

Nattybo! · February 18, 2018

Big Rainbow

e.thad · February 18, 2018

Beware - if the cage gets filled and the weight isn't distributed evenly, it will lean. You'd need something to right it ... like a few sturdy stakes. I tied a string to a nearby fence to make the cage stand straight.

Side note: I felt some of my beefsteaks didn't grow as big when caged compared to two or three vines on a stake.

edweather · February 18, 2018

Yea, some nice re-bar will anchor the cages. A good wind will blow them over.

TC_Manhattan · February 18, 2018

Lucky Cross
Brandywine OTV
I second George Detsikas

greenthumbomaha · February 18, 2018

Not to 10 just yet so keep 'em coming!

I love the bi-color flavor. Lucky Cross is one of my absolute favorites.
Somehow I missed discussions of Big Rainbow. If per chance it comes in the MMMM envelope, its going to go in one.

Brandywine OTV, PP, George D., NAR, all great choices.

I'm surprised Big Beef is on the list. I don't remember it being exceptionally tall. Ball Seed lists it at 4 feet. Same with Chapman, excellent taste but one that is shorter in stature for me.

I haven't purchased the cages but looking at prices I will be buying 6 and then an additional 3 after inspection. So I only need a few more!

- Lisa

Oh yes the wind, in my tornado and hail/ high wind area tposts are a must. Thanks for the heads up.

kath · February 18, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenthumbomaha

Not to 10 just yet so keep 'em coming!

I love the bi-color flavor.

- Lisa

If you haven't grown Orange Russian 117 yet, that was easily the tallest bi-color tomato I've grown.

kath

On another thread here about the tallest tomato you've grown, cherries were mentioned most, but Gary 'OSena and Limbaugh's Legacy got HUGE in b54red's garden. Hope you don't mind, Bill.

greenthumbomaha · February 18, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by kath

If you haven't grown Orange Russian 117 yet, that was easily the tallest bi-color tomato I've grown.

kath

On another thread here about the tallest tomato you've grown, cherries were mentioned most, but Gary 'OSena and Limbaugh's Legacy got HUGE in b54red's garden. Hope you don't mind, Bill.

For reference, here is the thread referenced by Kath:

http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...t=35790&page=2

Indeed it is heavy on cherries.

Two more tall growers for consideration.

- Lisa

pmcgrady · February 18, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenthumbomaha

Not to 10 just yet so keep 'em coming!

I love the bi-color flavor. Lucky Cross is one of my absolute favorites.
Somehow I missed discussions of Big Rainbow. If per chance it comes in the MMMM envelope, its going to go in one.

Brandywine OTV, PP, George D., NAR, all great choices.

I'm surprised Big Beef is on the list. I don't remember it being exceptionally tall. Ball Seed lists it at 4 feet. Same with Chapman, excellent taste but one that is shorter in stature for me.

I haven't purchased the cages but looking at prices I will be buying 6 and then an additional 3 after inspection. So I only need a few more!

- Lisa

Oh yes the wind, in my tornado and hail/ high wind area tposts are a must. Thanks for the heads up.

Not sure what you pay for TTC's, but with concrete re mesh I can make a 5' cage that last for years for $3.50/ea.

pmcgrady · February 18, 2018

If you have a cage open... Juane Flamme

February 18, 2018	#1
greenthumbomaha Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Omaha Zone 5 Posts: 2,514	Ten Tomatoes Worthy of A Texas Tomato Cage Placing an order for the well reputed cages with extensions, with hopes of them arriving in time for planting. For fun I would like to grow majority new to me varieties this year, primarily red and pink beefsteaks and slicers for this "tall" project. What would be your choices to fill this mighty cage? - Lisa

February 18, 2018	#3
edweather Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Southeast GA, USDA 9a, HZ9, Sunset Z28 Posts: 393	Big Beef __________________ You'll be surprised what you'll never have to do, if you put it off long enough.

February 18, 2018	#9
edweather Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Southeast GA, USDA 9a, HZ9, Sunset Z28 Posts: 393	Yea, some nice re-bar will anchor the cages. A good wind will blow them over. __________________ You'll be surprised what you'll never have to do, if you put it off long enough.

February 18, 2018	#11
greenthumbomaha Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Omaha Zone 5 Posts: 2,514	Not to 10 just yet so keep 'em coming! I love the bi-color flavor. Lucky Cross is one of my absolute favorites. Somehow I missed discussions of Big Rainbow. If per chance it comes in the MMMM envelope, its going to go in one. Brandywine OTV, PP, George D., NAR, all great choices. I'm surprised Big Beef is on the list. I don't remember it being exceptionally tall. Ball Seed lists it at 4 feet. Same with Chapman, excellent taste but one that is shorter in stature for me. I haven't purchased the cages but looking at prices I will be buying 6 and then an additional 3 after inspection. So I only need a few more! - Lisa Oh yes the wind, in my tornado and hail/ high wind area tposts are a must. Thanks for the heads up. Last edited by greenthumbomaha; February 18, 2018 at 05:58 PM.

February 18, 2018	#2
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Neves Azorian Red. Had one one year grow out of the top of the cage and down the top of my grape arbor about 5 more feet. One of the best red beefsteaks you will ever grow. Worth

February 18, 2018	#4
Labradors2 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 3,887	Pruden's Purple Linda

February 18, 2018	#5
kath Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: zone 6b, PA Posts: 5,664	George Detsikas Italian Red was a gargantuan plant for me and produced loads of huges fruits.

February 18, 2018	#6
Goodloe Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Steens, MS 8a Posts: 410	Hey Lisa, I plant on 9 cages every year, 3 plants per. I made cages out of leftover concrete reinforcing wire I picked up around some construction sites. Mine are 5' tall with a 24" diameter. This year, I'll be planting Early Girl, Big Beef, Park's Whopper, Delicious, Chapman, and Chef's Choice Pink. Good luck with yours! Jon

February 18, 2018	#7
Nattybo! Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 272	Big Rainbow

February 18, 2018	#8
e.thad Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: SE PA Posts: 53	Beware - if the cage gets filled and the weight isn't distributed evenly, it will lean. You'd need something to right it ... like a few sturdy stakes. I tied a string to a nearby fence to make the cage stand straight. Side note: I felt some of my beefsteaks didn't grow as big when caged compared to two or three vines on a stake.

February 18, 2018	#10
TC_Manhattan Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Ohio Posts: 457	Lucky Cross Brandywine OTV I second George Detsikas

February 18, 2018	#15
pmcgrady Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 1,836	If you have a cage open... Juane Flamme