[EHCRain10]

just thought i might try to share some advice that my grandmother taught me a few years ago

instead of buying cages or staking the plants, we have always used cages made from hogwire.
the wire starts at the bottom with appox. 2inch tall by 4inch wide holes and progresses up to about 6inches tall by 4inches wide wholes at the very top.
5ft tall fencing has worked well for us and 20inch diameter cages seem to be big enough for the plants without taking up too much space. that way you just 5feet of wire to create each cage.

hope this helps

[Oxford]

The hog wire you suggested should work well. 3-4 years ago I decided to try to make my own large tomato cages out of wire fence, too. But...it turned out to be the wrong type of wire fabric. As a result I cut every third vertical wire off with side cutters to allow me to get my hands inside to pick tomato's.

Sounds ok so far...but this turned out to be a disaster. Every time I stuck my hand inside that fence opening the razor sharp edges left over from the wire cut out would cut my arms. I looked like I had been a fight with a tiger after the first attempt to reach inside. Consequently, I pulled all these cages off and put a "free" sign on them as they sat along my street curb. Took about 10 minutes for some woman to spot them and she wanted all 10 of them.

[LiveToShoot]

My wife and I bought the really sturdy tomato cages a couple of years ago and I think they'll last for several years...

...and, the hog panels we sell at the store would be a good choice to let tomatoes grow up, with no sharp edges to deal with like Oxford got attacked by.

[neophyte]

Popular Mechanic had a piece years ago about ""NOT"" using wire cages.

Better deal and no more weeding and crawling around on the ground.

5 gal buckets

drill or cut 1" max. hole in the bottom of bucket. Arrange the plant to come out this hole;; file the bucket approx 2/3rds with your favorite planting material.

Hang the bucket approx 5ft off the ground and PRESTO, Hangin tomatoes.

About the most perfect solution.

Tried it; works perfect; watering isn't a chore; plants seemed happy.

Use a 1gal milk jug with 1-2 small hole in the bottom for watering all day.

Don't make the holes in the center on each side.

Results; more tomato per plant, nothing sits on the ground for slugs, or ground rot.

[LiveToShoot]

Craig,
I've seen photos of tomatoes being grown in hanging containers and the setup looks to work very well...but, I've not done that in my own garden yet. Thanks for the reminder...

[neophyte]

Added to that. Something like a marigolds, planting will help keep a more natural insecticide.

My experiences; 5 buckets and my neighbors enjoyed tomatoes too.
easier to find and pick. yield is greater

My wife will not allow me to plant them in the front yard
said it looked like a ?redneck? she still ate them

[Mike Franklin]

I just enclose all the tomatoes in one big cage made of chicken wire. Seems to work just fine for me.

[privateer]

I have been hanging tomatoes in 5 gal buckets for a few years now, it's good for me becouse it keeps the dogs out of them and I can get an earlier start growing season. (up here the ground stays frozen or just to cold for a good garden late into spring)

[Minionsram]

or just put viagra in with the plant food! never have to stake your maters agian. lol

[jtuck]

Hmmm, Viagra as plant food...BRILLIANT!

[Deersniper]

Hanging buckets would discourage pests namely squirrels. I'll try that.