On 18 May 2006 16:06:49 GMT, Landrey wrote:

-snip-
Can anyone give me some advise as to what to do with these plants as they
outgrow their cages?

I roll my own cages using reinforcing wire. It has 6" holes & last
for many years with no protection. They are stiff enough that no
stakes are needed. I bought a 100' roll at the Lowe's store many
years ago.

I'm in NY so outgrowing a 5' cage is a rarity- but last year a Sweet
100 got to 8-9'. Whe it topped the 5' mark I just cut another 3'
cage, rolled it and wired it to the top of the original. If it had
gone even higher, I could have wired another atop that.

I use the soft wire found in the building supply store near the re-rod
and re-wire to connect the cages- and to hold them together.

I never need any wire to hold the tomatoes to the cages, they just
poke their arms through the holes and hold themselves up.

Jim

On Thu, 18 May 2006 22:41:18 -0400, "TQ" ToweringQs AT adelphia.net
wrote:


"Landrey" wrote in message
freenews.net...
I have several caged indeterminate tomato plants growing in my garden. The
cages are all about 5 feet high and one of the plants has already managed
to
grow past the top of its cage. I live in the Atlanta area and given that
it's
only May, I can assume that I can expect the plants to grow much larger.

Can anyone give me some advise as to what to do with these plants as they
outgrow their cages?

Lash together three 10' poles into a teepee and set it over the cages. Tie
the vine to the poles with fabric strips cut from old socks. I do it every
year in VA and it works quite well.

At someones suggestion last year I used old panty hose. Worked just
fine.
Sue

Sue wrote:

At someones suggestion last year I used old panty hose. Worked just
fine.
Sue


I use old sheets. They tear beautifully into
strips, and decompose in the compost pile. I get
mine (white, 100% cotton) at the thrift store-
usually about $1 for a really threadbare one
(which are the best, anyway).


-N

How about just letting them grow all over the ground unsupported?

If I had room, I would - it would be so much easier! But I don't have
space for nine tomato plants unless I train them up. Also, it makes it
easier to clean, trim, and de-bug - as well as see and tend the vines.

On 22 May 2006 09:24:34 -0700, "James" wrote:

How about just letting them grow all over the ground unsupported?

The 30 second answer--
Takes up too much room
They get dirty & it makes them harder to eat right off the vine.
Slugs love them.
Chipmunks love them.
They will rot where they contact the ground.

Jim

"Lash together three 10' poles into a teepee and set it over the cages.
Tie the vine to the poles with fabric strips cut from old socks. I do
it every year in VA and it works quite well."

Here's a picture of TPs over cages taken last June...
http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/7465/toms0zo.jpg

This picture was taken in early August...
http://img455.imageshack.us/img455/1131/00010111qo.jpg

TQ