I just solved this problem myself by purchasing 4 7-foot long plastic stakes and a package of garden netting with 7" mesh grid. I intend to make 2 trellises by cutting the netting to the size I want and stretching it between the stakes. Tomatoes and other vining crops can be trained up the netting.
I am hoping that I do not need a horizontal top support to keep it from sagging.

think about this! Posted by: shebear z8 NTex (--I don't remember which group I read it in but its here on GW somewhere)
TexasGal:
I do something like Moogies does but I don't use cattle panels. I use arches I bought at Big Lots for $5.99 a piece. I bought 4 and spaced them 4 feet apart and covered them with that bird netting. I let the end netting just hang so I could walk in. Then I put my tomato cages (5 feet tall cages out of that concrete wire) and planted my tomatoes inside. Now I can walk in and pick tomatoes or just lift the netting on the sides and pick. I had to tie the netting on the top of the arches and put 1 x 1s along the bottom to keep the wind from blowing it around. I left it up this winter so I'm all set. Next year I think I'll throw some plastic over it and use it like a cold frame in the fall and spring.

I also use arches to grow my pole beans on. I try twine along the arch and plant all around. I got lots of beans last year.
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I'm going to do it myself this year!
I'll plant some tomatoes right at the arch and some inside using bought cages.
This fall I plan to cover it with plastic and perhaps have a large cold frame for growing some winter veggies.

here's a link to a picture of one mede out of cattle panels. They were bent by placing them inside the back of a pick up truck for the ride home.

Here is a link that might be useful:

I saw one that had been made using a 4x4 as a post, with dark gre plastic clothes hangers stapled to the post. Looked weird at first, but worked just fine.

I just read about people using 4 poles, bamboo or other tree branches one end stuck in the ground in a square shape (one each corner) then pulled together and tied up towards the top. The plant is planted inside the square.

Melvalena

I bought a 6' x 100' roll of concrete reinforcing wire (6"x6" spacing)and cut it into pieces about 8-9 foot each. Bend the cut ends back to act like a hook and roll into circle and hook together. To place into the ground I simply cut the center pieces out of one end and you can then simply push the spikes right into the ground. If it is really windy where you live you might want to consider a large stake to help secure the cage. I plant my tomato in mid spring , put the cage around it and then secure clear plastic around it leaving the top open and it acts as a coldframe. Then in the winter I take them apart and cover plants that the deer like to eat, or need extra protection. Also if you need them bigger just put two or three together to get a larger circumference. Lasts a long time. Good luck. Shelly

I just use 2x2 's. One for each plant. I use one 8 ft. length for each plant.
Dig down always, insert 2x2 , climb up on ladder and use small mallet or large hammer... and bang on the top of the 2x2 until it will not go any deeper in the ground.

Amend soil, plant tomato as deep as reasonable, with all lower stems removed, as roots will form there. Add more soil as plant grows. Once plant is tall enough, I begin training it up the pole. One or two main stems is all you want to have on each plant. One is better.

I use the green plastic garden tape that comes on a roll, to tie plants to pole. It stretches enough the plants changing size does not cause problems, and it is easy to have in your pocket or stashed near the plants. Easy to tear off a correctly sized piece and bind those babies to the pole where you want them, and not out wandering around.

This allows harvest on all sides of plant with no extra touching of leaves... if you are one that is sensitive to them and itches / burns skin like crazy.

It also allows more plants per sq. ft. in smaller amount of garden space : less weeding !

I find I need to hack off the top of the plant once it hits about 6 ft. ( I can't reach higher than that to pick tomatoes), though some let it drop down and continue growing. I don't _need_ that many tomatoes ! Yikes !
Plus, if your tomato tree gets lopsided, it would have a better chance of leaning, if the 2x2 was not deep enough.

Very simple. :-)
And... the greatest yeild per sqare foot !

I use lengths of rebar to anchor my concrete wire mater cages.

Thanks to all of you for the awesome ideas. I can't wait to get planting.

WEll,
Sunshinesue?? What are you going to do?

Kind of off the subject a little but the garden tunnell also works great for grape vines. Just plant vines on the outside of the tunnel trellis.

I have had mine, made of the concrete reinforcing wire, for 27 years! They are probably thirty inches in diameter, stay out at the end of the garden when not in use, and never tip over, as my husband had cut off a couple of rows of the horizontal wires, leaving nice long legs to shove into the ground around the plants.

I would like to build several triangular-shaped trellises for my climbing roses. Any ideas?

I used the 1 x 1 6ft. wooden garden stakes. Laid my design ut on the ground and then nail the wooden strips into place. I have made both the triangular and the rectangular trellises this way.

Penny

I agree that concrete mesh or galvanized mesh fencing works great. You can mold it into whatever shape or lengths that you want. You can then fold it into square boxes or more round cages. I'm going 5 feet high this season, but I'll have to see if that's high enough......8 feet might be better next season.....hmmmmm........

-David Mason

Check out my YouTube video. I show you how to build a very cheap and easy trellis for your Vegetable Garden!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdPEHhxQGM0

Here is a link that might be useful: How-to Build a Trellis for Vining Vegetables in the Garden for Cheap!