I also dislike tomato cages.

Hmmmm, I don't think you're supposed to be selling stuff on these boards.
Also, I think it would cost about $40 to hold ONE of my tomato plants!
JMHO Nancy

I definitely like that concept...now I'm pondering a way to make something similar on my own since I'd need at least 40 of those to hold up my tomatoes. Maybe a pattern and a dremel tool to cut it out of some material. Aluminum flashing would have sharp edges...wood would rot too soon...maybe I can find some kind of flat thin plastic stuff at the local big box hardware store. Hmmmmm!

Ok, that was dumb...I use heavy duty galvanized pasture fencing. Some use concrete re enforcing wire. About a 5' length made into a circle, pound a 2x2x8 down in the middle. Done. No constant tying up sagging plants. Easy to reach through and get your fruit. Inexpensive and lasts for years - decades...My store bought tomato cages went in the garbage years ago.

"you just put a stake in the groung in the middle of your plant"

Hmm, maybe you're not describing that right, but it doesn't sound like that would be too good a thing for tomatoes.

I am new to tomatoes but I find this useful.

Here is a link that might be useful: Staking Vegetables

Donchya love it when someone joins and their first post is a rave about a commercial product? heh heh

I used 16-foot fencing panels and stuck each end in the ground to form arches a person can walk under. I placed one end along the north side of my raised veg. beds and the other end in the garden. Grow clematis on the perennial side and indeterminate tomatoes, cukes, and other vining veg. on the other. Works fantastic and looks awesome by the end of summer.