The Texas Tomato Cages are expensive, but for us, well worth it! We have ordered 30 of them over the past few years, and don't regret it one bit. First, we are not very accomplished do-it-yourselfers. Second, we have limited space to store them in the off-season, and, folding them up and hanging them in the shed is a wonderful thing, along with not having to wrestle with them and untangle them in the spring. We bought them a few at a time over several years, so that it was easier on the budget!! We love them!

I bought six a few years back and liked them so much I ordered another twelve, so I have eighteen now. If I had more room I would order more, but they are really great and I don't regret buying them whatsoever. I think you would like 'em!

Duane

Texas Tomato cage looks to be one of the best available and for good reason. Well made, foldable for storage,galvanized no rust and will with stand the weight a large havest of tomatoes.

Here is a link that might be useful: look at bigdaddyj tomato cage and harvest

I agree with all who responded so far to this thread. Texas cages are wonderful. I now own 12 Texas and 8 CWR homemade jobs. The CWR are weak wimpy things compared to the Texas! Before I ever saw a Texas I thought the CWR's were the greatest. But man the Texas destroys the CWR's every which way you consider. The Texas are twice as thick, a foot taller, fold flat, don't rust and never need supplemental staking. If you enjoy this hobby as much as I do it is money extremely well spent.

No rust? Seriously? Any Louisiana-users?

I used homemade concrete-reinforced wire cages for years. After a decade they looked like crap ... bent out of shape and covered with rust. Used a trellis system for a few years and that worked fine, but I was constantly tying.

Last year I used plastic-coated 8' metal stakes for most of my tomatoes and a couple obelisks for my Sun Golds. That worked out pretty good, but again, I was constantly tying to the stakes.

I was thinking about buying another obelisk (always looks pretty in the garden ... and at this stage of my gardening life that's important), but I'm intrigued by the great reviews on the TTC.

Thanks for all the responses.......all positive.

Please tell me why Texas Tomato Cages do NOT need staking.

Are they pushed into the ground?

Is it the extra weight (construction)?

John

Natal, No rust? No. None on the Texas Cages. Seriously. My CRW cages are about 13 seasons old now at least and are so rusted and brittle they are falling apart in spots but are still usable I'd guess for a couple more years.

John, They have 4 strong legs that can be buried deeply into the ground and I've never had a giant tomato plant topple on me ever using the Texas. I must rebar stake my CRW cages though or by September my plants are falling over cage and all. You can see under geeboss' link. He was nice enough to go back and post pics. Now, I never prune and grow 4 feet apart and by September I have monster sized plants! The CRW are fine for determinates but not giant tomato plants...

bigdaddy,

Thanks!

I enjoy this hobby, like you, and I like my garden to look neat.

I will order the six pack plus one of the large cages Monday.

John

I spoke with the folks at Texas Tomato Cage today to see if they offered a price break for quantity purchases. They indeed do, but you'd have to order 8 dozen of the largest cages (24" x 72") which would basically amount to one full palette.

I'm going to need 96 cages, so this works for me. But there may be others in this thread who could figure out a way to split a palette between themselves and someone else on here and save on cost. You'd just have to figure out the logistics of having a split palette shipped to more than one location.

The wholesale price I was quoted was $12.97/cage (freight not included), and this is with the understanding that you're buying the largest size (24" x 72") and that you're buying 96 cages and having them delivered to one location. If you were to just buy six of the same size cages, they'd work out to be $16.66/each + shipping.

Hope this helps!

John

For those in Central Texas that don't want to pay the shipping, The Natural Gardner in Austin TX carries these. I don't remember the exact cost, but I believe it was comparable in price to what you can get off the website. Certainly better if you are at The Natural Gardner anyway, which I highly recommend as they usually carry some pretty good stuff.

Here is a link that might be useful: The Natural Gardner