Hi fireduck,

The feet of the TTCs are driven into the ground, and the rings hold their shape. Since the rings hold their shape, if you have a huge yield, you would just not put all your tomatoes on one side of the "basket" where you worry it might collapse. As long as weight is distributed they will handle any load, and if you are worried, get the larger diameter since the larger base gives more stability, like a bar stool vs. a chair. The physics of the hanging tomatoes inside isn't about hanging in thin air. The ring will brace one end and the stem the other. The only worry is the cluster might break off if they are big maters. But that's a separate problem to support that everything else has too.
PC

I just move the branches in and up as the plants grow. I prune my toms though. I have serious doubts that the cages would fall even if I did not prune.

Actually, I am not concerned about the cages being strong enough. They look stout. I just worry that the branches would break because they are not tied securely to anything. Know what I mean?

I think you mean as the branches grow taller and have trusses of tomatoes on them that they collapse from the weight because they are not tied up further up the branch for support? I have never had a problem. The branches inside the cage grow up, and even with large tomatoes they lean over and are supported by the cage. The ones I tie on the outside never collapse either, although as they grow taller I have to tie a support back to the cage at higher intervals. Does that help? Not sure if I have addressed your concern.

Jennie

Jennie, your tomato trees look great! :-)

Thanks Goodground, having a good year so far. Fireduck, I thought about this some more. As the stems grow up the middle of the cage they produce side branches. When these branches lean through the cage they provide support to the main stems. So the internal branches are supported as they grow by the lateral branches they produce. (I know my terminology is not correct). Does that make sense?

Jennie

J...that makes good sense. Thanks for hanging in there with me. haha. I think I need to spring for some of these cages! They sound good...

The cage being used in the pots is not a tomato cage. It is too small.

I took two of those and put them together for my tomatoes.

I never use green tape on tomatoes. Tuck out the branches as it grows.

fireduck, you won't be sorry whether you go with TTC or CRW. Just support the cage and the cage will snuggle your tomatoes.

jennie, that is a quality tomato jungle!

tim, she said the ones in front were dwarf plants, thus the smaller cage.

Jennie, nice jungle.

I would prune a little.

You guys like to spend my money...haha. Everyone really seems to love their TTC's. I was most worried about the branches snapping while they are nestled inside the cage from the weight of the maters. With my CRW...as they progress up the wire...they MUST be supported...or timber!

fireduck,

Do you have CRW cages or just using it as a trellis?

The last two years I have been using CRW hung between 8' T posts for mater support. I hold the bottom of the wire up about 2' off the ground. The plants grow up to the bottom of the wire...then the work begins once they continue up. It has worked well for me. It looks pretty clean. However, it really seems like an awful lot of tying up. It sounds like the TTC's don't require that kind of time/work. I am all for that! haha

I already had a roll of CRW so, at no cost, I made cages and they work very well. The downside is that, although CRW is available in larger sizes, the roll I had is only about 5 1/2' tall. So far I have no problems at all with support. I'm not sure how I'll handle the vines as they outgrow the cages, but I may not really have to worry, I think I'll be okay letting them hang down the sides if necessary. I may also just tie some sticks to the sides of my cages... they are very sturdy.

That said, having extensions would be very helpful, but I can buy a WHOLE LOT of tomatoes for the cost of those TTC's. To me it's an expense vs. time vs. effort vs. financial means question.

R....I totally understand your financial considerations. Growing fruit/veges is simply my passion. Since it is not a big financial burden for me...I try to use quality equipment if I can. It seems like the TTC's are that. That being said...they are certainly a lot of money. PS Just like my fishing trips...I try NOT to figure out how much my catch is really costing me. haha

fireduck,

I would make some cages out of that CRW. I have never used the TTC's but the CRW has always worked fine for me. Even if you did buy some TTC's at least you might not need quite as many.

What I like about the TTC over CRW cages. When I had CRW cages we had an old old house we had restored with a cellar with a door and stairs down to it. I could just haul those cages into the cellar to store for the winter. It worked great. When we moved south, they do not have basements but crawl spaces with a door. TTC come in two separate pieces that totally collapse. They store flat so 12 cages can be stored in very little space in that "crawl space". Now doing all container gardening, the extra height I can get from the extensions from TTC is very important. So if you grow in ground and have storage, CRW cages work great.

I have had these for more than 10 years and they show no wear. Daniel, I was away for a week and things got out of hand while I was gone. So I do need to get out and get things under control. I.e. Prune a little. A little. Thanks for the comments, I am having one of those rare really great years for tomato growing. Hope it continues.

Jennie

You guys have really made some solid points. J...I see how those TTC's fold up....and it is cool. Plus, if I am not mistaken, they are galvanized. It is not the end of the world...but I am not crazy about the "rusted-out look" with the CRW. Honestly, it does not show up that badly in my huge backyard. I think I just need to pull the trigger on the TTC's.

fireduck(10a) You guys like to spend my money...haha

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LOL, fireduck .

I joined in bit late.

Judging from Jennie's pictures, TTC are NO able to tame those plants. hehe

I think the opening are just TOO BIG. I would prefer cages made of CRW or cattle panels . But they won't be foldable. The other draw backs will be some labor and winter storage issue. But it will serve better and you can save a lot of "Firduck's money". lol

Sey

Jennie! Nice plants! Where in 7b do you grow? Just wondering, as my plants do not look as nice as yours. I am in Charlotte, 7b. Warm, very wet Spring and then a dry, very hot summer so far here.

NC, I am in Greensboro and our weather has been exactly like yours. I am astonished at what is happening in my garden this year. Huge plants, heavy fruit set, every truss is heavy with tomatoes, no disease, no pests. Problem is I have changed out so many variables I can not really say with certainty what has made the difference over prior years. I container garden and this year went with 20 gallon fabric containers vs, #15 black nursery pots in the past. I have changed the potting mix when I found Promix BX and changed the fertilizer to Texas Tomato Food. I think it is a combination of all, but mostly the fertilizer. My dwarfs in plastic pots from prior years are exceeding prior years fruit set and growth also. And they have basically what they had in prior years. I followed a thread on Tomatoville about Texas Tomato food . I am using it this year and I think this is the key, check out the thread on Texas Tomato Food on tomatoville.com. I just hope all of this will continue and am trying to figure out what happens when they grow past my 8 ft, cages, which is about to happen.

Jennie

Here is a link http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=27229&highlight=texas+tomato+food

I love, love, love my TTCs, but do find that I need to stake the seedlings as they go in. Just a short stake to support them until they get bigger. One year I didn't. Storm winds pushed the plants to the side and down. I saw that one was a bit tattered and later found, while it wasn't severed, it was broken. Still did okay, but not great.

I've had TTC (20 inch) since 2009. Used CRW before that. I only prune suckers for the first couple feet or until first fruit set. For the past couple years I've used the cages exclusively on Sun Golds. I push branches back in if I catch them while they're still small and after that I tie them to the cage as needed. Once the plant tops the cage by a few feet it starts to cascade down. Love the fact that the cages are collapsible!

Cindy, beautiful beautiful garden!

My dad started using concrete reinforcing wire to make tomato cages in the 50s. I used the some of the same ones he originally made for many years - lost them in a divorce (he didn't use them, he threw them out)

He made loops of wire on one open end and simply slipped that around the first vertical when he put them together. They were stored flat against a wall over winter. It was not that hard to straighten them out and put them on the "rack" he made, which was basically a couple of shelf brackets at each end. He bundled them with garden twine to keep them stable.

They lasted forever. Some of those cages were 40 years old when my siblings cleaned him out after my mother died. They took what they wanted - without asking - and tossed whatever they didn't want - again, without asking. Granted, he wasn't using but 2 or 3 of them anymore, but still...

Anyway. You can do the same thing with galvanized fence wire if the rust issue bothers you. You can even make collapsible cages from sections of galvanized fence wire, all you need is some gloves and a pair of pliers and something to cut the wire with.

These days I just use t-posts and ties, but those cages WERE quite handy back when I still had them. When I am in a more permanent situation, I will likely make myself up a couple of cages. The only thing is since I don't can and preserve for a family of 7 anymore, I really only plant one tomato plant any more, two at most. So likely I'll go with a 3 or 4 t-posts set around the tomato plant and string garden twine up to make my cage. I just wouldn't need a whole roll of galvanized wire any more.

Thanks Jennie. Those were May photos from a few years back. I've already started pulling plants this year. Had a great 8 week harvest. Still getting some Sun Golds.

My God, Jennie! Your plants look AMAZING! Do you have ripe yet besides the mystery fruit?

And CindyMac, what a gorgeous, neat and tidy garden! Beautiful.

Jenn

I was in HD the other day. They have these new conic stype cages made of very heavy gauge galvanized bars , about pencil thick , 6 ft tall. I thing the price is about $45. It is expensive but it will last life time. It is the next best thing making your own from galvanized CRW.
Here a picture.

Jenn, we are finally getting tons of ripe ones besides the mystery tomato, which I think is Kimberely, this week. And I picked another 14 lbs. this morning which will be ready in a few days! This is my best and earliest year ever. Loving this TTF, how about you? Sey, those are nice cages, but boy are they pricey! Even Texas Tomato cages aren't that expensive. They work out to about $28 a piece. They do look really sturdy.

Jennie

Correction:
The price of the cage I referred to is $34.95 + tx., made by Glamos Wire Products .
I checked their website. They have other strurdy cages. They are made of 5/16" wire.

Sey

Fire duck,. The cages are still holding, but Jeff had to go out and put a support to keep it balanced. But then I have never had tomatoes like this. HUGE. Must be the fertilizer switch. or switching to fabric piots, or a combo of both. My tomatoes are out of control.

My dad makes me the crw cages. Instead of the round style he makes them triangular and jointed so they fold up flat. I hate the rust though. I couldn't see spending a ton of money on cages so rust it is.

I didn't think it was possible, but I have a Caspian Pink, grown from seed, that has overwhelmed and bent a TTC. It is growing on the site of last year's compost pile. I staked it when it went in the ground as well as pushing-in the cage around it. I removed the lower down- facing branches and pinched out a few suckers. Last week on a windy day I noticed the plant listing to one side. At first I thought the plant had just pushed off the top extension, but no, the legs are bent. I tried to support it by driving in poles around the rings to almost no effect. It's going over. I plan to park some old lawn furniture under it so it doesn't touch the ground while ripening its fruit. Maybe I shouldn't have sited it where compost was made. I think I should have pruned more aggressively. Do you guys push in the legs all the way to the first ring? Has this happened to anyone else?

-Judy

jenniedhs: off topic I know! I am so impressed with your tomato garden. I am wondering about the fertilizer you tried this year, Texas tomato food. Did you start using it from the very beginning, seedlings? Is there a developmental time when its best to use it? I ask because I started my tomatoes and vegs so late....maybe if I get it now and start using it might help with production of ripe fruit? What do you think? Or the time that it would be of greatest benefit is past?

Thank you!

K.

K., the label reads, "While it can be used early, it is optimized with high potassium and calcium for the fruiting stage. From Germination to fruit set, use our All Purpose Vegetable Fertilizer with higher nitrogen." I started using it when blossoms appeared and some tiny nubs of fruit. My friend started using it later, and noticed better fruit set in our high heat.

Jennie

Judy, I try to push the legs in as far as they will go. But our rock hard clay makes that difficult. Wow! Your Caspian Pink must be huge! I have never had a leg bend, but your experience shows it is possible.

Jennie

Thank you Jennie. I might just get it. But I don't think there is anything that can hasten the ripening process, is there, just Nature/Weather. If you don't mind my asking, how often were you using it? K.

No, K., fertiizer is not going to hasten ripening. But hopefully a good long summer and a late freeze for you will get you more tomatoes. and there is always next year to apply what we have learned.

Jennie

edit: K., I didn't answer your question of how often I am using it. I grow in containers and fertilizers are applied much more frequently than in ground tomatoes. Are you growing in containers or in the ground?

All I have to say is that is one healthy, gigantic tomato plant, jenniedhs. Your one container plant just put all of my in-ground tomatoes to shame. :P

Tripleione, thanks, but not in the picture is another Cherokee Purple that has some mystery disease that I get on one or two plants every year. It is a sorry sight. I am not winning that battle and will probably pull it tomorrow. Luckily I always plant two or three of each variety.

Jennie, thank you for your good wishes. I hope the summer is long too but not catastrophic for global warming. All my tomato plants are in ground.

K.