I found the perfect support cages for the earthbox

[Emnation]

Thank you Bdank for this cage idea and instructions!  I will be assembling these cages for 3 earth boxes this weekend. 

I have a question about how well the pea fences have held up so far...  Are they likely to rust or get grody?  I saw someone suggested painting them with a clear coat and was wondering if this was worth the effort.

I also saw a suggestion about putting some plastic tubing on the corners of the cages to protect arms from getting scratched. This seems worth it to me since our earth boxes will be on the deck where kids will be playing. If anyone has product suggestions I'd appreciate it!

[bdank]

Thank you Bdank for this cage idea and instructions!  I will be assembling these cages for 3 earth boxes this weekend. 

I have a question about how well the pea fences have held up so far...  Are they likely to rust or get grody?  I saw someone suggested painting them with a clear coat and was wondering if this was worth the effort.

I also saw a suggestion about putting some plastic tubing on the corners of the cages to protect arms from getting scratched. This seems worth it to me since our earth boxes will be on the deck where kids will be playing. If anyone has product suggestions I'd appreciate it!

You're welcome. The cages are galvanized so I believe they will hold up to rust. Mine are on their second season with no signs of rust yet. The hardware that I bought is stainless steal so it shouldn't rust either. Yes, there are sharp edges sticking out, so if you have children around these cages you might want to cover those or bend them in or something. I was thinking they could be dipped in a plastic coating, like this stuff:http://www.plastidip.com/home_solutions/Plasti_Dip

[ErnieHodge]

Actually the pea fence may be stainless. It's not galvanized. I'm leaning towards stainless. I will check it tomorrow and see because I've worked with a lot of stainless and it sure looks like that's what it is. If that's the case it's a better deal than I first thought if you get the discount from Gurneys.

I have my third one up and one more to go.

[Wildcat]

It is galvanized wire, it says so on Gurneys site.

As for the ends I put some wire twisters on some of mine but they add up to too much. I do have some plasticdip and never thought about using it until I read it here. I'll try that this weekend and see if it works.

[bdank]

It is galvanized wire, it says so on Gurneys site.

As for the ends I put some wire twisters on some of mine but they add up to too much. I do have some plasticdip and never thought about using it until I read it here. I'll try that this weekend and see if it works.

Wildcat, let me know how it goes. I might do this to mine.

[ErnieHodge]

Wildcat,

Mine don't look galvanized but they are steel. I checked them with a magnet. If they are galvanized the coating is either very thin or a newer coating that I've never seen before.

I really don't care either way but stainless would have been better. 

[cc-fl]

I bought a roll of small clear plastic tubing at Home Depot, cut short pieces and slipped it over the ends.  For upright prongs you can even take a piece of tubing from one prong to another like an arch.  Works great for me.

[Wildcat]

It is galvanized wire, it says so on Gurneys site.

As for the ends I put some wire twisters on some of mine but they add up to too much. I do have some plasticdip and never thought about using it until I read it here. I'll try that this weekend and see if it works.

Wildcat, let me know how it goes. I might do this to mine.

It works. I thought about putting it in a small cup to use to dip the ends instead of having the whole can open and I still had to use a popcicle stick to just spread them on.

[bdank]

I bought a roll of small clear plastic tubing at Home Depot, cut short pieces and slipped it over the ends.  For upright prongs you can even take a piece of tubing from one prong to another like an arch.  Works great for me.

What a great idea!

[vernonp]

The tubing is the easiest idea.  I however just happened to have numerous wine corks laying around so I took a drill and drilled a hole in each cork and stuck a cork on each end.  Not only will I not poke my eye out, It smells good too!  I need 5 more corks....so...................

[seansmum]

The tubing is the easiest idea.  I however just happened to have numerous wine corks laying around so I took a drill and drilled a hole in each cork and stuck a cork on each end.  Not only will I not poke my eye out, It smells good too!  I need 5 more corks....so...................

Time for a party .

[kathy]

Would that be a garden party?

[bdank]

The tubing is the easiest idea.  I however just happened to have numerous wine corks laying around so I took a drill and drilled a hole in each cork and stuck a cork on each end.  Not only will I not poke my eye out, It smells good too!  I need 5 more corks....so...................

I have quite a few of those laying around myself 

[butterflygirl67]

I'm in.  Ordered all the stuff to do these for my Fall garden.  Wish me luck!

[Emnation]

Yes, there are sharp edges sticking out, so if you have children around these cages you might want to cover those or bend them in or something. I was thinking they could be dipped in a plastic coating, like Plasti Dip

Thanks for this suggestion -  it worked great!  My husband and I bought Plastic Dip at Home Depot for under $7, poured some into a short metal cup (we first used a plastic cup but the Plasti Dip ate through it!!), and dipped all the pointy metal ends into it.  It was a bit smelly and messy (use a drop cloth, wear gloves, and be careful because this stuff is corrosive and flammable) but worth the effort.