Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, bdank. This user is located in Zone 7 - Northern Virignia (Fredericksburg). This was originally posted on April 15, 2011.
To make these cages, I used a pea fence that I bought from Gurneys. The pea fences come in two pieces. I used both pieces to make a 60 inch (5 ft) cage.
To attach them to my earthbox I used 4 of the EarthBox Staking System Rim Clamps that can be bought in the earthbox store.
The bolts that came with the staking system clamp werent long enough for this purpose, so I bought some longer stainless steel (to avoid rusting) 10/24 x 2 bolts to replace them with. The nuts that came with the clamps are still usable.
When the pea fences aren't attached together (as shown above) they are 30 inches. These shorter cages are good for crops that don't grow as tall.
To attach the two pea fences together I used 20 wire rope clips that I bought from Pambina. Where I got 100 of them for $11.00 ($15 with shipping). They are much cheaper to buy here than at the big box stores.
The pea fences are clamped together at the legs with the wire rope clips.
A cheaper version of this cage could probably be made by using cow panel instead of the Gurneys pea fences. I decided to go with the pea fences because they are heavy gage wire that is strong enough not to to bend under the weight of loaded tomatoes vines, and they fold flat for storage.
To make one 60? cage:
1 set of 2 Gurney?s pea fences
4 EarthBox Staking System Rim Clamps.
4 10/24 x 2 inch stainless steel bolts (the nuts that you need will come with the staking system clamp but the bolts that come with it are too short for this).
20 wire rope clips
If you get on the mailing list to receive a Gurneys Catalog they will often send you are coupon good for $25 off a $50.00 purchase.
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT: Tomato plants will grow very tall and heavy with fruit in an earthbox. For any plants that grow taller than waist high, you must find away to secure the entire box so that it will not topple over (it has happened to me). I secure mine, as shown in the photo above, by pounding rebar into the ground through the hole in the staking clamp. If your earthboxes are on pavement, you could secure them by placing a cinder block on each side of the box.
The original idea for these cages came from Raybos post on tomato Ville.
