An Indestructible Staking System

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, cushman350. This user is located in Tomato Hell, Wichita Falls, TX Zone 7b. This was originally posted on April 16, 2012.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, movrshakr. This user is located in Zone 10a - near Cape Canaveral. This was originally posted on April 16, 2012.

I really like those big openings--perfect.  I have never worked with concrete wire.  How about a few words on working with it...shaping, cutting, joining, etc.  It looks perfect with those really big openings.

I think this wire came in 4'X8' panels. I trimmed them to the desired circumference, started at flat end and bent and pushed down until I had a circle and bent the pointy ends around the flat end. I cut it with very large wire cutters but one could use an angle grinder with a cutting disc or dremel tool with cutting disc. A hack saw would be tedious and slow.

They could be bent into a square with no change of utility. The circle seemed quicker and less bending.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Full Member, Texas.Micky. This user is located near Houston, TX Zone 8b-9a. This was originally posted on April 25, 2012.

This is a nice post with a lot of great information regarding these nice cages.

What about the cost comparisons on these and any hints on best places to shop for these materials?

Regular welded wire 54" high tomato cages aren't as sturdy, and seem to be going for about $4.99 ea near my location.

Thanks in advance.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Horticulturalist, over 45 years in the business. The EarthBox Hero Member, kathy. This user is located in the mountains of PA Zone 5, almost 4. This was originally posted on April 25, 2012.

The challenge with traditional tomato cages is they won't stay anchored in the EarthBox, I don't recall  if any of our forum members found a way to anchor them.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, movrshakr. This user is located in Zone 10a - near Cape Canaveral. This was originally posted on April 25,
2012.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Horticulturalist, over 45 years in the business. The EarthBox Hero Member, kathy. This user is located in the mountains of PA Zone 5, almost 4. This was originally posted on April 25, 2012.

The challenge with traditional tomato cages is they won't stay anchored in the EarthBox, I don't recall  if any of our forum members found a way to anchor them.

Doesn't gardendoc use ultomato cages--pretty conventional type.  How does he anchor them?

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, cushman350. This user is located in Tomato Hell, Wichita Falls, TX Zone 7b. This was originally posted on April 25, 2012.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, movrshakr. This user is located in Zone 10a - near Cape Canaveral. This was originally posted on April 25,
2012.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Horticulturalist, over 45 years in the business. The EarthBox Hero Member, kathy. This user is located in the mountains of PA Zone 5, almost 4. This was originally posted on April 25, 2012.

The challenge with traditional tomato cages is they won't stay anchored in the EarthBox, I don't recall  if any of our forum members found a way to anchor them.

Doesn't gardendoc use ultomato cages--pretty conventional type.  How does he anchor them?

I think the ultomato cages are something new, I'm curious too.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, Sun City Linda. This user is located in SoCal Inland 9A. This was originally posted on April 25, 2012.

I think Garden Doc grows mostly determinate tomatoes which are a little easier to contain.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, writeone. This user is located in Orlando, FL; Zone 9B. This was originally posted on April 25, 2012.

They must be. Even with 5' between boxes, I'm already crawling around vines to get between them. Vines that I've supported as close to the plant as possible without cramping it.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, baileyj. This user is located Zone 7A---Annapolis, Maryland. This was originally posted on April 25, 2012.

guess I did not use the ultimato correctly. 
I used a few last year with determinates and it was a complete disaster. 
The pieces moved and did not support the tomato. 
The main stem was supported, but it did not act like a cage to "contain" the plant...branches that I thought were supported ...were not and broke
I was very frustrated but will attempt to make them work again this year...if they start to fail...that is it, done !
Judi

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, gardendoc. This user is located in Ocean Springs, MS Zone 9a. This was originally posted on April 25, 2012.

I'm using the Ultimato frames this year and am planning tying around the frame as the plants grow

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, movrshakr. This user is located in Zone 10a - near Cape Canaveral. This was originally posted on April 25, 2012.

doc, I think the question is how you prevent wind tip over with the ultomatoes.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, gardendoc. This user is located in Ocean Springs, MS Zone 9a. This was originally posted on April 26, 2012.

Never used the Utimatos before, but I only grow determinates and will not have an eight foot sail to catch the wind. If its a problem I'll use and old nursery trick with rebar stakes

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, writeone. This user is located in Orlando, FL; Zone 9B. This was originally posted on April 26, 2012.

Let us know how it goes.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Newbie, Thomcatbob. This user is located in Bonita Springs, FL - Zone 10a. This was originally posted on February 18, 2013.

I just tried this staking system since I did not want to wait on pea fences from Gurney's.  (my tomatoes are growing at a quickly rate!).  I bought a roll of fencing - 24" x 50' and set up the system within a matter of a couple of hours.  My only concern is that there is no staking on the inside of the cage to support the tomatoes.  Don't know if it really matters because it looks like the designer of the cages had some sort of staking system inside these cages and some without.

Will post pix later.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Full Member, johnthomasc3. This user is located in Chapin, SC - Zone 7. This was originally posted on April 25, 2013.

I'm back.  I still use the same staking system I showed in the original system.  There is actually a bottom "plate" that I made to adapt to either the old time boxes that had no wheels, and also to those that had wheel systems.  Either way, the cages are very stable.  As for the staking inside the cages, the tomatoes pretty much support themselves by growing branches thru the wire. 

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, movrshakr. This user is located in Zone 10a - near Cape Canaveral. This was originally posted on April 25, 2013.

gardendoc, how did the ultimato supports work out last year?

I've heard a lot of people comment on them as "inadequate,"  to use a single word as summary.  So, I'd be interested in your opinion, and did you add or adjust anything in using them.