tomato trellis using cattle panel

15 years ago

I'd like to make tomato trellises out of cattle panel. What do you think of cutting the 16' length in half and making the trellis 8' tall. Overkill? Or, should I just attach the 4' tall panels to t-posts at one or two feet off the ground? If your trellises for indeterminate tomatoes are about 6' tall, do you wish they were taller toward the end of growing season? Thanks for any feedback!

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Comments (7)

Okiedawn OK Zone 7
15 years ago
Dancinwaters,

It depends on how flat and level your ground is, on whether you like climbing a ladder, etc.

In general, I like to stop the tomato cages at 6' tall, but sometimes I let them go to 9'. Once they are taller than 6' tall, I have to climb a ladder to pick the tomatoes at the top of the plant (I'm only 5' 3" tall). So, remember that the taller the trellis or cage goes, the taller you have to climb to harvest.

I have to be careful where I plant the huge monster plants like Black Cherry, Sweet Million and Tess's Land Race Currant because my garden slopes, so I have to be sure they are on a flat portion of the garden, or I can't use a ladder to pick them.

Dawn
dancinwaters
Original Author
15 years ago
Dawn,
The ground is level so I could use a ladder...but I wonder if I'd really want to by the time August is here. Also, I don't think we have any of the monster tomato plants so maybe we should just attach the panels to the t-posts at 1 or 2 feet off the ground. One more (okay, maybe more) question...I've read where some have raised the panels 1 foot off the ground but do you see any problem with raising it 2 feet...that way the trellis would be 6' tall? My husband is on his way to the Tractor Suppy right now to get a panel...soo exciting!Looking forward to meeting you tomorrow!
Cindy
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gldno1
15 years ago
Just checking in here from the Ozark Forum. I just put the panel at slightly above ground level and plant. They begin to fall over toward the end of the season, but it still works for me. I don't want to be using ladders in the garden. With my dizziness (literally) I don't want to risk a fall. The panels I use are a bit taller than 48 inches.

Good luck.
river22
15 years ago
danciwaters,
i have used cattle panels for years to trellis tomatoes and it works great.(i call them hog panels) i just put my on the ground with a couple of t-posts and keep them tied up. they will try to get taller than the 4 foot and end up just dropping down, nothing to worry about. i use them for cucumbers and green beans too. one year i planted giant sunflowers behind the trellis with cucumbers and the cucumbers climbed the sunflowers and it looked pretty neat. i had to get a ladder to pick them. another way you can plant on them is to bend them in an arch and secure with tposts. it makes a great special spot place for kids. i planted cucumbers on one side and green beans on the other.
Okiedawn OK Zone 7
15 years ago
Cindy,

You probably could put them up two feet but I am worried the weight of the plants might pull down the panels if they are raised too high off the ground. Maybe if someone has raised them a foot or two off the ground, they'll let you know how it worked for them.

It was wonderful meeting you today!

Dawn
dancinwaters
Original Author
15 years ago
Everyone,
Thanks for the information! We have our trellises up and ready to go. We ended up raising the bottom of the panel about a foot and a half off the ground so the top of the panel is 6 feet tall. Time will tell if they are strong enough to hold tomatoes at that height.

Hank - You commented on my question on the forum about cattle panels and said you might have a use for them too. So here are a couple of pictures for you.

***I'll try to send them later because I can't figure out how to add them.

Dawn,
It was great meeting you too...you are simply one of the nicest people ever!
dancinwaters
Original Author
15 years ago
Hank,
Here are a few pictures of the tomato trellises. Weren't you considering using this type of trellis to cover a wall? I think you're wanting to growing some orange (or yellow?) pear shaped tomatoes on the trellis and that way you'd have both nice looking coverage and some good tomatoes too. I'm considering using the panels to grow some cross-vines in another area of the yard too. Guess we'll see what we end up with. Good luck...keep me posted on your project.
Cindy

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