Galvanized CRW tomato cages (custom)

12 years ago

I'd like to use CRW this year but they aren't tall enough and I don't like the rust. So here is the plan:

I am investigating getting a load of them manufactured to custom specifications and am looking to collaborate on the "best" specs. Let's keep it simple for now:

1. Galvanized

2. 1/8 inch steel

3. 6 inch square gird

4. 6 feet wide plus 12 inch overhang (feet) = 7 feet

5. 150 feet long will yield 25 cages (6 feet circumference = 24 inch diameter)

Supply chain: Manufactured onshore if possible, offshore if necessary. Min would probably be a truckload or container (30 ft). Totally co-op approach. Startup and distribution will be challenges but what they heck. They will last forever.

Other:

1. Need help with suppliers: I am looking onshore (Nucor won't galvanize, China says yes-waiting on quote)

2. If you use a slip ring "thingie" Part Number TBD, you can lay them flat at year end

3. Materials Engineer question: Is there a best method of galvanizing ?

Anyone out there interested ? Anyone of you able to setup like a facebook or whatever to try and make this happen ?

Tom in NJ

Comments (9)

Ohiofem 6a/5b Southwest Ohio
12 years ago
Sounds like Texas tomato cages, which are patented. If you can build it without violating their patent, and do it for less, I would consider buying it.
John A
12 years ago
You must have an unlimited budget. Can you sell them competitively?
John A
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Carol, Six? Only Six? You can't choose only six. That would be impossible. You cannot have too many tomatoes. It just isn't possible. Well, that's assuming you can them, freeze them or dry them. Now, if all a person wanted was enough for fresh eating, then I think it would be possible to grow too many. I was just looking in the freezer a day or two ago and counting how many bags of dehydrated tomatoes we have left. I am trying to ration them out carefully so we'll have tomaotoes to eat until the fresh crop begins producing in late spring. We don't any any frozen tomatoes left in the freezer, and we only have salsa because I went on a canning rampage a week or two back and canned about 5 dozen jars of things we were out of because we gave away so many at Christmas. I admit I did have too many tomatoes the year that I was trialing a lot of varieties and planted 400 plants, and even with 300 plants the following year I found I was giving away as many as I was keeping. For most people that preserve food, though, there's never enough and certainly not too many. As long as there is any unplanted space available for garden plants, you don't have "too many". I like the idea of finding an unused neighbor's plot to garden in! I'd rather convert a half-acre of land to a larger garden space than spend my summer mowing that area! Tim has no idea I'm eyeing a half-acre, fairly-level plot with the idea it would make a great Three Sisters garden. I'm going to wait until we get the greenhouse finished, and then I'll break the news to him that we need a larger area for corn, with an electric fence to keep the raccoons out. One headache/project at a time..... Dawn
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She will be 10 months old this month... actually this week! She helps in the yard--she eats the crabgrass! AND, to turn over the raised beds, I put her in one and say, "Where is it?" and she starts furiously digging, dirt flying EVERYWHERE, I stand behind her with a storm door screen to block the dirt! She digs down nearly 11" and then I move the dirt back in and move her over a few feet and start all over again! hahaha! I had an urban farmer help in the yard in exchange for plants and he brought his entire family and spent a few hours weeding and turning 2 of the beds and he apologized for not doing as good a job as the puppy!! ......... Johnny, that is a deal, I paid about $55-$60 for 150ft almost 10 years ago!
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I am having trouble pasting a photo. I will keep trying. grubby - Actually 5 foot can be rolled into a 19" with separate clips. If you ever try rolling CRW in that direction you will find it crazy hard and dangerous. digdirt - Is that you from the old Gardenweb forum ? My best year ever (2006 in Jersey) had plants 10 foot tall, yielding 50 toms each x 20 plants = 1000 toms. It is my goal each year and the closest I've gotten was 500 last year. I want tall cages which are sort of self fulfilling (ie. you don't have to do much except tuck in the branches). I've had 9 foot stakes for a decade and putting in 20 reasonably straight is actually a pleasure. Let me try again with the pic post. Its not working....I click Photo, Browse to the photo, Click open, and the screen comes back to this view and nothing happens. Any ideas ?
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Original Author
12 years ago
I am not looking to sell them, I am looking for "us the tomato growers" to get together and cost effectively get what we need.

Not much response from the forum though. I found some 4 inch square galvanized 14 gauge at Darby & Son (Philadelphia).

I'm thinking now of just finding some 7 foot width CRW roll 10 guage and painting the rust with the Crud buster stuff.
ncrealestateguy
12 years ago
Why does the rust bother you so much?
sue_ct
12 years ago
For me, because it looks bad. My garden is in full view of the road. Plus, I just like the garden to look nice for myself, too. I also usually consider rust as destructive to the structure over time, decreasing its strength and life expectancy.
JMHO. :)

Sue
readheads
Original Author
12 years ago
Its annoying getting it on my and my 6 year olds hands and clothes and if I could avoid it I will. Plus I need only 25 and they will last til I'm dead so I might as well get what I want (although Texas Tomato is too much) I also think 7 foot width would be nice.

I'm pretty sure I'll stick with CRW and just find the right "paint/coating". I would like the 7 foot width though. I found it in Oregon but not yet in NJ area.
ncrealestateguy
12 years ago
7 footers would be nice.
digdirt2
12 years ago
Just buy welded wire galvanized fencing, make your cages, and then scatter cut some of the wire to a 4x4 opening. Easy and no rust, which isn't an issue anyway IMO. I have several I made years ago from some left over fencing. Posted pics of them here many times.

It comes in all sorts of heights and wire weights.

Dave
John A
12 years ago
I do something similar to Dave, although I don't make them into cages. I just have the 1" X 4" mesh galvanized in a straight fence. I plant the tomatoes right next to the fence. As they grow, I weave the plants through the mesh. Although the 1X4 mesh is smaller than I would like, it works and is inexpensive.
John A

Galvanized CRW tomato cages (custom)

Comments (9)

Ohiofem 6a/5b Southwest Ohio

John A

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Galvanized CRW tomato cages (custom)

Comments (9)

Ohiofem 6a/5b Southwest Ohio

John A

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