EarthTainer self-supporting Tomato Cage System Quick Instruction

16 years ago

Here is a brief overview of the EarthTainer self-supporting cage system. I will do a .pdf document in a few weeks when I have all 25 'Tainers loaded up with tomato plants.

It is essential to use the Walmart 54" heavy duty cages ($5.32). They are much stronger than the Home Depot or Lowes cages, and strength is all important for the system to function properly.

Step 1: Invert two cages and align the legs in a straight row. Use a 1/8" wire rope clip to secure the cages together at hoopset #3. Note: hoopset #4 will overlap slightly. See photo:

Flip the 2 connected cages upright (carefully) and use tie wraps to secure hoopsets #4 together:

Next, spread out a black trash bag, flip the cage over and center the legs on it:

Pull up on the trash bag at each leg and slide the bag up to hoopset #1.

Invert the cage again, and place the cut out cover rim over the legs. (Make sure the cover is facing in the correct direction):

Then flare out the legs as shown above.

Next, use a Sharpie marker to put a mark 1" from the end of each leg. Then attach 1/8" wire rope clips to each of the 8 legs.

Then place 3/8" by 1.5" fender washers over each wire rope clip:

The cage system is now ready for the aeration bench. It is critical to use a 5/32" drill to drill the mounting holes in the 8 places on the aeration bench as shown. This is the strongest structural part of the aeration bench, to support the weight of the tomato plants.

Place the aeration bench (upside down) on the tomato cage legs (note: this is an older photo where I had combined the center legs. I now have each leg "vertical" in its own drill hole)

You will need to use a bit of force to "punch" the leg through each 5/32 drilled hole. Hint: when drilling the holes, wiggle the drill a bit to make a slightly enlarged hole. You will hear a "pop" when each leg is inserted. This is important, as when you are finished and flip the system back over to install into the 31 gallon container, the friction grip on each leg holds the sections together. Each leg will protrude 1" into the underside of the aeration bench:

Again, no underside clamps are necessary, as the guy-wire tether will hold the tomato cages is a rigid position upon final assembly.

Flip the tomato cages back over and they are ready to install into the large container.

Next, Drill 1/4" holes on both sides of the 'Tainer in the middle of the "Rubbermaid" name (middle of the "e" letter. Install 1/4" by 1" eye-bolts and washers. (You may find it easier to do this step before placing the tomato cage and aeration bench into the container). Using a smaller 1/16" wire rope clip, secure a 7' section of 1/16" galvanized wire through one eye-bolt, and run the free end through the (loosened) wire rope clip that is holding the cages together at hoopset #3:

Fasten the end through the eye-bolt on the opposite side of the container and tension the wire slightly. Think of the tomato cages as a ship's mast, with the guy-wires as Stays fastening the mast "port" and "starboard" in nautical terms. This will keep the cage system rigid (upright) as it loads up with tomatoes during the growing season.

So that's about it. Enjoy, and feel free to add your ideas and improvements.

Raybo

Comments (8)

whizzer75
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I have seven self watering containers lined up in my back yard. When vines get 5-6 feet high a good breeze would tumble them over like dominoesas long as supports are attached to container.
I finall solved the problem by driving rebar 12" into the ground at each corner and slipping 1/2" pvc pipe over it, then using Tees to make cross pieces and verticle sections.
rnewste
Original Author
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
whizzer,

I did a weight calculation a while back, concerned about the stability of the EarthTainer. With the 31 gallon Rubbermaid container, I have a constant 5.5" water depth (using the AWS watering system) and this amounts to 100 pounds of water in the base. The dry potting mix (3 cu. ft.) adds 37 pounds. Moisture dispersed in the potting mix adds at least another 25 pounds.

So I have a dead weight of more than 160 pounds in each container. Trying to drag a full one to another location on the deck is a 2-man job! I believe it would take a Category 2 hurricane to tip these puppies over, and the wind would have blown the tomatoes away long before then!!

Raybo
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tom_n_6bzone
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
impressive. but won't the rubbermaid and other tubs like them become brittle with a season of sunlight? I'm guess that only one, or two years at the most will give service.
~tom
rnewste
Original Author
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Tom,

I did a lot of research on the materials in the Sterelite (Walmart) ones, and the Rubbermaid. The Rubbermaid ones are thicker and contain a uv retardant. I selected a neutral color (light tan) which should be more sun tolerant that darker colored containers.

I also plan on rotating the containers each year so my goal is to get at least a 7 year service life out of them, before having to replace the outer container only. At $10.00 replacement cost divided by 7 years, that is not too bad a "maintenance" expense, in my view.

Raybo
tom_n_6bzone
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Wonderful! I didn't know that the rubbermaid (or any of them not specifically labeled for outside) contained a uv retardent. Nice, very nice plans you have.
~tom
alan_anderson
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Ray
Just a suggestion for your EarthTainer Guide pdf file. Put the entire materials list on the first page so a person can take the list on their shopping trip and get all the stuff in one trip.
I'm still trying to figure out how many of this and that and will undoubtedly miss something and have to go back.
biggjoe
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I used the Menard's 54" heavy duty cages which look to be as strong or stronger than the ones you are using. Since my EarthTainers sit close to my yard I simply stuck the cages into the containers and drove a 2" x 2" x 8' wooden stake 12" into the ground right next to the tainers and the cages. I tied the cages off to the 8' stake very tight and that was it.

As one of the other posters stated, the weight of the EarthTainers is well over 100lbs, so I wasn't worried about the containers going anywhere. As for proof of how sturdy the whole set-up would be in a strong wind, I have the proof.

About 3 weeks ago a very strong storm that spawned a CAT 3 tornado touched down about 2 miles from my house. Winds were so strong in my neighborhood that the top third of a tree was blown off in one neighbors yard. And the other neighbor had a few very large branches blown off of his trees. While I also had some branches blown off, my EarthTainers never moved and the cages are still strapped to the stakes as tight as the day I built them. Wind gusts were said to be at least +60mph.
rnewste
Original Author
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
bigjoe,

Yep, the wind would blow off all the tomatoes before it would tip over the 100# 'Tainer.

I have updated the .pdf instructions and other info at this website:

http://earthtainer.org/Home_Page.html

Click on the "In The News" tab and the .pdf link is there.

Raybo

Here is a link that might be useful: EarthTainer Guide

EarthTainer self-supporting Tomato Cage System Quick Instruction

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whizzer75

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EarthTainer self-supporting Tomato Cage System Quick Instruction

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