Last year we made our own cages, but the first horrible wind storm we had bent the prongs we had stuck in the ground right over and pulled the garden staples we'd also used right out - thus a ton of the cages blew over and a bunch of my plants got broke off right at the base. I took off most of the cages and rigged up a different system for those plants, but the few cages I left on I staked by using 2-3 foot bamboo stakes diagonally through the bottom. We had much worse storms later in the summer, but no more problems with cages tipping over.

The concrete mesh cages are WONDERFUL, but you still need to stake them. I cut 1 row off the bottom so I can sink it 6". That's really just to keep it nicely in place while I do the staking. 2 options: 48" wood stakes (usually sold in packs of 6 at menards, etc.) or metal T-posts (4 or 5 footers). I use 2 stakes for each cage, driving them in with either a sledge hammer or T-post driver ('cause I have one - not necessary, but nice). Here's my most recent discovery: the beauty of the zip tie!!!! a.k.a cable tie. You know, the plastic thingy that ratchets back on itself. I use them to secure all the stakes & grow structures in my garden. End of season, just cut them off.
My garden is fully exposed to the north and west. The wind is really bad sometimes and my cages hold up just fine.

My suggestion is to not cut any size prongs into the CRW but instead drive 2 ft pieces of rebar next to the cages and secure with wire, string or cable ties. I figure you have to have a very specific soil type for those prongs to properly support a large tomato plant, not too rocky and not too soft -- but regardless over time some of the prongs will get bent and eventually break off.

Other advantages are the additional 6 inches of cage height youÂre not cutting off and not having to contend with those rather lethal daggers created by the prongs!!

Terry Light
Oak Hill, Virginia

Agree with Terry above - I don't stick anything of the cage in the ground (tho it does get heavily mulched all around it) but tie-off stakes either between the cages or in each cage are mandatory. Rebar, wood, fence posts, whatever work fine.

Dave

I have found that the best way to secure your CRW tomato cages (can be the cheapest too) is to buy or find some old pieces of 1/2 or 3/4 metal pipe or tubing. I like 10-12 foot pieces. First I cut off the bottom rung of the cages to stick them in the ground. Then run the pipe through the cages, about 3/4 the way off the ground. Then at the ends of the pipe and somewhere in the middle, drive a steel "T" post. You can use strong zip ties or cable ties to attach the pipe to the "T" posts. Also, I attach the pipe to the cage where it runs through.

After the tomatoes get big, the pipe is hidden. My girls also like to swing from them!

Of course this method only works if you plant your tomatoes in a row. It is very strong. Three years ago, we had a very small tornado pass by our house in May. The tomatos were small, but the cages did not move. To bad the shingles were a different story!

If you have a hard time finding pipe, don't buy new stuff unless you have extra money. Go to a salvage yard/recycling center/scrap yard and ask if they have any pipe. I have a salvage place that will sell it to dirt cheap. You could also check on Freecycle or Craigslist.

Good Luck.

That bottom 6 inches most folks leave as mini prongs to help anchor the CRW cages and that gets buried in the soil rusts off first. My cages are in year 12 and all those prongs have rusted off. Of course my cages are outdoors all year round and those prongs are buried all year long.

I mention this only because you should be aware that any part of the wire that is below the ground will rust through faster.

I agree. Prongs won't hold a large plant and it wastes cage height. 1/2" electrical conduit from the home improvement store is perfect. Cut a 10 ft length in half for two stakes. Only one stake per cage is needed. I also use zip ties to secure the cage to the stakes. I've never had one to tip over even with the biggest plants in storms.
Jim