Nothing is more tasty than a fresh tomato straight out of your garden.
If you’ve never tested out your own green thumb you should give it a try.
It’s easy to learn how to grow and care for them.
However, there are parts of the northern country where the summers are quite short and a little cool for growing tomatoes.
They do need to be cared for to get good ones.
One of the problems with store-bought tomatoes are how they have to endure such hardships.
The wire tomato cages can’t stand up to the process.
The tomatoes soon become so bent out of shape you can hardly recognize them.
They really do have some fairly sophisticated tomato cages, but they will cost you a bit more as well.
If you use a tomato tower you can get around this.
They are inexpensive to make and can last for several years.
Anyone who is the least bit handy can handle this project.
All you need is a couple of tools and about an hour or so of time.
Here is what it takes to build your own tomato cage:
- One 8 foot long (2 inch by 12 inches)
- Two 8 foot long (2 inches by 2 inches)
- About 15 (3 inch deck screws)
- A Rigid tie for tying the 2 inch by 2 inch
- 4 Nails (1 and 14 inch long)
- Two bolts (14 inch by 5inches) with a washer Nut
- 8 feet of twine or string
As mentioned above, there are a couple of tools that are necessary for completing this project.
Before you start on your tomato cage, be sure you have the right tools or adequate substitutes.
The tools you need are:
- A Circular Saw
- Hammer
- Tape Measure
- Steps
- Small Crescent Wrench
- Electric Drill (Need to have a 38 inch and 18 inch bit along with a Phillips bit)
Next you need to prepare the workspace.
Set up a couple of sawhorses and make a workbench.
Get your tools laid out and ready.
Take the 2 inch by 12 inch piece and cut four 16 inch pieces, using the circular saw.
Make a square box with those pieces using the 3 inch deck screws.
Drill some pilot holes for your deck screws if the wood seems like it will split.
Three screws should be adequate for each corner.
Out of one of you 2 inch by 2 inch pieces, cut around a six foot or seven foot piece, depending on exactly how tall you think your tower should be. This is going to be your support post.
From your other 2 inch by 2 inch piece, cut out 1 24 inch piece as well as 2 22-inch pieces.
Cut the ends on both of these pieces at a 45 degree angle.
Attach your rigid tie to the end of your 6 foot long 2-inch by 2-inch with your nails.
Attach your 24-inch 2-inch by 2-inch (TOP) to the far side of your rigid tie with nails and create a 90 degree angle.
Your 22-inch 2-inch by 2-inch pieces will be your support.
Put them on either side of your 2-inch by 2-inch support post and drill yourself a 38-inch hole into the 2 supports and top piece.
Now drill a 38-inch hole into the 2 side supports as well as the support post.
Attach your side supports to your support post along with the top piece with your 5-inch bolts.
Next, attach you newly assembled support structure to your box using 3 of your 3-inch deck screws.
Now – You’re Done!
If you would like to take things a step farther you can dress things up a bit, using some paint or wood stain to ‘pretty up’ your tomato tower.
All that’s left after that is to locate a sunny spot out in the garden to set your tower up.
Then fill it with your favorite type of tomato, string it up, then enjoy all the benefits for the rest of the season.