DIY Inexpensive Tomato Cage That Lasts For Years

Last updated on April 7th, 2025 at 05:13 pm

I know I'm not the only one who has purchased a puny tomato cage at my local nursery that ends up bending over with the weight of the tomato plant and is practically worthless. When I started growing tomato plants 15 years ago I quickly realized we were going to have to make our own DIY tomato cages that would stand up to high winds, large tomato plants, and not cost a fortune. The original cages we made 14 years ago are still working perfectly and we've added more throughout the years as our garden has expanded.

DIY tomato cage that lasts with cherry tomatoes on the vine and in a pink bowl.

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That first year we decided there had to be a better option that wouldn't buckle under the weight of a full-grown tomato plant. I was right there is a heavy-duty metal cage that will stand the test of time, and it has a hefty price tag as well. I suppose if you only grew a few tomato plants every year in your vegetable garden it wouldn't be that big of a deal, especially since they will last multiple years, but when you grow a lot of tomatoes like we do, spending $400-$500 for tomato cages isn't cost-effective.

We aimed to create long-lasting cages without spending $50 each, there are many different ways to make simple tomato cages, but here's what has worked for us for over 10 years. We chose to use 42 in. x 84 in. remesh sheets, typically used as concrete reinforcing wire, found in most home improvement stores' cement and masonry section. These sheets cost around $20 each (which is double what they were when we initially made them) and we already had all the other necessary supplies and basic tools on hand for this project.

Supplies:

Assembling DIY Tomato Cages

I recommend making these when you have someone to help you. Typically, my husband rolls them up, and I use cable ties (zip ties) to secure them in place. Once they are secured, my husband reinforces them with tie wire. We don't remove the cable ties, but you could if you prefer to use tie wire on each section. The first set of these DIY tomato cages we made 14 years ago are still working great, and we keep adding more as we continue to grow our garden.

Place the wire panels on the ground or on a flat surface.
One person wearing work gloves rolls the sheet up overlapping a few sections of the metal wire.
The second person will then zip-tie both ends and middle of the wire tomato cages to secure it in place.
Next, while wearing work gloves secure the sections together with tie wire. You can use the needle-nose pliers to twist the tie wire tightly.
Clip off the excess tie wire with wire cutters
For additional support, you may need to add rebar or stakes to stabilize the cage. We have never needed to do this and do not have an issue with the cages falling over.

This style of tomato cage works for any variety of indeterminate tomato plants and provides excellent support no matter the size. We have used them to grow smaller tomato varieties like cherry tomatoes, as well as larger tomato plants like Roma, and heirloom tomatoes.

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Green wall o water garden extenders set up in a row in the garden.

Tips and Tricks

Teamwork: while you could complete this project yourself, having two people when building tomato cages is much easier.
Durability: These cages are not only durable but also cost-effective. When you consider the yearly cost, they are a fantastic alternative to the standard cages available at garden centers.
Customization: To adjust the size of the cage for smaller pepper plants you may need to use bolt cutters to trim the wire mesh sheet to your desired dimensions.
Sturdy Tomato Cages: for an even more sturdy cage consider attaching wood stakes to the outside of the metal cages to prevent them from falling over.
End of the season: Removing these cages at the end of the growing season is easy. Remove the tomato vines that have grown through the sides of the cage and simply pull them off of the main stem of the plant.
Wire Sheets Vs. Wire Roll: Using the concrete wire sheets is optimal because the square grid openings is much larger and allow for much easier access to pick the ripe tomatoes.

Tomato Recipes From The Garden:

Now that you have the perfect long-lasting tomato cages for your garden, you'll need an efficient way to process all the beautiful fruit you've grown. Over the years, I've found that using a manual or electric food mill is the fastest and simplest method for processing tomatoes. A food mill can reduce your processing time to a quarter of what it takes to blanch and remove the skin and seeds manually. Here are a few canning recipes we make every year to stock our pantry:

And lastly, don't throw out your mature green tomatoes at the end of the summer. Check out this article on How To Store Green Tomatoes To Ripen In The Fall to make your growing season even more productive.

Healthy Tomato Plants

Having sturdy support for your tomato plants is just one part of ensuring their overall health. Proper support prevents the plants from collapsing under the weight of the fruit, promoting better air circulation and reducing the risk of disease. Additionally, it makes harvesting easier and helps maximize sunlight exposure, which is crucial for the plants' growth and fruit production. Combining strong support with good watering, fertilization, and pest control practices will result in a thriving and productive tomato harvest.

What kind of tomato cages have you found work for you in your garden? Leave me a comment and let me know if you try out these DIY cages for your garden.