OK, SO THIS VIDEO won’t edge out Obama or the latest celebrity trash on YouTube anytime soon. But it’s life-changing in its own way. Go see why you simply cannot garden for one more summer without Texas Tomato cages. (Hints: Like the saying goes, they grow them big in Texas…and they fold flat for winter storage.)
THE LECTURE that he’s been giving for a number of years is not-so-subtly called “Kill Your Lawn.” Ecological horticulturist Dan Jaffe Wilder knows that starting over and creating an entire native habitat instead of a lawn isn’t for everyone. But Dan just wants to grab our attention and get us to start to make some changes at least in the way we care for the turfgrass we do want in our landscapes. And maybe give up a little square footage of it to some other kind of more diverse planting, too, like the wild strawberries (Fragaria virginiana, inset). Alternative, more eco-focused styles of lawn care, along with some lawn alternatives is what he and I talked about on the podcast. Dan is Director of Applied Ecology at Norcross Wildlife Foundation in Wales, Massachusetts, and its 8,000-acre sanctuary. He’s also co-author with Mark Richardson of the book “Native Plants for New England Gardens.”
(Stream it below, read the illustrated transcript or subscribe free.)
Ohhhh what a dream come true! I could not convince my husband last spring to make heavy duty ones the wire-cutter way, and so we had gimpy falling-down cages all last summer. Now these! If only I still lived in TX and didn’t have to pay for 55 lbs in shipping! Thanks for the great link :)
Welcome, Lynn, to A Way to Garden.
I paid the shipping and haven’t looked back with a single regret…not cheap, but I really had had it with the toppled tomatoes year after year.
And yes, you’re right–with a strong pair of wire cutters and a roll of concrete reinforcing wire (the stuff they lay down in sidewalk forms before they pour the concrete; really heavy) you can make good cages. Of course they won’t store flat…
Margaret
The Equipment Manager made some great RI tomato cages which do not fold flat but are working very well. Those look great!
It’s a ….”Wow, (smack yourself on the forehead) why didn’t I think of that” thing. Do you suppose my husband could be convinced that the old ones have worn out?
I am using the Texas Tomato cages for the second year. They worked great for me last year. Best cages I have ever used and they fold flat for storage. I did have to drive a large tree stake down the middle of the cages to hold them from tipping over when my tomatos cleared the top of the cage and starting growing out to the sides. I wish I had bouught the 24″ ones instead of the 18″ers.
Welcome, John. I got the 18s and the 24s and for those giant indeterminate plants, the 24’s are a blessing, yes. The stake is a good idea, too…these plants are weeds, aren’t they (well, at least vines)? :) Nice to “meet” you and hope to see you again soon with news of a bumper crop.
i would like to know exactly where to by these texas tomatoe cages ?
Hi, Karen. It’s TomatoCages [dot] com. (Follow the green link.)