How to Make Tomato Cages
I am so excited to share my tomato cages DIY. It’s an easy and fun project that anyone can make. They are inexpensive and look so amazing.
Next week I will be sharing all of my tips for growing tomatoes. The first thing you need is wood tomato cages. Since I made mine, I thought it might make sense to share my Tomato Cages DIY.
Four years ago I made these “well-weathered” tomato cages. My handyman did the cutting but I did everything else. I wasn’t blogging every day at that time and, unfortunately, I forgot to take photos and document how I made the cages.
A few years ago I acquired a set of tools and I decided it was time to make the tomato cages and document the DIY. Just for the record, this was my first set of REAL tools, ever.
I set out all of my tools and soon my two grown sons, Matt and Michael, were at my work table and sharing with me their tool safety guidelines from Shop Class with Mr. Rainey in the 7th grade.
Oh, brother.
Then they started lining up the boards for cutting.
The next thing I knew, they were posing for photos.
I appreciated their input but soon realized my project had been hijacked. I now had two assistants who were in charge.
But I am not stupid, so I welcomed their help.
What You Need to Make Tomato Cages
(All items listed are to make one tomato cage.)
Four 8ft. long, 1″ x 2″ Spruce Pine Fir Boards
Approximately 30 Flathead, multi-material screws, 1 1/2″
One wood decorative Finial (with a screw on the bottom)
How to Make Tomato Cages
Cut the Boards
Measure each 8 ft. board to cut one each of the following sizes: 58″, 12″, 10″, 8″, and 3″. (You will have three of the 3″ boards leftover.)
Since I (we) were making four cages, I (we) cut 16 total boards.
All safety precautions were followed, including goggles, long pants, covered shoes, and more …
Pre-Drill the Holes
While the boys were cutting, I predrilled holes for the screws. The holes should be drilled about 3/8″ – 1/2″ from the edge.
Somehow I was able to do this job entirely by myself.
I drilled one hole in the center at the end of each board, except for the 3″ board. On the 3″ board I drilled two holes on each end, as seen below. Please note you only need one 3″ board per tomato cage.
Mark the Boards
Next, mark each 58″ board at 30″, 40″, and 50″ from the top. These are the locations where you will place the horizontal boards.
Place two of the 58″ boards on a flat surface with one end of the boards flush. Next place the 8″ board 30″ from the top. Place the 10″ board, 40″ from the top, and place the 12″ board 50″ from the top. Spread out the 58″ boards so that the 12″ board lines up first. Secure with screws and do the same for the 8″ and 10″ boards.
Attach with Screws
Make two of these sides for your tomato cage.
Place the two side cages on a flat surface and add the three remaining boards on both of the open sides.
Be sure to keep the top ends of the tomato cage flat.
Add the Finial
Next, drill a hole in the center of the 3″ piece. The hole should be slightly smaller than the screw in the bottom of the wood finial top of the cage.
Attach the 3″ wood piece to the top of the tomato cage with four screws, using the drill holes as guides.
Secure tightly.
Attach the decorative finial by screwing it into the drilled hole.
The cages are done!
Don’t they look fabulous in my raised vegetable garden? Believe it or not, I even mixed new and old cages.
I do have to admit that these new cages are made much better than the older cages. I think I might go back and try to repair the ones I made three years ago. The finials weren’t attached securely. (And guess who thinks these are better because of their handy 7th-grade woodshop skills? No comment.)
Matt and Michael loved them too. Although these tools are MINE, they are very excited about my their new tools.
I absolutely love how these tomato cages were made. And the cost for each tomato cage was about $8.
Video How to Make Tomato Cages DIY
To really get a sense of what this day was like, watch the video below! You will see that my project really was hijacked. Hahaha.
And one last thing, I need more ideas for more DIY’s so I can keep these two busy. Send the ideas my way!
More Gardening Items I Love
Pin the image below to your Gardening or DIY boards on Pinterest (just click the Pin button in the top left corner). You can also follow along with me on Pinterest!
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Beautiful job boys!! Ok now lets start on those tabletops.
I know you are enjoying having your boys home.
Haha! O, you know I just adore having them home with me!
How do they hold the plants in when they get big?
I’ve had them for a few months and I haven’t had any problems with them getting too big, they fit perfectly!
Leslie…..
Seriously, girl ! Is there ANYTHING you can’t do? I highly doubt it! Love these tomato cages!! I just thought of a great DIY for the boys….send them down to my house! I’m sure I could find lots of things to keep them busy!
Have a great summer, and enjoy your time with your family.
Allison
I love the finials on top!
Thank you!! I do too!
Perfect and will last for years!
My thoughts exactly, Teresa!
They look so cute in your garden. Your boys are too 😉 I hope to make some this weekend! How fun to have your boys home helping you!
Hugs,
Karin
It truly brings me so much joy! Thank you 🙂
They look so much better than my metal ugly ones! We also have something that eats our lettuce and now that the tomatoes are coming in we have wrapped a netting around them. What do you use to keep pest away? I’m in Pasadena so we might have some of the same bugs etc.
Ha – wonderful “helpers!” Those look really great Leslie! Nice job, and I bet the cleaning up went well too! 😉 Thanks for this great tutorial – I may try one myself!
I hope you do, Barbara!
Thank you! I sent your post to my husband and he made them for me. He is finishing the last one right now. Can’t wait to put them in the garden.
That is so awesome!!
I am soo inspired! These are just great and I think I may have to try it even though I have never😜worked with anything but a cordless drill! One question…would you recommend using redwood so they wood last longer?
Hi Leslie, I wanted to let you know I found your article about how to make tomato cages very helpful. Thank you, Richard
Richard, I am so glad! Thank you so much for following along.
Very nice style and superb articles, very little
else we require :D.
Will the cages keep birds out?
Also, do you have a printable plan for these cages?
Good work!
Dr. Bob Ricker
Thank you for reaching out. All of the directions for the tomato cages are in the blog post, including dimensions. As for birds, you can add netting if that is a concern. I don’t have any issues with birds getting into my tomatoes, but they do love my blueberries, which are netted. 😊
I’m going to try and make these for my little garden boxes! I’ll be sure to post on Instagram! Love, Michelle @prettyinpasadena
Oh I can’t wait to see what you post Michelle!
Love them! Where do you get the final? I am looking online and they tend to be pricy. Not sure if there is a good place to get them.
These are fantastic! I need an upgrade from what we have been using (boring metal ones) great tutorial thank you:)
I am so glad Tanya. Let me know how yours turn out!
I can’t wait to make these with my kids! Thanks for sharing the plan.
Last year my dad and son made us a lettuce box which kind of looks like a raised bed with a hinged lid with a screen to keep bugs off of the lettuce and the screen diffuses the water from the sprinkler so the lettuce doesn’t get as dirty from dirt splashing up. I will see if I can find a way to share a picture.
I loved hearing your boys were using the skills they learned and developed in 7th grade shop class with Mr. Rainey! I am a retired middle school FHACS (Family Health and Consumer Sciences) teacher and taught foods, sewing, and consumer skills for 30 years. I have had many former students share with me that they have used the skills they learned in middle school in their adult life! Unfortunately, these classes are no longer taught, as school administrators feel students are taught these skills at “home.” Students begged and made petitions to have the classes reinstated but they never were! Such a missing hands on skill set for our students! (All of the shop classes were removed as well!)
Great project! Love the tomato cages and what savings versus purchasing one, especially when you need several of them! Can you tell me where you found your wood finials. They really make the cage look nice.
I got mine at The Home Depot where I bought the wood for the cages. Just make sure that you get the one that has the screw in the bottom so that you can screw it right into the top of the cages! Good luck with your project Beth. If you make them, post a photo on Instagram and tag me, I will share you!
I had my hubs make these for me last year. Thank you so much for the great idea ! They really are beautiful. I found bird finials on Amazon and used those instead. I love following your blog ! It’s always inspiring.
My husband made three of them for me last year and I love them. I stained them walnut and put a urethane on them so now they are a lovely dark brown and will last a lot longer. Thanks so much for the pattern!
Here you go again! More amazing than I already thought you were.
I just love these, will see if hubby can get the grandkids to help him with this project.
They are gorgeous, almost too good for tomatoes, maybe Climatis would work as well?
Keep up the good work, you keep inspiring!
Carol