In the Garden with Pat Rubin

Bee garden writer Pat Rubin writes about everything that grows, from flowers and trees to vegetables and lawns. Pat volunteered for several years as a Placer County Master Gardener and has written about gardening for many national and regional publications. In addition to gardening, she spends time raising and showing miniature horses and miniature donkeys.

In the Garden will include news, events, advice and other gardening tidbits. Pat will also answer reader questions.

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April 13, 2007

Tomato cages using remesh

Reader Al Welborn of El Dorado Hills makes tomato cages from remesh (welded reinforced mesh). It looks like a type of fencing, but it’s used to add stability to concrete. It comes in 50-foot rolls, which is enough to make eight 24-inch diameter cages, he said, and a five-foot tall roll costs about $60. Remesh is available at home improvement stores.

“You need heavy duty wire cutters to cut it. I cut a six-foot piece, bend the (raw) edges on one side over like hooks so I can anchor the ends. It’s easy to bend,” Welborn said. The mesh is large enough to put your hand through for picking tomatoes. If any branches start to grow out one of the holes, Welborn just tucks it back in.

It isn't hard to transport, either. "You could even stick it in the trunk, and tie the trunk lid down."

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