Ditch Traditional Tomato Cages For A Twisty Alternative Solution

Over two thousand years ago, ancient Greeks studied and wrote about simple machines, like the lever, as mechanisms capable of moving the world. Of all the devices that the Hero of Alexandria wrote about, the last to be described was the screw. One of the most versatile shapes, the corkscrew, has been used for everything from olive oil presses to dog tie-out stakes. Given gardeners' innovativeness, and because this mechanism is so simple and effective, it's no surprise to see this shape show up in the garden as a way to train tomato plants.

Tall, corkscrew-shaped stakes like the 50-in Red Metal Traditional Stake offered at Lowe's have become a popular alternative to tomato cages. Given the downsides to using tomato cages to support your plants, many gardeners are looking for a better solution for plant support. Tomato cages can trap moisture and prevent airflow, and they're bulky and awkward to store. If they didn't get damaged under the weight of your tomato plants last summer, the odds that they made it through winter storage aren't great.

Lowe's twisted metal stakes are priced at $5.98, which is significantly less than the $7.88 they charge for a 54-inch tomato cage. When you're buying supporting structures for an entire garden, the savings can add up quickly. Metal stakes also take up a lot less space in storage than tomato cages do.

If you're ready to skip the traditional tomato cage, twisted metal stakes are a good alternative. The shape itself creates the grip and resistance the plant needs to climb, and one of the benefits is that you don't have to use any plant ties. All you need to do is insert the screw-shaped stake into the ground when you plant your tomato start, and train it by guiding the stems up through the corkscrew as the plant grows. All of the fruits and leaves are visible and getting plenty of airflow to avoid problems like powdery mildew. This is also a good solution for other climbing plants, such as cucumbers, as well as tall flowers that may need staking, like sunflowers. 

Since they're only 50 inches tall, these stakes do have limitations. Like tomato cages, they won't support cultivars that get up to 10 feet tall and are laden with heavy fruits. Still, they work great for more compact varieties. 

When you swap the traditional tomato supports for twisted stakes, you might be left with some old cages. Before you toss them out, consider some ways to repurpose tomato cages. For example, they can be turned into garden cloches to provide frost cover or be used to support other plants. You can even turn a tomato cage into a storage basket.