Tomato cages or stakes?

[Wayfarer]

Hi All,

Question -- has anyone tried stakes vs cages? I've tried stakes in the past
unsuccessfully and always ended up with cages but all of the gardening shows
and books seem to feature staking.

Right now I planted a couple and put cages up -- mostly to protect from my
dog trampling them -- but every year the cages always proof too small and
the plants hang over everywhere. So I'm back to wondering about staking . .
.

[WSZsr]

I purchased 48" high foldable tomato towers at Home Depot yesterday for
$3.98 each. Much bigger and better than the standard 98 cent cage.

"Wayfarer" <Wayf...@swbell.net> wrote in message
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[Wayfarer]

You mean those square ones? Are they any easier to set up too (hitting rock
with the three legged ones is a real problem).

"WSZsr" <willia...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
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[WSZsr]

Actually they are triangular and they set up very easily. I think they are
more like 54" tall. Can't beat them for $4.

"Wayfarer" <Wayf...@swbell.net> wrote in message

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[Cliff]

Whether to stake or cage. According to Malcom Beck, (I attended one of his
lectures this weekend). The cage will out produce the stake by 2 to 1. I
think this assumes that you will use some sort of "grow web" in the
beginning. Good luck.

"Wayfarer" <Wayf...@swbell.net> wrote in message
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[Wayfarer]

Thanks -- I remember reading someplace that cages produce more fruit (as
does crowding too close) but stakes produced healitheir plants and larger
fruit --

Has anyone tried growing two of the same variety side by side -- one staked
and one caged?

--
Marta
(if you email me directly you need to remove the X )
"Cliff" <cwb...@swbell.net> wrote in message
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