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Home and Garden
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Planting and Growing
Growing Vegetables
Growing Tomatoes
How to Cage Tomatoes Download Article Co-authored by Kyle Hall Reviewed by Erin Hostetler
Last Updated: February 24, 2025 References
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Choosing Tomato Cages
|
Setting up the Cages
|
Caring for Caged Tomatoes
|
Q&A
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This article was reviewed by Erin Hostetler and by wikiHow staff writer, Kyle Hall. Erin Hostetler is an Edible Gardening Expert and the Owner & Farmer of The Patio Farmer, a small business based in Charlotte, North Carolina. With over 10 years of experience working on farms and growing food, Erin specializes in providing consultations, installations, and custom maintenance plans for people wanting to grow food in small (or large) spaces at their homes and businesses. Erin loves teaching other people the magic of growing your own food. She's a firm believer that there is a green thumb in everyone! Erin has degrees from Appalachian State University and King's College London, both of which guided her to start her business. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 197,109 times.
Caging tomatoes is an effective way to grow the fruit and enjoy a delicious harvest. You can easily cage your own tomatoes by buying or making sturdy cages and properly installing them over your plants. Once the cages are in place, you’ll just need to occasionally tend to the plants and wait for them to produce tomatoes ripe enough for picking.
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Part 1 Part 1 of 3:
Choosing Tomato Cages
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1 Use metal tomato cages if you don't have a lot of space in your garden. Metal cages are thin and flexible, so you can squeeze them into a smaller space. This is especially helpful if your tomato plants are planted close together.
2 Get tomato cages that are at least 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall. 5-foot cages will support most tomato varieties. If you're growing a shorter tomato variety, like Santiam or Siberia, you can choose a shorter cage.[1]XResearch source Advertisement
3 Choose a cage between 12-30 inches (30.5-76 cm) in diameter. Get a cage with a larger diameter if you're growing a large variety of tomato.[2]XResearch source
4 Make your own tomato cages using concrete reinforcement wire. You can find some at your local hardware store. Make sure you can fit your hand through the openings in the wire so you're able to harvest the tomatoes. Cut 3 feet (.9 meters) of wire for every 1 foot (.3 meters) in diameter you want each cage to be. Attach each end of the wire to a stake and stake the cage in the ground around one of your tomato plants.
5 Get one cage for each tomato plant in the garden. Each tomato plant should have its own cage to grow in.
Advertisement Part 2 Part 2 of 3:
Setting up the Cages
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1 Place a cage directly over one of the tomato plants. Whether the plant is potted or in the ground, you want it to be in the center of the cage. The walls of the cage should be close to the plant; it's normal if some of the plant's vines and leaves extend outside of the cage.[3]XResearch source
Avoid damaging the plants' roots by caging them immediately after transplanting them.
2 Push down on the cage so the stakes at the bottom go into the ground. Keep pushing down until all of the stakes are fully buried in the soil. If you’re having trouble getting the cage to push down, try lightly pounding it down with a mallet or hammer.[4]XResearch source
3 Check to see if the cage is sturdy. Put your hand on the cage and gently push and pull on it a little bit. If it feels like the wind could pull it out of the ground, attach a couple stakes to the bottom of the cage and pound them into the soil for extra support.[5]XResearch source
Attach the stakes to the outside of the cage so they don't damage the roots when you push them into the soil.
4 Cage the rest of the tomato plants in the garden. Repeat the same process, making sure all of the cages are firmly staked in the ground. If you’re planting and caging new tomato plants, try to place them at least 4 feet (1.2 meters) apart.[6]XResearch source
Advertisement Part 3 Part 3 of 3:
Caring for Caged Tomatoes
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1 Tie young, low-hanging vines on the plants to the tomato cages. This will encourage the tomato plants to grow upward in their cages. You can use something like floss or rubber bands to tie the vines to the cage. If you’re tying the vines, make sure they’re not too tight or you could injure the plant.[7]XResearch source
2 Trim off any dying leaves to conserve energy for the fruit. Pull the leaves off with your hands or use gardening shears. Trim the plants a couple times a week or whenever you notice wilting leaves.[8]XResearch source
3 Lift up a tomato cage if it falls and tie it to stakes to support the plant. Pound three or four stakes into the ground around the base of the fallen plant, taking care not to hammer the stakes into the plants roots. Loop garden twine or wire through the tomato cage and tie it to the stakes until the cage is supported.[9]XResearch source
4 Cut down the tomato plants in the fall once they die. You can tell the tomato plants are dead once they turn brown and yellow and begin to wilt. Use shears to cut any dead vines tangled around the cage. The tomato cages should remain on the plants until you are done harvesting.[10]XResearch source
5 Pull the cages out of the ground and store them until next year. Store the cages indoors where they won’t be damaged by the elements. Reuse the cages next year to grow more tomato plants.[11]XResearch source
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Question How can I keep white flies off of my tomato plants? Ninox Top Answerer There are traps efficient against white flies. Another solution can be predatory insects like Encarsia Formosa and Macrolophus Caliginosus. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1
Question Can I put 6 tomato plants in 1 cage or should each plant have its own cage? Chris Top Answerer You should only put one plant per cage, as they will be overcrowded once mature. Tomato plants need room to spread and climb. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 4
Question My tomatoes are getting squeezed in their cages, and bugs are getting into them. What can I do to prevent this? Bob.Anderson Top Answerer Tomato plants can indeed grow very large. To reduce squeezing, you can prune some of the suckers (branches) to manage plant size and improve air circulation within the cage. While cages do not typically cause bug issues, dense growth can sometimes create conditions where pests thrive. For bug control, consider using a strong spray from a garden hose to dislodge them, or apply an appropriate insecticidal soap or spray if necessary. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
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Reviewed by: Erin Hostetler Edible Gardening Expert This article was reviewed by Erin Hostetler and by wikiHow staff writer, Kyle Hall. Erin Hostetler is an Edible Gardening Expert and the Owner & Farmer of The Patio Farmer, a small business based in Charlotte, North Carolina. With over 10 years of experience working on farms and growing food, Erin specializes in providing consultations, installations, and custom maintenance plans for people wanting to grow food in small (or large) spaces at their homes and businesses. Erin loves teaching other people the magic of growing your own food. She's a firm believer that there is a green thumb in everyone! Erin has degrees from Appalachian State University and King's College London, both of which guided her to start her business. This article has been viewed 197,109 times. 2 votes - 50% Co-authors: 12Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 197,109 Categories: Growing TomatoesArticle SummaryX
To cage tomatoes, start by picking a cage that is at least 5 feet tall and 12-30 inches in diameter. Next, place the cage directly over one tomato plant, pushing it down until the stakes are fully buried and the cage feels sturdy. If you have more than one tomato plant, go ahead and cage them all at the same time. After all of the cages are in place, tie young, low-hanging vines to the cages with floss or rubber bands. Then, once your tomatoes are caged, trim any dying leaves a few times a week so the plant has energy for the fruit. For more tips from our Horticultural reviewer, including how to remove the cages and store them for the next year, keep reading!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Reviewed by: Erin Hostetler Edible Gardening Expert 2 votes - 50% Click a star to vote 50% of people told us that this article helped them. Co-authors: 12Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 197,109
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Reviewed by: Erin Hostetler Edible Gardening Expert This article was reviewed by Erin Hostetler and by wikiHow staff writer, Kyle Hall. Erin Hostetler is an Edible Gardening Expert and the Owner & Farmer of The Patio Farmer, a small business based in Charlotte, North Carolina. With over 10 years of experience working on farms and growing food, Erin specializes in providing consultations, installations, and custom maintenance plans for people wanting to grow food in small (or large) spaces at their homes and businesses. Erin loves teaching other people the magic of growing your own food. She's a firm believer that there is a green thumb in everyone! Erin has degrees from Appalachian State University and King's College London, both of which guided her to start her business. This article has been viewed 197,109 times. 2 votes - 50% Co-authors: 12 Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 197,109 Categories: Growing Tomatoes Article SummaryX
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1 Use metal tomato cages if you don't have a lot of space in your garden. Metal cages are thin and flexible, so you can squeeze them into a smaller space. This is especially helpful if your tomato plants are planted close together. 
2 Get tomato cages that are at least 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall. 5-foot cages will support most tomato varieties. If you're growing a shorter tomato variety, like Santiam or Siberia, you can choose a shorter cage.[1] Advertisement 
3 Choose a cage between 12-30 inches (30.5-76 cm) in diameter. Get a cage with a larger diameter if you're growing a large variety of tomato.[2] 
4 Make your own tomato cages using concrete reinforcement wire. You can find some at your local hardware store. Make sure you can fit your hand through the openings in the wire so you're able to harvest the tomatoes. Cut 3 feet (.9 meters) of wire for every 1 foot (.3 meters) in diameter you want each cage to be. Attach each end of the wire to a stake and stake the cage in the ground around one of your tomato plants. 
5 Get one cage for each tomato plant in the garden. Each tomato plant should have its own cage to grow in. Advertisement 
1 Place a cage directly over one of the tomato plants. Whether the plant is potted or in the ground, you want it to be in the center of the cage. The walls of the cage should be close to the plant; it's normal if some of the plant's vines and leaves extend outside of the cage.[3] 
2 Push down on the cage so the stakes at the bottom go into the ground. Keep pushing down until all of the stakes are fully buried in the soil. If you’re having trouble getting the cage to push down, try lightly pounding it down with a mallet or hammer.[4] 
3 Check to see if the cage is sturdy. Put your hand on the cage and gently push and pull on it a little bit. If it feels like the wind could pull it out of the ground, attach a couple stakes to the bottom of the cage and pound them into the soil for extra support.[5] 
4 Cage the rest of the tomato plants in the garden. Repeat the same process, making sure all of the cages are firmly staked in the ground. If you’re planting and caging new tomato plants, try to place them at least 4 feet (1.2 meters) apart.[6] Advertisement 
1 Tie young, low-hanging vines on the plants to the tomato cages. This will encourage the tomato plants to grow upward in their cages. You can use something like floss or rubber bands to tie the vines to the cage. If you’re tying the vines, make sure they’re not too tight or you could injure the plant.[7] 
2 Trim off any dying leaves to conserve energy for the fruit. Pull the leaves off with your hands or use gardening shears. Trim the plants a couple times a week or whenever you notice wilting leaves.[8] 
3 Lift up a tomato cage if it falls and tie it to stakes to support the plant. Pound three or four stakes into the ground around the base of the fallen plant, taking care not to hammer the stakes into the plants roots. Loop garden twine or wire through the tomato cage and tie it to the stakes until the cage is supported.[9] 
4 Cut down the tomato plants in the fall once they die. You can tell the tomato plants are dead once they turn brown and yellow and begin to wilt. Use shears to cut any dead vines tangled around the cage. The tomato cages should remain on the plants until you are done harvesting.[10] 
5 Pull the cages out of the ground and store them until next year. Store the cages indoors where they won’t be damaged by the elements. Reuse the cages next year to grow more tomato plants.[11] Advertisement 
Ninox Top Answerer There are traps efficient against white flies. Another solution can be predatory insects like Encarsia Formosa and Macrolophus Caliginosus. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1 
Chris Top Answerer You should only put one plant per cage, as they will be overcrowded once mature. Tomato plants need room to spread and climb. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 4 
Bob.Anderson Top Answerer Tomato plants can indeed grow very large. To reduce squeezing, you can prune some of the suckers (branches) to manage plant size and improve air circulation within the cage. While cages do not typically cause bug issues, dense growth can sometimes create conditions where pests thrive. For bug control, consider using a strong spray from a garden hose to dislodge them, or apply an appropriate insecticidal soap or spray if necessary. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0