Concrete Mesh ~ - Page 4

creister · March 3, 2006

Tom, I'll just add my two cents in. Last year I made cages from a 100 ft. roll of 5' 6"x6". Every twelve squares I cut off a sheet. Diameter came out around 22.something inches after bending the ends together. I wouldn't worry about the height so much. Just let them grow over. I posted a question about this last year at GW, and most people recommended 24 inches. I don't think you will have any problems with yours being smaller though. I wouldn't cut the bottoms off and expect the bottom wire to do all that well as anchors. They will bend, and if you have a large plant, and a high wind comes up, it will blow over. Last year, some of mine that were staked with bamboo poles got blown over. I used the 4ft. stakes at HD, two per cage and had no problems. Rebar would be better, as it lasts longer. Great thing about cages is no pruning/tying up. You may not get as large as staking, but definately more fruit. If you cut every 10 squares, you should get your diameter. Check it, but I did the calculations many times last year. Good Luck. BTW- have you looked at using the flordia weave? Also, make sure your tetanus shot is current if working with that crw.

Tomstrees · March 3, 2006

RE:
Also, make sure your tetanus shot is current if working with that crw.

LOL ~ will make sure I'm up to date ! lol ~

RE:
BTW- have you looked at using the flordia weave?

No I haven't - but will Google and see whats doin ~

Thanks ! ~ Tom

creister · March 3, 2006

P.S. caging keeps more leaves, which means more surface area for photosynthesis, so more food for plant to make fruits. Yes, 10 squares and cut should get you a 20 in. diameter. Using the zip ties is a great idea, as bending the ends of the wire is the hardest part. I also made mine all by myself, so one determined person can easily handle it. Two would make it much easier if you can recruit or press the help.

sliphorn · March 3, 2006

Florida weave..............

www.foogod.com/~torquill/barefoot/weave.html

sweetwm007 · March 3, 2006

you have a lot of good tips. i would also suggest getting a set of small bolt cutters. around 18- 24 inches. it is a lot easier to work with them. make your cuts flush to the wire.
good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!
william

Tomstrees · March 4, 2006

sweetwm007 -

def. have those bigger wire cutters ~
by the sound of it ? I have
some project ahead ~
Will post pics of progress ..

~ Tom

sweetwm007 · March 4, 2006

you will get tired!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! best of luck!
william

Tomstrees · March 6, 2006

william ~

Will do my best to get plenty of rest the nioght before I tackle this mesh project !

~ Tom

creister · March 6, 2006

Make sure there is plenty of ice cold beer for when you are finished. Enough for you and any help you may have conscritped.

Tomstrees · March 6, 2006

creister -
Why do you ask ?
You flying up to give me a hand ?
Should I get more than a 30 pack ? lol ~ Tom

Rena · March 6, 2006

That is so funny as I was going to add the bit about the tetnus shot LOL That stuff is murder!

Tomstrees · March 6, 2006

IMISSCOLO -

re - that stuff is murder :
the shot ? making the cages ? or both !!!
lol ~ really gonna need that 30 pack ! lol ~ Tom

creister · March 6, 2006

The shot is painless, all you have to do is think of the alternative, contraction of tetanus. Miserable thought. Tom, you send the ticket, I'll buy the beer and lend you a hand. You know, I'm an heirloom beer drinker, none of that hybrid Coors light stuff, might as well drink water. lol. Now this is getting way off topic. Do they sell Shiner beer in New Jersey? (Shiner is a brand name, made in Shiner, Texas).

Tomstrees · March 6, 2006

creister ~

I'll look for that brew - One of my
personal favs here in NJ , is Riverhorse ~
I think I would stand up to your taste
buds ! lol ~

Tom ( who is starting to think
that this cage thing is going to
be a challenge! lol , and may be
looking up flights ! lol )

http://www.riverhorse.com/

geoguy_TN · March 8, 2006

Tom,

I can offer a tip or two - I just made a bunch of these up last weekend.

1) cut a 2x4 to the length that you want to cut. Unroll the mesh, put the 2x4 down on the unrolled mesh, stand on the 2x4, make your cuts. This way nothing will spring up at you when the thing is cut. Also, this makes for an easy 1-man operation. Bonus is that you don't have to count the openings every time.

2) get some big ol' bolt cutters. I borrowed some from work that are about 3 feet long so I didn't have to bend over too much (you don't want your face in range of the springing mesh (

) and your back will get less tired).

MMMMMMMMMMMMMmmm..........BEER...........

-Pete

March 3, 2006	#47
Tomstrees Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Bayshore Posts: 3,848	RE: Also, make sure your tetanus shot is current if working with that crw. LOL ~ will make sure I'm up to date ! lol ~ RE: BTW- have you looked at using the flordia weave? No I haven't - but will Google and see whats doin ~ Thanks ! ~ Tom __________________ My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~ H. Fred Ale

March 4, 2006	#51
Tomstrees Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Bayshore Posts: 3,848	sweetwm007 - def. have those bigger wire cutters ~ by the sound of it ? I have some project ahead ~ Will post pics of progress .. ~ Tom __________________ My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~ H. Fred Ale

March 6, 2006	#53
Tomstrees Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Bayshore Posts: 3,848	william ~ Will do my best to get plenty of rest the nioght before I tackle this mesh project ! ~ Tom __________________ My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~ H. Fred Ale

March 6, 2006	#55
Tomstrees Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Bayshore Posts: 3,848	creister - Why do you ask ? You flying up to give me a hand ? Should I get more than a 30 pack ? lol ~ Tom __________________ My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~ H. Fred Ale

March 6, 2006	#57
Tomstrees Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Bayshore Posts: 3,848	IMISSCOLO - re - that stuff is murder : the shot ? making the cages ? or both !!! lol ~ really gonna need that 30 pack ! lol ~ Tom __________________ My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~ H. Fred Ale

March 3, 2006	#46
creister Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Abilene, TX zone 7 Posts: 1,478	Tom, I'll just add my two cents in. Last year I made cages from a 100 ft. roll of 5' 6"x6". Every twelve squares I cut off a sheet. Diameter came out around 22.something inches after bending the ends together. I wouldn't worry about the height so much. Just let them grow over. I posted a question about this last year at GW, and most people recommended 24 inches. I don't think you will have any problems with yours being smaller though. I wouldn't cut the bottoms off and expect the bottom wire to do all that well as anchors. They will bend, and if you have a large plant, and a high wind comes up, it will blow over. Last year, some of mine that were staked with bamboo poles got blown over. I used the 4ft. stakes at HD, two per cage and had no problems. Rebar would be better, as it lasts longer. Great thing about cages is no pruning/tying up. You may not get as large as staking, but definately more fruit. If you cut every 10 squares, you should get your diameter. Check it, but I did the calculations many times last year. Good Luck. BTW- have you looked at using the flordia weave? Also, make sure your tetanus shot is current if working with that crw.

March 3, 2006	#49
sliphorn Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 91	Florida weave.............. www.foogod.com/~torquill/barefoot/weave.html

March 3, 2006	#50
sweetwm007 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: yellville, arkansas Posts: 29	you have a lot of good tips. i would also suggest getting a set of small bolt cutters. around 18- 24 inches. it is a lot easier to work with them. make your cuts flush to the wire. good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!! william

March 6, 2006	#56
Rena Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Warm Springs, GA Posts: 1,421	That is so funny as I was going to add the bit about the tetnus shot LOL That stuff is murder!

March 8, 2006	#60
geoguy_TN Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 63	Tom, I can offer a tip or two - I just made a bunch of these up last weekend. 1) cut a 2x4 to the length that you want to cut. Unroll the mesh, put the 2x4 down on the unrolled mesh, stand on the 2x4, make your cuts. This way nothing will spring up at you when the thing is cut. Also, this makes for an easy 1-man operation. Bonus is that you don't have to count the openings every time. 2) get some big ol' bolt cutters. I borrowed some from work that are about 3 feet long so I didn't have to bend over too much (you don't want your face in range of the springing mesh ( ) and your back will get less tired). MMMMMMMMMMMMMmmm..........BEER........... -Pete __________________ Place clever signature here