Tile Cores Make Great Tomato Cages
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If you or your neighbors are having field tile work done this fall, you may want to save the plastic core that the tile comes on. Jordan and Ann Qualm of Sherman, S. Dak., cut the heavy plastic into 20-in. lengths to create cages for some of their tomato plants.
“The plants with the tubes have grown more upright and don’t have a mess of vines like the plants without,” Jordan Qualm notes. “With these tubes there’s no a need for wire cages in my opinion.”
In the spring, the black color warmed the ground and plants to give them a good start, and despite a hot summer, the dark color didn’t seem to add heat stress. Instead, the cores helped shade the plants and hold water. The plants in the core tubes were the first to have ripe tomatoes, which are easier to pick as they cascade over the side of the tubes.
Instead of setting plants 2 ft. apart, the Qualms will plant them about 3 ft. apart.
Qualm used a reciprocating saw to cut the 18-in. dia. cores and plans to make more for next year’s garden.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Jordan Qualm, 48782 252nd St., Sherman, S. Dak. 57030 (ph 605 594-2290).
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Tile Cores Make Great Tomato Cages FARM HOME Miscellaneous If you or your neighbors are having field tile work done this fall you may want to save the plastic core that the tile comes on Jordan and Ann Qualm of Sherman S Dak cut the heavy plastic into 20-in lengths to create cages for some of their tomato plants “The plants with the tubes have grown more upright and don’t have a mess of vines like the plants without ” Jordan Qualm notes “With these tubes there’s no a need for wire cages in my opinion ” In the spring the black color warmed the ground and plants to give them a good start and despite a hot summer the dark color didn’t seem to add heat stress Instead the cores helped shade the plants and hold water The plants in the core tubes were the first to have ripe tomatoes which are easier to pick as they cascade over the side of the tubes Instead of setting plants 2 ft apart the Qualms will plant them about 3 ft apart Qualm used a reciprocating saw to cut the 18-in dia cores and plans to make more for next year’s garden Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Jordan Qualm 48782 252nd St Sherman S Dak 57030 ph 605 594-2290
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