What can you make from a tomato cage?
@GardenGerty (157552)
United States
December 27, 2009 11:00am CST
I bought one this summer, with the intent of making a Christmas tree, and I did so last week. I used things I had on hand, but bought ribbon to finish it. My result was a topiary tree of about four feet. I had lots of strings of lights on hand, bought on sale, and used 3 100 light strands. Next time I will use four. I inverted the tomato cage, twist tied the three upright wires together. starting at the top, I went round and round with the lights. Next I used two long runs of evergreen garland that I had, and covered the cage. It would be okay to hang ornaments, but I did not choose to this time. I bought a premade bow, and a spool of matching ribbon. The bow became my topper, the ribbon was spiraled around the entire tree. Out of pocket this week was only the ribbon and bow, for about $3.50, the wire cage was $1.97 this summer. Any other neat homemade trees, or crafts from a tomato cage? I would like to wrap one in various vines this summer and let it dry to be a vine Christmas tree.
5 people like this
19 responses
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
29 Dec 09
I put up one photo, but it is not really good. I was having a hard time getting them to load, as well. My job is eating me alive, literally, and I feel I hardly have time for anything. This was the fastest I ever did a tree.
@terrile (97)
• United States
28 Dec 09
You can make a terrific Halloween Ghost that holds a bowl of candy. Place cage upside down like you would for your tree. Impale a large styrofoam ball on one tine, bend the other two down in front for arms. Drape with white cloth, paint on a ghosty face. Place bowl in arms and adjust for fit. It's quite adorable but I wouldn't just sit it outside the door here. We have greedy kids in the neighborhood and the bowl would be empty in minutes. :)
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
28 Dec 09
Hi, welcome to MyLot. That is a terrific idea. I bet my niece would do that in a heartbeat. I am almost always at work on Halloween.
1 person likes this
@royal52gens (5488)
• United States
28 Dec 09
That is a crafty idea. This summer find some grape vines. Wind them around your frame while they are fresh. They will then dry and become sturdy.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
29 Dec 09
I have grape vine as well as some other varieties, growing in my own yard.
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
28 Dec 09
There is always next year. I had plans that did not ever happen. I am glad I got as far as I did.
1 person likes this
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
28 Dec 09
Hey GG! That really sounds beautiful! I like that idea alot!
I love to make up crafty things like that! I don't think I
would have thought of something quite so crafty by looking at
the tomato cage! It sounds like it was quite a Christmas
surprise! Do you have a photo of it? I think that it is so
great when you can make something so beautiful out of just
one piece with additions that cost so little and it takes on
a whole new life of its own!
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
28 Dec 09
I loaded an image, but it is not the greatest. I may have to try again on another day. It is bedtime now, and I would have to find batteries for my camera to do another picture. I tried about four times before I could get it to load.
1 person likes this
@adriennem10 (165)
• United States
28 Dec 09
That sounds quite interesting. I'm not the artistic type. It doesn't seem expensive at all. Even though it took a while to put it together and to collect all your stuff I'm sure it was worth your time.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
28 Dec 09
Hi, welcome to MyLot. Actually this was fun because I could get hubby to do it while I tried to clean house for company. I had all the stuff in my Christmas boxes, except the bow and ribbon which I bought on one of my twenty or so trips to Wal Mart.
1 person likes this
@Polly1 (12645)
• United States
27 Dec 09
Thats a really good idea. I would like to see a picture of the finished tree, I bet it is pretty. The only thing I have used a tomato cage for is in the garden, it doesn't only have to be used for tomatoes. I like to use it for green bell peppers too.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
27 Dec 09
I have tried two or three times to upload an image, and it did not happen. I think some of my friends said there is a generalized problem today with images. I will try again.
@sweetlady10 (3611)
• United States
27 Dec 09
I must say you are so creative and bold to make a Christmas tree from a tomato cage. I like the idea. Personally I have not done anything with a tomato cage yet, never thought about it.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
27 Dec 09
I think my family as a whole are very creative and it just rubs off on me.
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
28 Dec 09
As others have said, they are great for protecting tomatoes, peppers and other upright growing plants. Nothing wrong with using them as intended.
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
29 Dec 09
i knew somebody that made an earring holder from one.
..she had a whole lot of hook post earrings.
it honestly was rather pretty after she got done with it.
it honestly was rather pretty after she got done with it.@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
29 Dec 09
Wow, that IS a lot of earrings. I am sure it was pretty.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
27 Dec 09
What a wonderful idea! I bet it was fun and a very cool added decoration. I haven't ever tried to make anything from a tomato cage but you sure used alot of imagination to make a CHristmas tree! Gives us all something new to think about!
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
27 Dec 09
It is a lot of fun to be different. I like Hatley's idea of putting dried floral on them as well.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
28 Dec 09
That sounds cool! I was going to use various layers of various kinds of greens from my everygreens. Not sure if I'll have the energy, time, or if my in-laws will want one, but I thought of doing it. Balsam layer, spruce layer, white pine layer, scrub pine layer, etc and then do ribbon and ornaments. No tinsel and if garland, maybe homemade using something, but not sure.
I think the vine idea for next year is great. Do we get any pictures of the end result?
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
28 Dec 09
Well, my pic of the one I did is not great. Too many things in background, including a string of lights on the stairway. It is up above a couple of responses. You can bet if I make a dried vine one you guys will get to see it. I have wild honeysuckle, grapes and Virginia Creeper in my yard. Any time I clip them or pull them I find myself twisting wreathes from them. I think your idea is great as well.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
28 Dec 09
We all do with what we have. I only have grape vines that I know of. But I have three types of evergreens, at least, maybe more. So it's easier to do that.
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
27 Dec 09
Hiya GardenGerty,
What exactly does it look like a Tomato Cage? I can imagine what it looks like but now you have finished it how does it look now?
Sounds very clever.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
27 Dec 09
I loaded an image, finally, just above your response. It does not do it justice, though. You can see my wooden nativity in a shelf behind it.
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
28 Dec 09
Hiya GardenGerty,
Yes I took a look at the Photo it looks very good, very nice. I also have seen someone on Youtube put one together he put Berries entwined in the whole decoration with the Ribbon on the top of it.
If you have a Garden you can let your imagination run wild and make a few of these I guess. Thanks very much for your Photo like the Nativity too.
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
27 Dec 09
That was my original plan, but it was looking more triangular than I wanted it to.
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
31 Dec 09
It's funny that you mention this because my grandmother, God rest her soul, used to make Christmas Trees out of tomato cages every Christmas and sell them to earn extra money. You've brought back some really fond memories! lol She was so crafty and was able to come up with the neatest ideas on what to make and the hows too. I'm going to have to check into doing that next year.
1 person likes this
@tawny_24 (341)
• United States
31 Dec 09
Hi GardenGerty. I don't usually use tomato cages because they fall over and rust and it becomes frustrating. I figured out how to plant more tomato vines in a space by making a tripod out of bamboo canes that I got from a garden supply store. Each of the plants gets its own stake and I use garden twine to help them grow upwards by tying the main stems to the canes.
I would think that cutting or shaping a tomato cage into something new would be difficult and maybe a little dangerous because of how heavy the wire used to make the cages is. Perhaps I would do a project like this if I was using a lighter mor flexible wire.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
27 Dec 09
hi gardengerty well I read all the other great responses and remembered a hobby store back 
in tustin where I used to live and it had all these beautiful dried flowers and leaves, and grasses. why not make a flower tree with dried strawflowers entertwined with ribbons and dried leaves and some aromatic eucalyptus tree buttons for their fragrance. Dried leaves could be interwoven with grasses and ribbon and all the pretty dried flowers to make a floral tree. sounds pretty anyway.[b][/b]
in tustin where I used to live and it had all these beautiful dried flowers and leaves, and grasses. why not make a flower tree with dried strawflowers entertwined with ribbons and dried leaves and some aromatic eucalyptus tree buttons for their fragrance. Dried leaves could be interwoven with grasses and ribbon and all the pretty dried flowers to make a floral tree. sounds pretty anyway.[b][/b]1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
27 Dec 09
You know, I think that several of these would be beautiful to decorate for a wedding. I can picture baby's breath all over the tree.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
27 Dec 09
Hi Gerty, I'm not certain what a tomato cage actully is but from you description it could be made into a baby tortoise run to prevent them from being attacked by bigger things. Four feet would give them plenty of walk about space plus room for their food and water.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
27 Dec 09
The four feet is up and down.The base is only about fifteen inches across. At least, what I am calling the base at this time. Think of a cone of wire. I will see if I can get a picture of the tree up here.
