Tomato cages aren’t just for tomatoes anymore! These versatile garden structures are the secret weapon your plants need. While they’re famously used for tomatoes, they actually work wonders for a surprising range of plants.
From flowering vines to fruit-bearing beauties, tomato cages provide sturdy support and help you maximize space in your garden. Ready to think outside the cage? Here are 28 unexpected plants you can grow using tomato cages, and trust us, you’ll want to give them a try!
1. Cucumbers
When it comes to vertical growth support, cucumbers can benefit from a tomato cage. This climbing plant thrives when given the opportunity to ascend, making the most of vertical spaces.
Secure the tendrils to the cage and allow them to naturally wrap around. This setup not only saves space but also keeps the cucumbers cleaner and easier to harvest. A tomato cage can transform your cucumber harvest.
2. Sweet Peas
Their climbing nature makes sweet peas perfect candidates for tomato cages. These fragrant flowers can easily be trained to grow upward, bringing beauty to your garden.
Wrap the vines gently around the cage to ensure they adhere properly. This method provides support and exposure to sunlight, promoting vigorous flowering. Sweet peas will add vibrant color and delightful scents to your outdoor space.
3. Pole Beans
For vertical gardening enthusiasts, pole beans are ideal for tomato cages. Their natural inclination to climb makes them perfect companions for this support system.
Guide the vines to intertwine with the cage structure. This arrangement not only conserves ground space but also simplifies bean picking. With the support of a cage, pole beans can reach their full growth potential, enhancing your vegetable garden.
4. Morning Glories
Expect a stunning display when you pair morning glories with tomato cages. These fast-growing vines are perfect for creating a floral tower.
Attach the vines to the cage and watch them climb and flourish. Their vibrant blossoms open in the morning sun, creating a daily spectacle. Morning glories can turn an ordinary space into a garden highlight with their beautiful blooms.
5. Bell Peppers
For plants that become heavy with fruit, support is essential, and a sturdy cage provides just that. Bell peppers benefit from being encircled with a cage, which helps keep them upright as they bear weight.
This support prevents damage to the stems and branches, ensuring the plant stays healthy. With the right framework, you can count on a successful bell pepper harvest.
6. Eggplants
With their hefty fruit, eggplants benefit from the support of a tomato cage. This setup helps keep the plant upright and the fruit off the ground.
Position the cage around the plant early in its growth cycle. This ensures the branches have support as they expand and bear fruit. A tomato cage is an essential tool for a productive eggplant garden.
7. Zucchini
Sprawling plants like zucchinis can benefit from vertical support, and a tomato cage is the perfect tool for the job. Zucchinis can be trained upwards to make better use of garden space while keeping the fruit clean.
Guide the stem to grow vertically and secure it to the cage to reduce the plant’s spread. This method not only saves space but also makes maintenance and harve
8. Mini Pumpkins
A tomato cage can transform into a whimsical garden feature with the right plant support. Mini pumpkins naturally climb, making them easy to train on a sturdy framework.
Guide the vines upward, and they’ll create a charming vertical patch that maximizes space. The cage provides the necessary support to hold the weight of the pumpkins, preventing ground rot. This setup not only saves space but also yields delightful, decorative fruits.
9. Clematis
Transform your garden with clematis using tomato cages as supports. These flowering vines thrive when allowed to climb and spread.
Secure the stems to the cage to facilitate upward growth. This method enhances the plant’s exposure to sunlight, promoting abundant flowering. A tomato cage can be the perfect partner for a vibrant clematis display.
10. Squash
Even larger squash varieties can benefit from the vertical support of a tomato cage. This approach helps manage the plant’s sprawling nature.
Train the plant to grow through the cage, which keeps the fruit elevated. This method reduces pest issues and makes harvesting easier. A tomato cage supports healthier and more productive squash plants.
11. Bougainvillea
Use tomato cages to enhance the growth of bougainvillea. These vigorous climbers can benefit from the sturdy support, allowing them to flourish.
Guide the branches toward the cage to encourage vertical growth. This structure helps showcase their colorful bracts and maintains plant health. Supporting bougainvillea with a cage adds a splash of color and interest to your garden.
12. Malabar Spinach
Expect robust growth from Malabar spinach when using a tomato cage. This vining plant thrives with vertical support, ensuring a healthy yield.
Guide the vines upwards and secure them lightly. This setup promotes airflow and sun exposure, essential for leafy greens. A tomato cage helps you manage and maintain an efficient and productive Malabar spinach patch.
13. Peas
Peas, with their tendril-based climbing, benefit greatly from tomato cages. This support allows them to reach for the sky, maximizing growth potential.
Encourage the tendrils to grip the cage, ensuring stability. This method simplifies harvesting and keeps the pods clean. A tomato cage is a perfect partner for boosting your pea production in a limited space.
14. Hyacinth Bean Vine
Hyacinth bean vines can use tomato cages for support, showcasing their ornamental value. These fast growers climb easily with a structured framework.
Secure the vines early to guide their upward journey. This setup highlights their purple blooms and bean pods, adding visual appeal. Tomato cages help transform hyacinth bean vines into garden focal points.
15. Hops
Vertical growth requires strong support, and a tomato cage provides just that. Hops naturally climb and benefit from the stability of a cage, which helps guide their bines upward.
This setup promotes healthy growth, improves air circulation, and makes harvesting easier. A tomato cage serves as a perfect foundation for cultivating a small-scale hop garden.
16. Nasturtiums
Climbing plants thrive with proper support, and a tomato cage offers the perfect structure. Nasturtiums benefit from this support, allowing their stems to wrap around the cage and grow upward. This arrangement encourages vibrant foliage and an abundance of blooms.
The cage not only supports healthy growth but also adds structure and aesthetic appeal to your garden, turning nasturtiums into a stunning floral display.
17. Black-eyed Susan Vine
Tomato cages provide excellent support for climbing plants like black-eyed Susan vines. These fast-growing climbers can be easily trained to ascend the cage.
Guide the vines to wrap around the structure as they grow, which boosts their flowering potential and creates a stunning display. With a tomato cage, black-eyed Susan vines maintain their shape and continue to thrive beautifully.
18. Snap Peas
For smaller gardens, snap peas thrive with the support of a tomato cage, allowing them to grow vertically and maximize productive space.
Encourage the vines to latch onto the cage for added stability, improving both air circulation and sunlight exposure—key factors for healthy pod development. With the right support, tomato cages provide a solid framework for a bountiful snap pea harvest.
19. Roses
Even roses can take advantage of tomato cages for support. Climbing varieties particularly benefit from this sturdy framework.
Train the canes to weave through the cage for structural support. This helps in maintaining their shape and promoting flowering. A tomato cage aids in creating an organized and visually appealing rose display.
20. Passionflower
A vertical support system is perfect for climbing plants, and tomato cages offer just that. Passionflower vines thrive when their tendrils are guided around the cage as they grow.
This support ensures stability and maximizes flowering potential. With the right structure, tomato cages help passionflower vines flourish and reach their full beauty.
21. Canary Creeper
A sturdy support system can elevate any climbing plant, and tomato cages provide just that. Canary creeper vines thrive when their tendrils are gently guided around the cage.
This encourages upward growth and showcases their delicate yellow flowers, creating an eye-catching display. With the right structure, tomato cages help canary creeper vines reach their full potential.
22. Scarlet Runner Beans
Tomato cages provide excellent support for vigorous climbers. Scarlet runner beans thrive with vertical space, making them a perfect match. Gently guide their vines up the cage to ensure stability and healthy growth.
This setup improves sunlight exposure and airflow, promoting strong plants. With a tomato cage, scarlet runner beans reach their full productive potential.
23. Petunias
Utilize tomato cages to support petunias, managing their sprawling growth. This setup helps maintain a tidy and colorful display.
Encourage the stems to wrap around the cage, creating a cascading effect. This arrangement offers structure, improving air circulation and bloom visibility. Tomato cages transform petunias into a vibrant garden feature.
24. Grapes
Even grapevines can be supported by tomato cages, especially in small gardens. This setup encourages efficient use of space for grape production.
Train the vines to grow through the cage for optimal support. This method simplifies maintenance and harvesting. With a tomato cage, grapevines can thrive in limited spaces.
25. Ivy
Tomato cages make a great support system for creating striking vertical greenery. Ivy, a hardy climber, thrives with structured support. Guide its tendrils to wrap around the cage as it grows.
This method promotes full coverage and enhances garden aesthetics. With tomato cages, ivy transforms into lush, eye-catching green columns.
26. Moonflower
A tomato cage can become a stunning nighttime display with the right plant. Moonflowers thrive with structured support, using it to climb upward. Guide their vines around the cage to encourage stability and fuller growth.
This setup boosts their blooming potential, creating a captivating evening spectacle. With a tomato cage, moonflowers get the support they need to flourish.