I use the 6x6 conctete wire myself

don't forget if you want to speed up the ripening leave a couple of overripe tomatoes on the ground undet the plant.
They will give off ethylene gas which will hasten the riping of the other tonmatoes.

I like to set one of those round wire cages over the plant before it gets too big and then train it up and over that... try growing tomatoes inside an old truck tire. They are amazing. Leave the inside rim open so it can collect water and it has the same effect as hydroponic gardening almost. The black warms up during the day and the water collected inside the tire heats up, plus once the tomatoes start ripening the gases stay contained better inside the tire as well.

I haven't tried it yet since we moved back to the midwest but in MT it was the trick to raising tomatoes in a cold climate.

Thanks Mtnmom5
We are moving to MT and will try the tires for the tomatoes and potatoes

Oh cool - what part of MT? We lived in the NW corner of MT for 18 years and have moved back closer to family as our parents are getting older, but oh we miss the wild beauty of Montana! BUT I can at least grow a garden here without having to irrigate every day, and I don't have to drive over an hour just to get to a Walmart... so there are pros to living here too. :)

About 150 miles north east of billings. Waaaay out in the middle hehe

haha - yep, that IS in the middle of nowhere! That part of MT has it's own beauty tho - get yourself some horses and you can ride for MILES without seeing much of anyone or anything.

I built these, and they were published in Mother Earth News mag.....a while back
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/2005-02-01/DIY-Tomato-Cages.aspx

Got paid for the article, as well....LOL

Hunter I think I am going to have to try out a couple of your tomato cages for some cucumbers this year. Easy enough even I can make them with my limited carpentry skills!
Currently I use the largest tomato cages that I can find with 4 legs. They work ok, but depending upon the variety of tomatoes they can and sometimes do tip over unless I have t-posts driven into the ground to hold them in place.
If I have to tie plants up I like to use old panty hose. I just cut off the toe and then cut one inch strips so I have a bunch of circles. These work great to tie up all types of plants. They stretch as the plants grown and are easy to hang on to (just loop them over your wrist). Plus it is a great way to recycle all the pantyhose that get runs.