Our Favorite Tomato Trellis
We designed and built these trellises out of EMT conduit and stainless steel connectors, to replace a different trellis that blew over in the wind. These new-and-improved trellises are super sturdy, and should last a very long time!
We want to thank MakerPipe for sponsoring the connectors for this build! MakerPipe is such a cool, innovative company. If you have not checked them out, go to makerpipe.com, where you will find a community of builders creating solutions to common problems every day! If you want to customize your own build, you can purchase the model kit for $4.95, and it comes with a $5 off coupon for your first order.
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What You Will Need
Tools We Used
Here are the tools we used:
Allen key,
5mm EMT Conduit Cutter,
Ladder,
Level,
If you attach your trellis to a raised bed: Electric Screwdriver
Parts Needed
Parts Needed from MakerPipe, per Trellis, as we assembled it:
(4) 90 degree connectors, 1/2” (2) 4-way connectors, 1/2”
(20) Pipe & Tube Adapter Shims
(6) Conduit end caps (come in 10pk)
Tools We Used
Here are the tools we used:
Allen key,
5mm EMT Conduit Cutter,
Ladder,
Level,
If you attach your trellis to a raised bed: Electric Screwdriver
Parts Needed
Parts Needed from MakerPipe, per Trellis, as we assembled it:
(4) 90 degree connectors, 1/2” (2) 4-way connectors, 1/2”
(20) Pipe & Tube Adapter Shims
(6) Conduit end caps (come in 10pk)
Parts Needed from Hardware Store, per Trellis, as we assembled it:
(8) 10’ EMT Conduit poles, 1/2”
(2) 4’x 0.375” pieces of rebar
(4) 2-Hole Galvanized Pipe Strap
The Build Process
Step 1 is to cut and attach your 6 vertical poles:
4 corner pieces, approximately 6’10” (attach to wooden bed on the ends with pipe straps)
2 middle pieces, approximately 7’ (cut these a few inches longer than corners, as they will sink down in to your soil a bit) and slide over rebar in the middle of the bed
Step 2 is to attach connectors and top pole pieces as you go around. We suggest measuring the poles as you go, keeping in mind that the corner connectors will take up 1” on each side, and the 4-way connectors will take up 1.5” on each side (watch this video from MakerPipe at minute 3:32 for further explanation https://youtu.be/iXnGpNy5LmU?t=211 ).
3 middle supports, approximately 20”
4 side supports, approximately 51.5”
Finally, go back and tighten all the connectors completely, once the structure is assembled.
How to Train the Tomato Plants
We used tent stakes to attach string at the base of the tomatoes, would the plant around the string, and tied the string to the top. If you pant the tomatoes with the structure in place, you can tie the string around the root ball, and then plant the tomato.
How Much It Cost
The whole structures, as we built it, costs approximately $115. This is an investment, but is super sturdy and should last a very long time. There are lots of far less functional trellises for sale, for higher prices, online.
Watch Us Build It
We hope this build and video brings a solution to you!