Lester Prairie man develops improved
version of tomato cage
IVAN RACONTEUR
Editor
Sometimes, if you want a better product, you have
to make it yourself. That’s what one local man did,
and he has started a business to sell his product to
other gardeners.
Tony Hausladen lives about halfway between
Winsted and Lester Prairie. He bought his home in
1995, and ever since, he has been growing vegetables.
But Hausladen is not an average gardener. One of his
pumpkins weighed in at 888 pounds.
Tomatoes are another specialty. But over the years,
Hausladen came to realize that standard tomato
trellises, or cages, are not ideal to grow a tomato
plant to its full potential. So Hausladen created his
own.
Built from thick 4 gauge steel wire cattle panels,
the cages he makes are very stable and can withstand
strong winds. They are also taller and larger in
diameter than store-bought tomato cages gardeners
typically rely on.
“These are galvanized, so they will last out in the
elements for years,” Hausladen added.
From his own experience, Hausladen found that
traditional designs have their limits. He has seen
cages fall over, when a tomato plant grew too big for
the cages to contain. He has seen welds break, since
traditional cages are constructed with thinner wire.
For the past two years, Hausladen has tested his
version in his home garden, and is pleased with the
results.
“Last year, we had some 50- to 60-mile-per-hour
winds,” Hausladen said. “I had sweet corn right next
to my tomatoes. The sweet corn was lying on the
ground, and the tomato cages and the plants were
fi ne. They had no additional supports to hold them
up.”
While he acknowledges other people have
experimented with tomato cage improvements, and
even created similar-style structures, Hausladen
believes local growers are going to like what he has
created.
“It turned out so well, that I am actually going to
try and see if people want to buy them,” Hausladen
said. “I am offi cially launching a business to do it.”
Hausladen has been taking small business classes
to learn what it takes to run a home-based side-
business. He has chosen a name, Total Tomato
Cages, and set up a Facebook page with photos.
Later this spring, Hausladen’s Total Tomato Cages
will also be available for retail purchase at Holasek
Flower Power Garden Center in Lester Prairie.
For pricing, contact Tony Hausladen: Email:
[email protected]
In his home workshop north of Lester Prairie, Tony Hausladen designs and builds his own tomato cages for garden-
Facebook: facebook.com/totaltomatocages.
ing. They are stronger and more reliable than standard cages, and Hausladen has begun selling his new product to
local tomato growers.
8
Senior
Connections April 2019
PHOTO BY MARK MITTEN
Senior Connections HJ.COM