Here's what you should know about tomato cages, how they work, when you should add one to your tomato garden, and which type ...

Cages come with their own challenges. Flimsy, 3-foot-tall cone-shaped cages often crumple to the ground under the weight of foliage and fruit mid-season.

Usually as the fruit begins to colour, I delve into my armoury of cloches, nets and cages to protect my crops. First in the line of defence are fleeces, net tunnels, and a bird scarer - from Haxnicks.