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Can you really make a DIY tomato cage plant stand from an old, rusty tomato cage that you use in the garden? Yes, yes you can!

I know, it sounds strange. Stick with me though and let me explain.

A few weeks ago I went to the Kane County flea market, which is the mother of all flea markets around here.

You can find just about anything, from a vintage mail holder found in an old barn to plants to rusty giant letters. You name it, it’s there.

Anyway, I wasn’t looking for anything in particular, just enjoying walking up and down the aisles checking everything out, when I saw some vintage olive buckets.

I’ve been wanting one but I’ve never seen them at the flea, so when I saw that this giant, rusty beauty was $55, I knew it was coming home with me.

rusty old olive bucket to use in a DIY plant stand

I’ve been looking at smaller olive buckets on and off for quite a while. I always thought I would use it in the house somewhere, but, once I got this one home and saw how big it really was, I knew it would have to go on my deck with a beautiful Kimberly Queen fern.

The only problem with it was that it needed a little height.

I was trying to figure how to get it up in the air when I saw the tomato cages that we had just put in the garden to hold up our young tomato plants.

tomato cages around tomato plants in a garden

I didn’t measure anything but as soon as I turned it upside down, I knew it would work.

Roger though, had some doubts. He alway has doubts when it comes to my projects.

using a hack saw to cut off legs on tomato cage

To get the size I wanted I used a hacksaw to cut the 4 posts and the bottom ring off.

Five minutes and I had a DIY tomato cage plant stand (way before they became a popular thing).

Then I put my bucket in to check the fit and it was perfect, and surprisingly sturdy.

Can you spray paint tomato cages?

Absolutely!

The tomato cage that I used was old and a dull colored gray.

I wanted to add just a bit of color to it so I pulled out the hammered bronze spray paint.

It was just the touch it needed.

A little bit of drying time and I had a “new” plant stand for my vintage olive bucket.

All I had to do was to add a fern and it was ready for a photo shoot.

vintage olive bucket in DIY plant stand made from a tomato cage

I never knew I wanted one but now I can say that I love my DIY plant stand.

More DIY planter ideas

Yield: 1 tomato cage plant stand