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Modular Fig Cage Version 1

docx Modular Fig Cage Version 1.docx     


This is one of my ideas for a Modular Fig Cage, FYI, I did not take the time to draw it to scale.

The idea is based on being able to keep it mobile, easily to add more / remove panels of varying size and to be able to quickly tear it down and store it flat if needed.

Anyone use something like this?  And Ideas to improve it?  I will build the prototype when we get closer to spring. I may or may not 45 the corners, I may add braces on the sides to make it stiffer to fight the crazy wing on my hill side. And joists to help support the wire mesh arcos the top, may be even sides, that will be based on the overall size of the structure.

The drawing was done in Visio, if anyone wants the file to play with, PM my your e-mail address.

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Scott

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Great idea, Scott.  Would it help to make the legs longer so they might fit in the ground as a plug?  You would have to have leg holes dug out beforehand.  Maybe some type of insert made out of pvc or plastic so the legs easily slide in/out.  Just an idea to battle the winds.
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Frank,

Having the legs in ground was part of my original idea, I decided not to go in ground do to.

1:  I wanted the 8 foot internal height to be able to lift and carry tall trees. Don't want to use 10 foot 4X4's.
2:  If I need to move the unit I can just slide it.  With the legs in ground, I would need to lift and carry which would require help or disassembly and to dig additional holes. I hope the overall    assembled weight would be sufficient to keep the unit in place. I could stake it down if needed, then be sure it is well braced to prevent a collapse during high winds.
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Scott,

That idea looks workable.  You'll have to excuse my hardware ignorance here (I spend more time staring at computer screens than building stuff), but I take it those are hanger bolts and wingnuts you have drawn there for securing the panels to the posts?  I would have gone the lazy route and just zip tied things together, but a bolt and nut is probably a more elegant solution.

If I had to guess, those would be 4x4 posts and panel frames made from 2x4's or 1x4's?  How does the "modular" part of it work?  The initial cube cage makes sense.  What I don't get at the moment is how you chain two modules together.
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Or, maybe plant it in the ground and let it grow naturally.  May be something to that natural process.  Just a thought.
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Originally Posted by jkuo
Scott,

That idea looks workable.  You'll have to excuse my hardware ignorance here (I spend more time staring at computer screens than building stuff), but I take it those are hanger bolts and wingnuts you have drawn there for securing the panels to the posts?  I would have gone the lazy route and just zip tied things together, but a bolt and nut is probably a more elegant solution.

If I had to guess, those would be 4x4 posts and panel frames made from 2x4's or 1x4's?  How does the "modular" part of it work?  The initial cube cage makes sense.  What I don't get at the moment is how you chain two modules together.


Yes, the hanger bolts would go into the 4X4's, (top, middle, bottom depending on dimensional needs) then holes drilled through the (side, end, and top panels) aligned with the inserted hanger bolts.  Wing nut (with washer) to secure the panels to the 4X4's.

For my purpose, I will be using 2X6's to frame the panels due to the overall size I'm planning, estimating 8H X 10W X 10L.

The modular part comes with only the height being fixed (for me), the side, top, end panels can be any size. More posts or side/end panels can be added or subtracted (assuming you made them in many sizes).

For me, 8' tall and 2, 4, 6 and 8 feet wide, or built as needed.  If I start at 8X8X6, I could add two 4 foot end panels (one on each end) and be at 8X8X10.  Then add a 4X8 panel to the top to fill that gap.

So basically, I can build and add/remove any panel of any size I build to make the unit larger or smaller as needed.

I hope that helps.
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Originally Posted by dirtguy50
Or, maybe plant it in the ground and let it grow naturally.  May be something to that natural process.  Just a thought.


For me right now, keeping my figs in pots is more feasible, I'll be moving to acreage in a couple years I plan to do some in ground then. Only a couple experimental trees till them.  The cage is for the crazy hail storms we get in Colorado Springs, I've had 18" of hail accumulate in under an hour, and everything just gets destroyed.
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Interesting topic.  We get some nasty hail also. It has destroyed every attempt at making a greenhouse but I have always used cheap materials..  
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18" of hail would scare me to death!  That would be something to see, but just not here. lol
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Woven poly properly secured shrugs off hail like golf balls on a trampoline. It's not cheap but at least I have something after things melt.
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Originally Posted by dirtguy50
18" of hail would scare me to death!  That would be something to see, but just not here. lol


It's rare to get that much, 3 to 6 inches or less is the norm. The pea size is not much of an issue, it's when the hail is quarter size or larger. Trees are nearly defoilated, broken branches, cars and roofs destroyed. My figs lost nearly 50% of their size and are scarred from hail damage, around 60% of the grafts I put on my other trees were completely removed, it was a mess here.  Then once everything started to recover and started to regrow, BAM it happened again. 

I'll put all the figs and my grafted rootstock trees in the enclosure for protection.  Sadly the big in ground trees are on their own. 

When I put a couple of FiggyFrank's unknown Carinis into the ground next year, I'll build a smaller version to cover them also. 
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Some how I'm missing the point. Is this to keep birds out or all rodents? I you are protecting trees from rain and hail too it would be best to have a pitch to the roof so nothing accumulated and caused it to collapse. I build greenhouses for a living so I guess it's not fair that I have access to all material and equipment needed to make it easy but it's still not cheap.

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Originally Posted by fignutty
Woven poly properly secured shrugs off hail like golf balls on a trampoline. It's not cheap but at least I have something after things melt.


So, is it better to bounce the hail off with the woven poly, or break it up with wire.  I don't want to shade the plants to much, that is why I am leaving toward wire. 

Worth the experiment I do think. 
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A or rather two AA frames would make an instant pyramid with the tops leaned together in whatever pitch desired and one side could have a hinged door for access.  Would deflect any hail and covered with tyvek house wrap in the winter.  People would call you the pyramid fig guy. :)  
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Originally Posted by Hershell
Some how I'm missing the point. Is this to keep birds out or all rodents? I you are protecting trees from rain and hail too it would be best to have a pitch to the roof so nothing accumulated and caused it to collapse. I build greenhouses for a living so I guess it's not fair that I have access to all material and equipment needed to make it easy but it's still not cheap.


The point is hail protection, birds and squirrels are secondary. I did think about pitching the roof, if I cover it with fabric, yes. If it's covered with wire then I'm going to go flat, the addition of joists will handle the load. 

I don't build green house for a living, but I do have all of the tool, equipment, talent and access to all of the materials. I do know it won't cheap, most construction isn't, yet this investment is well worth it to protect the investment in fig trees. Well, worth it to me any way. 

Thanks for the input. 
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Originally Posted by Charlie
A or rather two AA frames would make an instant pyramid with the tops leaned together in whatever pitch desired and one side could have a hinged door for access.  Would deflect any hail and covered with tyvek house wrap in the winter.  People would call you the pyramid fig guy. :)  


 
Charlie, 

I did not think of an A frame, and it would be very quick and easy for sure.  The only thing I don't like about it is that you lose a lot of usable square footage due to the pitch. 

I've thought about wrapping it with something to overwinter the trees in, beats dragging then into the garage. I would still needed to heat it, the winters here fluctuate a lot. It could be in the 50's for a couple weeks then not get above freezing for a week then be below 0 for the next week, then jump to 60 in a day. The weather here is all over the board, we can have all weather and all seasons at the same time and frequently do. 
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Hi COGardener,
I would secure the cage to the ground or with hail and wind the cage will be tossed over the tree and break the tree.
So be sure to secure firmly to the dirt.
Are you planning for diverting any hail or mainly when you're at home or on forecasts ?
If for when you're at home - or when forecasted -, I would plan to have
some metal sheets (2 meters*1meters or 7'*3' ) and put that on top and some others on the sides.
Well like doing the shuffle but bringing the barn to the tree instead of the tree to the barn.
I'm not sure that wire netting panels can handle a good hail without being ruined.
I've seen here garden houses destroyed by hail or wind - doesn't happen often but still does.
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Originally Posted by jdsfrance
Hi COGardener,
I would secure the cage to the ground or with hail and wind the cage will be tossed over the tree and break the tree.
So be sure to secure firmly to the dirt.
Are you planning for diverting any hail or mainly when you're at home or on forecasts ?
If for when you're at home - or when forecasted -, I would plan to have
some metal sheets (2 meters*1meters or 7'*3' ) and put that on top and some others on the sides.
Well like doing the shuffle but bringing the barn to the tree instead of the tree to the barn.
I'm not sure that wire netting panels can handle a good hail without being ruined.
I've seen here garden houses destroyed by hail or wind - doesn't happen often but still does.


JD, yes it will certainly be secured to the ground, I'm still thinking about how so that they are easy to remove to keep the cage mobile and expandable. The wind profile won't be that bad with wire sides and top,  unlike a green house with solid sides and top. 

I won't be able to add our remove sides based on weather forecasts, here they never seam to known it's going to hail until after the fact. I live on the edge of an agricultural area, heavy duty wire mesh is easy for me to get, I'll use one with most likely 1/2" (13mm) openings.  It won't stop the hail, yet it will slow it, deflect some of it and break up the rest without causing to much shading. 

Again this is an experiment, I'm sure there are mistakes, things not yet thought of and plenty of changes to come.   

So, time will tell and I'll post construction pics and pics with the results of hail storms. ... if I can get home before it melts along with notes and any changes.  still a few months out from conduction time.
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