U-Post Garden Stake Cap for Tomato Trellis System

U-Post Cap Cover for creating a Garden Trellis system for tomatoes and other plant supports. 

While there are similar post caps for T-Posts, the profile on the U-Post is different enough that a new solution was designed. I've designed this adapter to slip over the top of a U-Post (typical garden stakes found at the big box stores) with tolerances that allow for some post deformation and bending as it's being hammered into the ground. The holes for the horizontal beam was designed for use with ¾ inch EMT metal conduit but has oversized holes to allow variances and imperfect alignments.

I've added additional print profiles to account for various orientations if you already have the U-Posts installed in a specific direction. You can customize which model orientations you want and how many center pass-through caps depending on the length of your trellis.

I have been printing the models upside down with tree supports to avoid any supports being needed inside the part of the model that slips over the U-Post as I was worried it could be hard to remove them, printing upside down has worked fine.

I printed in PETG for extra durability outdoors.

Materials:

• U-Posts (I'm using the 6-foot / 84inch size at Lowes)
• ¾" EMT Conduit
• Any type of string/twine to use for the vertical supports
• Garden Anchors for holding the string in place at the base of the plant (also check out my Garden Hook model: )
• Tomato clips or ties for attaching the plant to the string supports