Eleven squares [cut on #12] gives you a 21" diam., which many people like. I now wish I had made mine larger than this. You can cut the bottom ring off to leave spikes, but high winds (or an heavily overgrown plant) will still topple them over anyway so I recommend leaving the bottom ring on and using a stake for each cage, or tieing them off to a line strung down the row. If you have vigorous plants you probably want to put height extensions on the cages by cutting one in half, alternating the cuts on the uprights to leave spikes, for attachment to the lower section. Again if your plants are growing to 7-10 feet tall you might want to make a 24"-30" cage rather than 21"