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mike723z6

Rusty Concrete reinforcing wire

Mike
9 years ago

Hey guys and gals,

Stupid question perhaps: I'm in the middle of deciding how to support the crop this year (24 heirloom's total) and was initially going to build cages out of livestock panels ( organicgardening.com/organicgardening/#!/entry/supersturdy-tomato-cage,5335a20b025312186cebe020 ) but they're just too expensive. I'm looking at $24 per panel and I'd need about 12.. Not trying to spend another $300 bucks.. I've come across diy's with the concrete wire but all that Lowe's carries is non-galvanized that are already loaded with rust.. I'm curious if the rust would be detrimental to the plants as well as the microbes in the soil - in terms of added iron/toxicity etc... Any thoughts? Thanks in advance!

-Mike

Comments (17)

  • hoosier40 6a Southern IN
    9 years ago

    No, it is not toxic, quite the opposite in fact. Plants as well as humans need iron to survive. There is probably enough iron in most soil but the addition of the small amount from the cages does not hurt a thing.

  • Mike
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Whats up Whos,
    Great, thanks for the info.. I was just weary with the rust in terms of edibles, but good to know! Now it just comes down to buildin'em and gettin rusty!! lol .. Maybe in the future I'll look into a non toxic enamel to paint them with (if such a thing exists lol)...

  • sleevendog (5a NY 6aNYC NL CA)
    9 years ago

    Rust converter sprays exist but don't do it. Much worse for your soil later on. Even non-toxic latex will eventually flake off and be unsightly. : )
    Just roll with the natural patina and enjoy the small iron content.

  • Mike
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    lol thanks brotha

  • 2ajsmama
    9 years ago

    Just make sure your tetanus shot is up to date before you start handling the stuff. Our dr actually recommended DTaP booster a few years ago since pertussis had been going around.

  • carolyn137
    9 years ago

    At our ages, ahem, I wouldn't be worried about pertussis, aka whooping cough, but the tetanus part of that shot is now being suggested for older folks since it's turned out that the antibodies don't last as long as they thought.

    Having been brought up on a farm where there was lots of rusty stuff hanging around, and even knowing about tentanus back then, I never worried and while I used to grow most of my tomato plants by sprawling, I did make my own CRW cages when I lived and gardened in Denver.

    And when I moved back East there was one place where I grew my tomatoes and I used some of his cages, which were very rusty, and I'm still reading and posting at several message sites, that is,I'm quite alive. ( smile)

    Carolyn

  • Mike
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    lol Thanks everyone for the responses.. Appreciate it! Although I think I'm just gonna spring for the cattle panels and do it once (as they're a much heavier gauge)... I'll keep ya's posted =)

  • fireduck
    9 years ago

    Mike, before you spring....I was going to do EXACTLY the same thing with my supports. Funny you posted this. I nixed the cattle panels because of lack of availability in my area and cost. I bought 8 foot t posts and took the 4'x8' concrete wire (6") to the top of each post (zip-tied). The tomatoes in my container have already reached the bottom of the wire grid. Since the wire has already rusted...it has become almost invisible from the house (blends in with backdrop). I think I have a winner. Consider it....

  • 2ajsmama
    9 years ago

    Carolyn - I think the dr recommended the booster since I needed tetanus shot anyway, more to protect my DD and young nieces/nephews than me. As I recall, he had my teenager get another booster too even though he'd had all the normal series, I don't recall if it was b/c the T or the P part was wearing off for him.

    The DTaP was about the same price as just tetanus shot. If you're not around young kids than you may just want to make sure T is up to date. Just thought I'd offer the info on the P.

  • cboy
    9 years ago

    I've been using concrete wire for tomato cages for many years.
    They need to be at least 24 inches in diameter and about 30 or more inches high. I cut the bottom ring off. This makes spikes the go into the ground. A stake will be needed later to keep the wind from blowing them over. I use fertilizer and 1/2 bag of humus & manure compost from Wal Mart. My Celebrity Tomatoes make more than any other brand I've ever used. For dry time I use a gal. milk jug with a small drip hole hanging from the wire. Sorry about the extra info after the concrete wire information, just thought it might help someone.

  • seysonn
    9 years ago

    If there is any bad health effect, it has to associated with the galvanized wire. Iron Oxide(Fe2O3 ?) is a naturally occuring chemical form that eventually should be beneficial.

  • Mike
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Hey fireduck,

    Ahh it's too late!! LoL wish I saw that before hand but I haven't been on.. I sprung for the panels - $300 dollars later... They're absolutely beautiful cages though... More labor intensive then I initially thought it'd be.. The diy called for two men, but as a thick headed Italian I didn't feel that applied to me.. LoL with two people it would have been a lot easier.. About 5-6 hours later and a couple slices on my forearms; I now have 24 of the sturdiest cages I've ever worked with... That sounds like a great idea though! We're always looking for something horizontal to tie up to and that sounds perfect.. Similar to a scrog..

  • Mike
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Seysonn (and future readers),

    That's incorrect info.. Galvanized steel is only dangerous when cutting or burning - leeching is not an issue:

    http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/galvanized-wire-zb0z09zblon.aspx#axzz31GYzOv8v

    http://gardeningwormcomposting.com/is-galvanized-steel-harmful-to-the-soil/

    Thanks for the heads up anyways...

  • digdirt2
    9 years ago

    Well said michael.

    Dave

  • Mike
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Hey Dave,

    What can I say, the truth is the truth lol ...
    It's to no one's benefit to leave false information hangin around. So here's some pics of the baskets as promised:

  • Mike
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    This was the first one I made...... you could see the progress in the above picture; it was a few later, and much more uniform lol . . .
    This is in my experimental no-till row..

  • Mike
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    and last but not least: I plan on just stackin them behind the shed at summer's end.. That's their only down fall - not collapsible, but I have the space so it's no issue for me.. I think i'll eventually cut a small section of the lower horizontal wires just for easier access when applying compost teas etc...