tomato stakes
 

I went to our local lumber yard to buy tomato stakes. They sell 6' stakes
pointed on one end for fifty cents each. The clerk asked, "Is treated wood
o.k.?". Thought we had a dealbreaker right there but they did have untreated
wood. I wonder if they sell many of the treated? Who buys them? What effect
do they have on the tomatoes?

Marilyn in Ohio

tomato stakes
 

tomato stakes
 

I would not buy them for any food crop, but for a flowering plant,
maybe.

--
Joseph E. Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math


"Allview" wrote in message
...
I went to our local lumber yard to buy tomato stakes. They sell 6' stakes
pointed on one end for fifty cents each. The clerk asked, "Is treated
wood
o.k.?". Thought we had a dealbreaker right there but they did have
untreated
wood. I wonder if they sell many of the treated? Who buys them? What
effect
do they have on the tomatoes?

Marilyn in Ohio

tomato stakes
 

Allview wrote:
I went to our local lumber yard to buy tomato stakes. They sell 6'
stakes
pointed on one end for fifty cents each. The clerk asked, "Is treated
wood
o.k.?". Thought we had a dealbreaker right there but they did have
untreated
wood. I wonder if they sell many of the treated? Who buys them?
What effect
do they have on the tomatoes?

The chance of getting good gardening advice at a lumber yard is similar
to the chance of getting good cooking advice at a foundry, or good
advice on fixing your car from road builders.

Most people don't have any idea about problems with using treated wood.
Using logic based on incomplete knowledge, a treated stake will last
longer than an untreated stake, thus it's a better value. And they're
not even thinking about whether the treated wood has arsenic or not when
they come to that conclusion.

For that matter, many people will go for the more convenient cage,
buying it either at the same time and place as they buy their tomato
starts, or later on during a routine trip to K-Mart or some other
one-stop store that has a garden center. In that case, they don't even
need to consider the effects of treated wood on food crops.

--
Warren H.

==========
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response -- unless you count my dog who desperately wants
to go outside now.

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tomato stakes
 

On 06 Jul 2003 12:01:19 GMT, (Allview) wrote:

I went to our local lumber yard to buy tomato stakes. They sell 6' stakes
pointed on one end for fifty cents each. The clerk asked, "Is treated wood
o.k.?". Thought we had a dealbreaker right there but they did have untreated
wood. I wonder if they sell many of the treated? Who buys them? What effect
do they have on the tomatoes?

Marilyn in Ohio


The treated ones will last a lot longer. The untreated will last 2,
maybe three years. I think someone who grows 100 plants or so will
buy te treated ones to save for furture years. They won't have any
effect on the tomatoes.

tomato stakes
 

Phisherman expounded:

The treated ones will last a lot longer. The untreated will last 2,
maybe three years. I think someone who grows 100 plants or so will
buy te treated ones to save for furture years. They won't have any
effect on the tomatoes.

No, but they might have an effect on the people who eat the tomatoes.
Why take the chance? The money you save won't do you any good if
you're sick from the pressure treated wood. Buy the untreated and
replace them when needed or buy the coated steel ones for good.

--
Ann, Gardening in zone 6a
Just south of Boston, MA
********************************

tomato stakes
 

"Allview" wrote in message
...
I went to our local lumber yard to buy tomato stakes. They sell 6' stakes
pointed on one end for fifty cents each. The clerk asked, "Is treated
wood
o.k.?". Thought we had a dealbreaker right there but they did have
untreated
wood. I wonder if they sell many of the treated? Who buys them? What
effect
do they have on the tomatoes?

Marilyn in Ohio

Plain old concrete rebar is available at hardware stores everywhere in 10'
lengths for about $3. It last years and years and years. Or, if you want
something that lasts even longer, galvanized electrical conduit is about the
same $. If 10' is too tall for your tomatoes, (it's a little tall for mine)
then you can cut it in half with a hacksaw. I actually bought the 20'
lengths direct from a concrete supply house and cut them into thirds, as the
5' was too short.

Sunflower
MS 7b

tomato stakes
 

Plain old concrete rebar is available at hardware stores everywhere in 10'
lengths for about $3. It last years and years and years.

I would say it will last for your lifetime, and your kid's, and their
kids'.

It is rough, so that whatever you use to tie the tomoatoes (I
recommend pantyhose strips) wil not slip down.

I actually bought the 20' lengths direct from a concrete supply house and cut them into thirds, as the
5' was too short.

Yes. My tomatoes grow to six feet, so even a third of a 20' piece is
barely long enough, once you stick a foot of it into the ground.

vince norris

tomato stakes
 

Allview wrote:
I went to our local lumber yard to buy tomato stakes. They sell 6' stakes
pointed on one end for fifty cents each. The clerk asked, "Is treated wood
o.k.?". Thought we had a dealbreaker right there but they did have untreated
wood. I wonder if they sell many of the treated? Who buys them? What effect
do they have on the tomatoes?

Marilyn in Ohio

As an alternative, one can buy a 5' or 6' piece of cedar fencing 6"
wide for around $1 and split it into 3 or 4 nice long stakes.
Whenever the bottoms rot off, cut a new point and reuse.

tomato stakes
 

For that matter, many people will go for the more convenient cage,
buying it either at the same time and place as they buy their tomato
starts, or later on during a routine trip to K-Mart or some other
one-stop store that has a garden center

I bought stakes because the plants were coming over the top of the cages. I
like wood because the ties don't slip. I don't mind throwing away the stakes
at the end of the season. Of course, I don't have hundreds of tomato plants.
Question: If you buy stakes taller than 6', who pounds them into the ground?
I'm 5'3" and shrinking.

Marilyn

tomato stakes
 

Allview wrote:

...I bought stakes because the plants were coming over the top of the cages. I
like wood because the ties don't slip. I don't mind throwing away the stakes
at the end of the season. Of course, I don't have hundreds of tomato plants.
Question: If you buy stakes taller than 6', who pounds them into the ground?
I'm 5'3" and shrinking...




The only thing I can suggest for the height issue is a post pounder.
It's a pipe with a cap and some weight to it. You slip it over the post
at the top, position the post then lift the pipe and push it down onto
the post like a pile driver until the post is in deep enough. The only
problems are that it may break wood stakes if you are too rough on them,
and once the stakes are in, getting the pipe off, but if you pound the
post in a foot, it's then 5' high and you should be able to manage it.
You can build the thing yourself. Use the largest pipe you can manage.

The part of the wood stakes that goes in the ground is usually somewhat
punky at the end of the season, so it's not good for another year, but
you could take your 6' stakes and make them 5' stakes for next year
(then 4' stakes etc.)

tomato stakes
 

tomato stakes
 

On 07 Jul 2003 11:43:26 GMT, (Allview) wrote:

I bought stakes because the plants were coming over the top of the cages. I
like wood because the ties don't slip. I don't mind throwing away the stakes
at the end of the season. Of course, I don't have hundreds of tomato plants.
Question: If you buy stakes taller than 6', who pounds them into the ground?
I'm 5'3" and shrinking.

I did, indeed, laugh out loud. :-) Seriously, depending on soil, you
can generally push or sort of screw them in part way. Then stand on
something to pound them in. A kitchen step-stool will put you up about
a foot. OTOH, you could offer to trade tomatoes to a tall, sturdy
friend in exchange for the effort.

tomato stakes
 

tomato stakes
 

If you buy stakes taller than 6', who pounds them into the ground?
I'm 5'3" and shrinking.

If you buy "rebar," metal rods about 3/8" in diameter made to
reinforce concrete, you can push them into the earth very easily.

And they will last almost forever.

You can get them at building supply centers. Get 20 foot pieces and
cut them (or have tghem cut) into thirds, or buy pieces about seven
feet long.

vince norris

tomato stakes
 

vincent p. norris wrote:
If you buy stakes taller than 6', who pounds them into the ground?

I'm 5'3" and shrinking.


If you buy "rebar," metal rods about 3/8" in diameter made to
reinforce concrete, you can push them into the earth very easily.

And they will last almost forever.

You can get them at building supply centers. Get 20 foot pieces and
cut them (or have tghem cut) into thirds, or buy pieces about seven
feet long.

vince norris


DO NOT use "rebar" for plant supports. The rust from them
can kill your plants and they look like crap after just a
few weeks. There are MUCH better items to use for plant
support.
--
Bill R. (Ohio Valley, U.S.A)

Digital Camera: HP PhotoSmart 850

For pictures of my garden visit http://members.iglou.com/brosen

Remove NO_WEEDS_ in e-mail address to reply by e-mail

tomato stakes
 

rust will not kill the plants, I have been using rebar for years without any
problem.
as for that matter the iron is good for them.

--
Sam
Along the Grand Strand of Myrtle Beach SC
"Bill R" wrote in message
...
vincent p. norris wrote:
If you buy stakes taller than 6', who pounds them into the ground?

I'm 5'3" and shrinking.


If you buy "rebar," metal rods about 3/8" in diameter made to
reinforce concrete, you can push them into the earth very easily.

And they will last almost forever.

You can get them at building supply centers. Get 20 foot pieces and
cut them (or have tghem cut) into thirds, or buy pieces about seven
feet long.

vince norris


DO NOT use "rebar" for plant supports. The rust from them
can kill your plants and they look like crap after just a
few weeks. There are MUCH better items to use for plant
support.
--
Bill R. (Ohio Valley, U.S.A)

Digital Camera: HP PhotoSmart 850

For pictures of my garden visit http://members.iglou.com/brosen

Remove NO_WEEDS_ in e-mail address to reply by e-mail

tomato stakes
 

Bill R expounded:

DO NOT use "rebar" for plant supports. The rust from them
can kill your plants and they look like crap after just a
few weeks. There are MUCH better items to use for plant
support.

No, rust won't kill your plants, and your tomatoes should be big
enough in a few weeks that you won't even see the rust! Many people
use rebar, I prefer the plastic coated metal rods (I pay for pretty).

--
Ann, Gardening in zone 6a
Just south of Boston, MA
********************************

tomato stakes
 

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Ann wrote:
Bill R expounded:


DO NOT use "rebar" for plant supports. The rust from them
can kill your plants and they look like crap after just a
few weeks. There are MUCH better items to use for plant
support.


No, rust won't kill your plants, and your tomatoes should be big
enough in a few weeks that you won't even see the rust! Many people
use rebar, I prefer the plastic coated metal rods (I pay for pretty).


I never mentioned tomato plants but I do know several people
that have lost many Hollyhocks and other tall plants after
using "rebar" to support them. It could be that they were
coated with some other chemical that harmed the plants.
--
Bill R. (Ohio Valley, U.S.A)

Digital Camera: HP PhotoSmart 850

For pictures of my garden visit http://members.iglou.com/brosen

Remove NO_WEEDS_ in e-mail address to reply by e-mail

tomato stakes
 

Bill R wrote in news:3F0D75F0.2090508
@iglou.com:

Ann wrote:
Bill R expounded:


DO NOT use "rebar" for plant supports. The rust from them
can kill your plants and they look like crap after just a
few weeks. There are MUCH better items to use for plant support.


No, rust won't kill your plants, and your tomatoes should be big
enough in a few weeks that you won't even see the rust! Many people
use rebar, I prefer the plastic coated metal rods (I pay for pretty).


I never mentioned tomato plants but I do know several people
that have lost many Hollyhocks and other tall plants after
using "rebar" to support them. It could be that they were
coated with some other chemical that harmed the plants.

I think someone posted a link earlier to a site that explained the
history of rebar.

If I recall correctly, even today it is made to match a performance spec
without regard to the source materials. Formerly it was made from such
materials as scrap railroad tracks which might have exposed it to arsenic
at the least. These days it's made with more mundane materials and is
probably safer.

Sorry, I can't find the link.

-- Salty

tomato stakes
 

"Bill R" wrote in message
...
vincent p. norris wrote:
If you buy stakes taller than 6', who pounds them into the ground?

I'm 5'3" and shrinking.


If you buy "rebar," metal rods about 3/8" in diameter made to
reinforce concrete, you can push them into the earth very easily.

And they will last almost forever.

You can get them at building supply centers. Get 20 foot pieces and
cut them (or have tghem cut) into thirds, or buy pieces about seven
feet long.

vince norris


DO NOT use "rebar" for plant supports. The rust from them
can kill your plants and they look like crap after just a
few weeks. There are MUCH better items to use for plant
support.
--
Bill R. (Ohio Valley, U.S.A)

Digital Camera: HP PhotoSmart 850

For pictures of my garden visit http://members.iglou.com/brosen

Remove NO_WEEDS_ in e-mail address to reply by e-mail

Rebar does not harm plants. It's just steel, and not a very high grade form
of it at that. It won't heat up enough to fry them in hot weather, and it's
not coated with diddly. (That's why it rusts so fast.) The rust that forms
on the metal has absolutely nothing to do with the fungal disease of rust
which can afflict hollyhocks or other garden plants. Also, the rust
doesn't help with the iron content of your soil, either. It's not water
soluble at all, and thus the plants cannot utilize it. Rebar does last for
a long, long, time in the garden and I've used it for years to make support
structures for clematis, roses, peonies, lilies, tomatoes, beans, cucumbers,
and just about any other thing that flops and you don't want it to.

Sunflower
MS 7b

tomato stakes
 

Salty Thumb wrote in
:

Bill R wrote in news:3F0D75F0.2090508
@iglou.com:

Ann wrote:
Bill R expounded:


DO NOT use "rebar" for plant supports. The rust from them
can kill your plants and they look like crap after just a few
weeks.
There are MUCH better items to use for plant support.


No, rust won't kill your plants, and your tomatoes should be big
enough in a few weeks that you won't even see the rust! Many people
use rebar, I prefer the plastic coated metal rods (I pay for
pretty).


I never mentioned tomato plants but I do know several people
that have lost many Hollyhocks and other tall plants after
using "rebar" to support them. It could be that they were coated
with some other chemical that harmed the plants.

I think someone posted a link earlier to a site that explained the
history of rebar.

If I recall correctly, even today it is made to match a performance
spec without regard to the source materials. Formerly it was made
from such materials as scrap railroad tracks which might have exposed
it to arsenic at the least. These days it's made with more mundane
materials and is probably safer.

Sorry, I can't find the link.

-- Salty

Here it is, no mention of railroad tracks, that was just my interpretion:

http://www.anvilfire.com/FAQs/reb_faq_index.htm