Rebar safe in SFG soil?

rob.emenaker 3/25/2010, 8:23 am

I am wanting to use conduit and netting for my tomatoes and vine plants to grow up just like Mel shows in his latest book. I want to use rebar in the ground to slide the conduit over to hold it upright. However, I also want to create chicken-wire fence panels for each side of my SFG beds to protect from critters. So my thought was to put the rebar and the conduit on the inside of the SFG beds so it can all be inside my fencing. My question is, is it safe to have metal (that will definitely end up rusting) in my soil?!? Will that leech into my plants and cause me to grow a third nipple or something?!?

choksaw 3/25/2010, 10:57 am

rob.emenaker wrote: Will that leech into my plants and cause me to grow a third nipple or something?!?

I grew up drinking well water from a very old house so old the original gutters were made of wood (now thats old) and there have been no adverse effects on me that i know of yes they will rust and yes it will leech into the soil but the up side rust is usualy an iron based substance so if it rusts below the soil line youl just be adding iron into the soil mix and iron is a needed trace element for plants to grow and thrive

**timwardell** 3/25/2010, 2:47 pm

I personally wouldn't worry about it. I'm betting iron supplement in the form of rust is healthier than a lot of the chemicals and pesticides the giant agribusinesses spray on our food.

boffer 3/25/2010, 2:56 pm

rob.emenaker wrote: Will that leech into my plants and cause me to grow a third nipple or something?!?

No, it won't, but you could end up looking like this: Rebar safe in SFG soil? Icon_cyclops

!!!

I have a well, no filtration system; some winters when the conditions are right, there's enough iron oxide in my water to turn the toilet bowl rusty orange in a week. There's no harm in drinking it according to my county health dept., but during those times I do offer my guests bottled water!

I wouldn't worry about it.

boffer 3/25/2010, 2:58 pm

I forgot, I have rusty re-bar grids in a couple boxes that lay on the soil.

rob.emenaker 3/25/2010, 3:00 pm

Perfect! Just the answers I was looking for. Well except for the Rebar safe in SFG soil? Icon_cyclops

. Not sure I want that...was hoping more for Rebar safe in SFG soil? Icon_rr

This is going to work out perfect!!

boffer 3/25/2010, 3:08 pm

grow it while you can, 'cause I can't anymore!

choksaw 3/25/2010, 6:25 pm

your winter water sounds just like florida water on a daily basis if you dont have a filtration unit anything white that comes in constant contact (tub tile sink exterior brick) turn rusty orange and most peopel in the non city areas all have well water

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Rebar safe in SFG soil?

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