1/2 rebar for plant supports

[Kaleva]

I've been using 3' and 5' sections of rebar for plant support for some time now and will get some 10' lengths next spring for the sugar snap peas and pole beans.

1/2" by 10' rebar costs about $6.00 at Home Depot and Lowes and as it lasts pretty much a lifetime, it's a bargain in the long run.

For the tomato plants, I'll pound in a 5' length 2 feet into the ground at both ends of the row. In between the ends of the row, I'll pound in more so the spacing is about 6' apart. I'll plant the tomato plants between the rebar and then run twine between the rebar in horizontal rows. As the tomato plants grow, I'll weave them between the rows of twine.

Something like this:

rebar-1' spacing- tomato plant-2' spacing- tomato plant-2' spacing- tomato plant-1' spacing- rebar- 1' spacing and so on.

My rows are going to be 18" raised rows with 2' of spacing between row. For sugar snap peas and pole beans, I'll pound in at an angle a 10' length in the middle of 1 row and another 10' section in the next raised row and the angle will be such that the tow will cross neat the top making an A frame. About 9' down the row, I'll do the same with 2 more 10' sections. Then I'll lay another 10' section across the top and tie it to both A frames. near the bottom, I'll run a line of twine horizontally on both sides and another 6 or so inches above that and repeat until I get to the top. Then I'll run vertical lines at 6" inch intervals.

It will look something like this:



The shorter sections of rebar I already have will be added to the raised bed I just built and with pex tubing, I can install hoops for a low tunnel cover to extend the growing season.

When the gardening is done for the year, I can take the shorter sections of rebar and stand them in a corner of the storage building an place the 10' section on a rack on the wall of the same building. Ready to go for the next year!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

1. I wonder about the effect of iron getting into the soil affecting the garden plants.

Iron (sulfate) is used to fight moss on lawns; grass seems to tolerate it. It's quite effective against moss.

[JayhawkSD]

2. 1/2" rebar is called #4 rebar if you buy it at a steel supplier.

I would not worry about iron leaching into the soil unless your soil is very acidic, in which case the iron compounds will reduce the acidity. That would be helpful rather than harmful.

Nice piece. Thanks.

[RoadRunner]

3. Rebar is useful in the garden, but can be dangerous

Vertical rebar needs a safety cap to prevent injuries. They’re inexpensive and easy to hammer on the rebar ends. A side benefit is they make it easier to put on bird netting if you need it.

[hunter]

4. I bend it so both ends are deep in the ground.

It's also possible to make graceful curves.

But you are absolutely right, there's a reason building sites require those bright orange and yellow mushroom caps.

[Kaleva]

5. 3/4" PEX tubing fits right over 1/2" (#4) rebar.

If one wishes to build a frame for a low tunnel house.