conduit for trellis
David J. Braunegg
different posting and I only got one response. (Thanks, Alf!)
I am considering using thin-wall electrical conduit (known as electrical
metal tubing, or EMT) for making trellises for my vegetables. The
conduit was recommended in Square Foot Gardening. My concern is that
the conduit is galvanized, which means that there is zinc in the coating
on the metal.
How much of a concern is the leaching of the zinc from the conduit into
soil where I'll be planting vegetables?
I'm also considering using PVC water pipe, but it is very flexible
unless you use a large diameter pipe. I thought that, since it is used
for drinking water, it would be OK in a vegetable garden, but one
response I received said I should be concerned over the chemicals that
leach from PVC.
Opinions appreciated.
Dave
P.S. I read this newsgroup regularly, but if you want to reply
personally, make the obvious deletion from my email address.
lee
<3A9FE9D8...@mitre.not-this.org>:
>I asked this question a while back, but it was buried in the
>thread of a different posting and I only got one response.
>(Thanks, Alf!)
>
>I am considering using thin-wall electrical conduit (known as
>electrical metal tubing, or EMT) for making trellises for my
>vegetables. The conduit was recommended in Square Foot
>Gardening. My concern is that the conduit is galvanized,
>which means that there is zinc in the coating on the metal.
>
>How much of a concern is the leaching of the zinc from the
>conduit into soil where I'll be planting vegetables?
>
>I'm also considering using PVC water pipe, but it is very
>flexible unless you use a large diameter pipe. I thought
>that, since it is used for drinking water, it would be OK in
>a vegetable garden, but one response I received said I should
>be concerned over the chemicals that leach from PVC.
i'd use the conduit. i think the zinc leaching would be
negligable. the similar size PVC pipe is too flexible & will
degrade faster in sunlight, needing to be replaced sooner.
you could also use copper plumbing pipe...
lee
George Shirley
anything. The same goes with the PVC water pipe. I used to make PVC for a living
and the stuff used for water pipe is approved for potable water, don't think the
guvmint would allow it if it leached anything out.
I tried some half inch pvc for a trellis and it was too flexible. Am thinking
seriously of one inch copper pipe, costs more but should get a nice patina and
hold up for several years or more. Have seen some made from the copper and they
are really nice. Alternatively, you can get hold of some "black iron" pipe and
use threaded connectors and elbows, shouldn't be any problem with it either.
George
David J. Braunegg
I'm more used to seeing you in r.f.p!
Given the cost of copper pipe, why aren't you going with the EMT? Is it
just an esthetics issue? If you were willing to use PVC, then I would
think that the smaller diameter EMT wouldn't look too bad.
Thanks for you opinion, in any case.
Dave
Johnnie Norsworthy
painted forest green for looks. I put green vinyl coated fencing wire
across the frame and I think it turned out pretty nice. I think the parts
for each of my trellises was about $20 at the Home Depot.
I sank the sides in the ground and added a little concrete on the bottom.
My raised beds were made with concrete block so the holes worked out perfect
for the application.
Here is a link to my setup as of last month. This month everything is about
ready for planting this year. I pretty much use the Square Foot Gardening
book as my garden bible.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=203075&a=11465744&p=40419884
-Johnnie
"David J. Braunegg" <d...@mitre.not-this.org> wrote in message
news:3A9FE9D8...@mitre.not-this.org...
George Shirley
green. I put 4X4 inch wire on them and use aluminum wire to hold the wire in
place. Four years now and still doing good. I like your idea though Johnnie.
George
George Shirley
contractors. I just like the looks of the copper and the pvc has to be painted
or it's ugly as the dickens. I used some leftover pvc half inch conduit and
water pipe to make a "fence" along a bed beside out driveway. Keeps visitors
from running over the side and into the bed. It works well for that. Experiments
have shown that I would have to use 1 inch pvc to equal the 3/4 inch copper or
galvanized conduit.
Most of us who are on rfp are gardeners too. That's how I get all the stuff I
can and make jams and jellies from. You gotta have a hobby and since I like to
eat I garden. <VBG>
Eliska
<d...@mitre.not-this.org> wrote:
>
>Opinions appreciated.
>
>Dave
I read that while half asleep and thought it said "Onions appreciated"
Eliska
Janice
> I am considering using thin-wall electrical conduit (known as electrical
> metal tubing, or EMT) for making trellises for my vegetables.
Hi David,
I have been using EMT trellises in my raised for several years and I love
them. They are at the north end of each bed and are six feet high four feet
wide with a horizontal piece every foot. The trellis slips into two piece
of pvc that are anchored to the wood at the north corners of my two foot
high raised beds. I'm sure you'll like them if you build some for your
garden.
Janice
in the Sierra
(zone 7)
Dave Green
>I am considering using thin-wall electrical conduit (known as electrical
>metal tubing, or EMT) for making trellises for my vegetables.
It's commonly used in full dwarf orchards with only one problem that I know
of. That is that you'd better clear out of there when there are thunderstorms
about.
I've used a heavy piece of pipe with a cap on it to drive the conduit into
the ground. Put it over top the conduit, raise the hammer pipe and let it drop.
Careful where you put your fingers though....
Polli...@aol.com Dave Green Hemingway, SC USA
The Pollination Home Page: http://pollinator.com
Disclaimer: Opinions aren't facts; learn the art of discrimination. Opinions
presented for your use and amusement; use at your own risk.
Bill Ranseen
copper? Can you use the same gadget as for bending EMT?
George Shirley
You can also buy tees, ells, and 46 degree angles in either of them so you don't
need to bend the pipe, just solder the copper together and fit the EMT.
George
zxcvbob
PVC electrical conduit instead -- it is thicker walled (schedule 40, I
think) and is UV stabilized. It lasts for years in direct sunlight
without cracking. It will mate with PVC water pipe fittings.
Regards,
Bob
--
"I have seen the future and it is just like the present, only longer."
--Kehlog Albran
David J. Braunegg
fermented pickles) and some things I can because I grow them (e.g.,
rhubarb jam). And, of course, some things I grow just to eat.
Dave
David J. Braunegg
I loved your idea for driving the conduit!
An inverted-U shaped trellis would probably be less of a lightening rod
than a single pole, but your point is well taken.
By the way, I really appreciate your pollination web page and go there
every so often to learn more. I am trying some Orchard Mason Bees this
year to help pollinate my apricot tree.
Dave
Bill Ranseen
<gsh...@bellsouth.net> wrote:
> Sure you can, you just have to adjust the pressure you use in bending the
> pipe.
> You can also buy tees, ells, and 46 degree angles in either of them so
> you don't
> need to bend the pipe, just solder the copper together and fit the EMT.
Yeah, I know all about the fittings (plumbed my house) but bending adds
a whole new dimension of design possibilities for a trellis
Roots
> > ...the stuff used for water pipe is approved for potable water, don't
think the
> > guvmint would allow it if it leached anything out.
Yes I'm going to try Agent Orange next season. ;-)
Greg Pavelka
out of old cedar tree branchs that we deck screweed togeather. It looks old
at once and has it's own style .
Greg & Tracy
"zxcvbob" <b...@a51web.net> wrote in message
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