Will Rusty Tomato Cages Hurt Tomatoes?
The round, 3 or 4 level metal tomato cage is available wherever garden supplies are sold. Because they last many seasons they are a useful way to keep tomato plants from trailing on the ground. However, they do get rusty from the elements. Does this Spark an idea?
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No Affect
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The rust itself will not affect a tomato plant or directly hurt the tomatoes but you may experience other negative consequences.
Broken Cages
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A heavily rusted portion of the cage is significantly weaker than unrusted metal. When the weight of the mature plant and fruit stresses that weaker portion the cage may collapse, bringing down the plant and tearing the vines.
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Medical Dangers
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The metal often breaks or separates alongside a rusted portion. This can turn a simple scratch on a hand or forearm into something more serious from tentanus, as the bacteria found in soil enters the skin.
Controlling Rust.
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Light rust is cleaned off with a little sandpaper and rubbed with mineral oil to prevent it from coming back soon. A cage that is heavily rusted should go to a recycler, and new ones purchased.
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