Q&A: Will Remesh Trellises Scorch Plants? Will Rust Harm the Soil? & More

1. Hi Patrick,
   
   I am newly subscribed and this is my first comment. First of all, a very big THANK YOU for the clarity, generosity and sheer volume of excellent, useful information you've shared! I just finished building (2) 4' x 8' raised beds, and am setting my sights on some trellises for snap peas and tomatoes. While I am relatively handy, the fact that you've worked out so many of the details eliminates any uncertainty, and I really appreciate that.
   
   I am a big fan of Eliot Coleman and his hilarious and clever reference to the "sun-baked coast of Maine" when he wrote of his trip along the 44th parallel in France to support his research for year-round food production in a harsh climate. So far, my year-round gardening has been from an armchair perspective, and I am finally ready and have the space to put a real garden in with low tunnels, hoop houses, etc.
   
   I also write to see what your frugal take is on sub-irrigation (Earthbox et al), occasionally and erroneously referred to as "self-watering". I don't know what Chicago's water rate is, and it may not be worth it to convert/modify your current setup, but still I am interested in your opinion.
   
   Finally, I have loaded up my 2 raised beds so far only with unshredded leaves, some in a Geobin, some just left in the frame. In the dead of January, with no greens other than meager food scraps, what do you suggest to get the beds ready for planting? I suspect I might have to cough up $ for peat, etc but need a little guidance (see armchair reference).
   
   I do have pine shavings from our chicken coop, but there's substantial urine and droppings when changing their bedding.
   
   And if there is a better way to correspond, please let me know. Thanks again for all the inspiration!
   
   
   John Rockwell
   Rockport, MA
2. Quick question, Patrick. Why did you choose remesh over the cattle panels? Thanks in advance.
3. Iron is an excellent heat conductor, so heat is quickly transported to the coldest part of the trellis, i.e., the soil. Also, the surface area of the wires in a trellis is relatively large compared to their volume, so excess heat will readily be dissipated.
4. Hmm ... thought I had viewed all your videos but must have missed this one. Helpful and timely for me as I've decided to make some trellises out of conduit this year. Since I move my trellises from bed to bed each season, depending on what I'm growing, I'm looking for something that is light, strong and fairly rigid. This approach will be better than the current gas pipe that I've been using. For rigidity (and portability) I think I'll be using the cattle panels that you suggested. The one question that remains is the size of the conduit - do you use 1/2 or 3/4" conduit?
5. The only part of your videos that I hate is when you say, "Well, that's all for now..." LOL!!!! Thanks for sharing.
6. Patrick
   
   I think the reason metal feels hot on a sunny day day is that metal is a great conductor of heat. it's not that the metal gets hotter, it's just transferring heat better...
7. :D Ninja cat.
   Great of you to share you findings Patrick.
   I've used some similar panels (concrete reinforcing mesh) to make up the new compost cage & would like to use it as the roof support in our next hoop houses.
   Cheers.
8. Conduit trellises are the way to go. I've been using them as a support for stringing up tomato plants, but adding remesh or cattle paneling is a great idea and probably a lot less hassle. Do you leave them up year round or take them all down at the end of the season? 
9. We use remesh since a long long time. My grandpa brought all them while he has an construction company. He passed away 14 years ago, so I think the newest are about 20 years or older. And I can tell you, the galvanized ones have absolutly no rust, not a little bit, while the ungalvanized are much older, 30, 40 years easily, and still useable but quite rusty.
   But: We didn't dig them permanantly, maybe that will harm ungalvanized ones much more. You will see ;)
10. Nice follow up, Patrick. Thanks for sharing.
11. Shoutout to Oscar!
12. Patrick, your garden looks great. Interesting temperature observation. Remesh trellises may be a great way to grow in the cooler months.
13. I have had the cattle panels since 2008. They are still like new in quality. And were used when given to me. New they are about $22. So they are well worth the price. I think it is 16 feet.
14. Nup rust or zinc is not a concern at all - I agree.
    I use this mesh in a very hot climate (subtropics) and never do my plants burn.
    Reo mesh is one of the cheapest trellis materials to buy if you source it from concreters or buy it in bulk sheets and then cut it to size yourself. Do NOT purchase it from commercial hardware stores - their prices are too high.
    As far as how long does reo mesh last? My front reo mesh trellis in our vegetable garden was once used by the previous owners of our home to hold an ornamental vine and screen out the envirocycle inground tanks but we replaced the ornamental vine with several passionfruits and then later incorporated the mesh into our vegetable garden. Today, it's still going strong and is close to 20 years old! I reckon it will last another 10 years easy... 
    Cheers Patrick :)
15. I know this is completely off subject but, how do you manage to keep your younger plants from getting too cold? This weather has been so crazy and I'm worried about the cold temps here in the Midwest...especially at night
16. Never to worry... Look how long tomatoes cages have been around for. Store or home made. Also think when green grass grow up inside a thick chain link fence. Grass is the most fragile and does not burn on the fence. I have raw metal tomatoes cages they are 40 years old. Never a burning problem.
17. I wonder how many of these hand wringers worried about rust and zinc watch your videos while drinking a nice aspartame filled diet coke?
18. Great video Patrick. I too have been using remesh and medal conduit here in my south west florida garden (zone 10a). I haven't seen any signs of 'burning' to plants (tomatoes, beans, etc) .. I'm on my 3rd year and they are still just as strong and sturdy as when I put them in (and this is after windy stormy Florida rain along with full sun with high heat/humidity ... Your setup should outlast your garden and work well for many years in your climate