Concrete wire tomato cages and lightning?

hasshoes · February 3, 2009

Lol, don't laugh.

But in an open or high up area can wire tomato cages act as lightning rods? Lol, I said don't laugh!

It's something that I'm worried about. . . gives a whole new meaning to fried green tomatoes, eh?

Wi-sunflower · February 3, 2009

Probably.

I have been caught out watering in the greenhouse when storms come thru and unless I'm nearly done, I try to get out of them if it's lightning. They are lots of metal pipes with a bit of plastic around them. Plus holding a water hose.

In 20 years, I've never had a strike, but why tempt it.

Carol

Thawley · February 3, 2009

Technically, anything that is grounded and conducts electricity can attract lightning. But unless you have 15' tall tomato cages I doubt they will be at risk.

If your house was built before PVC and ABS pipes the steel or iron drain vents on your roof would be much more likely targets.

Hope that's comforting.

newatthiskat · February 3, 2009

I am sure that is a great comfort in knowing

Kat

happydog · February 3, 2009

But, isn't lightning good for plants because it drops a lot of nitrogen on them? So, maybe we should try to attract MORE lighning to the garden. Maybe attach some kites with keys to the tomato cages.

February 3, 2009

This is my first try at posting a link...this is a link to a photo of lightning damage to tomatoes!

Lightning

I am sitting 40 ft from a pecan tree that got hit a couple of years ago (I was sitting in the same lounge chair). Today I was thinking about this tree because it has a poor history of bearing pecans until this year. The big scar is very noticeable...I saw it today....as I marveled that this "lightning tree" has produced more than all the other trees I have! I can't explain. Oh..I am not laughing! When the lightning hit, it scared the you know what out of me..ooooh..btw it was 15 ft from my tomatoe row!

My advice...use the cages and enjoy....just run if you hear thunder.

Steve

tessa · February 4, 2009

i wouldn't worry about it. if it is raining...lightning will go for the highest point. BUT...it goes for the highest point within a certain radius. you see, lightning comes down in approx. 50 yard 'steps'. when it gets to the last step...it will look for the highest point within that 50 yards. just make sure your tomato cages aren't it. but, it should be said, that it is 50 yards from where the last step is begun. that could be anywhere within that radius, you see, so sometimes lightning does not appear to strike the tallest object...but only because it cannot reach it.
there is a well-known picture of lightning striking a space shuttle while it was on the launch pad. it struck at the bottom of the shuttle...presumably because the top was out of reach of the last step.
note...this is not to say that lightning can't strike you from miles away...it can...but only if it's steps are arranged to allow it.

long story why i know so much about lightning.

Tomstrees · February 4, 2009

hmmm - interesting but has never happened to us - if it did "hit" that'd be one heck of a batch of marinara !

~ Tom

creister · February 4, 2009

Don't worry about it.

hasshoes · February 4, 2009

Wow that's a really interesting photo Steve! How weird.

Thanks guys. . . I'm not so much worried about the tomatoes as I am starting a fire. I think a lightning rod on our house was hit last summer. . . there was a flash across our window during a bad storm, a really loud crack, and the house shook. The lightning rod it would have hit is on the patio where I'd like to put some Earthtainers!

My backyard is by an open expanse with no trees.

So if I'm understanding correctly, wouldn't even a tall wooden stake be hazardous as it would be before the house?

tessa · February 4, 2009

could be.
the tallest object within 50 yards (and it depends on the start point of that 50 yard step) is sure to cop it.
but i wouldn't worry too much. just get *yourself* indoors if you hear a storm approaching.

Worth1 · February 4, 2009

I've had lightning strike in the barnyard in the middle of the chickens on the ground.
Some how it ran to the fence wire gap I was closing and burned me.

My hand was numb for hours after that.

Lightning strikes where there is the most potential and the least resistance.
This could be on the ground next to a tree or an iron pole.
It could be you in a tomato patch.

No worries just stay inside during a storm, I have had lightning strike very close to me many times (as close as 50 feet) and have been very lucky.

Worth

newatthiskat · February 5, 2009

Worth, That might explain alot!!!

Kat

Polar_Lace · February 5, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

It could be you in a tomato patch.
I have had lightning strike very close to me many times (as close as 50 feet) and have been very lucky.

Worth

Worth.... Could they be making plans against you?

hasshoes · February 5, 2009

February 3, 2009	#1
hasshoes Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: MT Posts: 438	Concrete wire tomato cages and lightning? Lol, don't laugh. But in an open or high up area can wire tomato cages act as lightning rods? Lol, I said don't laugh! It's something that I'm worried about. . . gives a whole new meaning to fried green tomatoes, eh? __________________ Sara

February 3, 2009	#4
newatthiskat Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: texas Posts: 1,451	Reply I am sure that is a great comfort in knowing Kat

February 4, 2009	#8
Tomstrees Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Bayshore Posts: 3,848	hmmm - interesting but has never happened to us - if it did "hit" that'd be one heck of a batch of marinara ! ~ Tom __________________ My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~ H. Fred Ale

February 4, 2009	#10
hasshoes Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: MT Posts: 438	Wow that's a really interesting photo Steve! How weird. Thanks guys. . . I'm not so much worried about the tomatoes as I am starting a fire. I think a lightning rod on our house was hit last summer. . . there was a flash across our window during a bad storm, a really loud crack, and the house shook. The lightning rod it would have hit is on the patio where I'd like to put some Earthtainers! My backyard is by an open expanse with no trees. So if I'm understanding correctly, wouldn't even a tall wooden stake be hazardous as it would be before the house? __________________ Sara

February 5, 2009	#13
newatthiskat Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: texas Posts: 1,451	Reply Worth, That might explain alot!!! Kat

February 3, 2009	#2
Wi-sunflower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,591	Probably. I have been caught out watering in the greenhouse when storms come thru and unless I'm nearly done, I try to get out of them if it's lightning. They are lots of metal pipes with a bit of plastic around them. Plus holding a water hose. In 20 years, I've never had a strike, but why tempt it. Carol

February 3, 2009	#3
Thawley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: SoCal - Zone 10 Posts: 106	Technically, anything that is grounded and conducts electricity can attract lightning. But unless you have 15' tall tomato cages I doubt they will be at risk. If your house was built before PVC and ABS pipes the steel or iron drain vents on your roof would be much more likely targets. Hope that's comforting.

February 3, 2009	#5
happydog Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Appalachian Mountains NC Posts: 150	But, isn't lightning good for plants because it drops a lot of nitrogen on them? So, maybe we should try to attract MORE lighning to the garden. Maybe attach some kites with keys to the tomato cages.

February 3, 2009	#6
red Guest Posts: n/a	This is my first try at posting a link...this is a link to a photo of lightning damage to tomatoes! Lightning I am sitting 40 ft from a pecan tree that got hit a couple of years ago (I was sitting in the same lounge chair). Today I was thinking about this tree because it has a poor history of bearing pecans until this year. The big scar is very noticeable...I saw it today....as I marveled that this "lightning tree" has produced more than all the other trees I have! I can't explain. Oh..I am not laughing! When the lightning hit, it scared the you know what out of me..ooooh..btw it was 15 ft from my tomatoe row! My advice...use the cages and enjoy....just run if you hear thunder. Steve

February 4, 2009	#7
tessa Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: perth, western australia Posts: 1,031	i wouldn't worry about it. if it is raining...lightning will go for the highest point. BUT...it goes for the highest point within a certain radius. you see, lightning comes down in approx. 50 yard 'steps'. when it gets to the last step...it will look for the highest point within that 50 yards. just make sure your tomato cages aren't it. but, it should be said, that it is 50 yards from where the last step is begun. that could be anywhere within that radius, you see, so sometimes lightning does not appear to strike the tallest object...but only because it cannot reach it. there is a well-known picture of lightning striking a space shuttle while it was on the launch pad. it struck at the bottom of the shuttle...presumably because the top was out of reach of the last step. note...this is not to say that lightning can't strike you from miles away...it can...but only if it's steps are arranged to allow it. long story why i know so much about lightning.

February 4, 2009	#9
creister Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Abilene, TX zone 7 Posts: 1,478	Don't worry about it.

February 4, 2009	#12
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	I've had lightning strike in the barnyard in the middle of the chickens on the ground. Some how it ran to the fence wire gap I was closing and burned me. My hand was numb for hours after that. Lightning strikes where there is the most potential and the least resistance. This could be on the ground next to a tree or an iron pole. It could be you in a tomato patch. No worries just stay inside during a storm, I have had lightning strike very close to me many times (as close as 50 feet) and have been very lucky. Worth

February 5, 2009	#15
hasshoes Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: MT Posts: 438	__________________ Sara