Pressure treated wood & kiwi vines.

**Alliums g*@earthlink.net**

 Sean C. Gambrel wrote:

 We also
believe we may have two groundhogs on the property, one being a very
pregnant female (we think), so extermination is not as appealing as it once
was - though it never really was in the first place.

 So, PT lumber
is all we can get donated, and in my opinion is probably OK (though
obviously not most-desirable) for things like the toolshed, which we want to
be long-lasting but cheap, and that don't come in direct contact with the
veggies.

A friendly co-worker has donated three mature kiwi vines (the
hardy variety) to help us screen the "Water buffalo" trailer-tank theat
we'll be using for water, and we're hoping to support these vines on a
wooden T-shaped trellis of sorts, using what lumber has been donated - all
is pressure-treated.

*Don't* do that!

At first I wasn't too concerned about people being in
much contact with the wood, and I liked the idea that the trellis would last
as long as the vines (which can fruit for up to 40 years).

But I am worried
about the fruit being in direct contact with the lumber and also worried
about toxic stuff leaching through the soil into the roots of the vine,
because two of the vines will be planted within a foot of each support.

You should be!  Your worries are completely justified.

Anybody know the liklihood of the nasty stuff leaching through the soil and
being taken up into the plant via its roots?

Damn good.

Anybody know if the fruit (you
eat these smaller, non-fuzzy kiwis whole, like a grape) that is in contact
with this wood would retain any toxins?

Even better than above.

Or can I just warn folks to wash
the fruit before they eat it?