Old Timer said, "People use to grow a cane patch around their poverty for tomato stakes" is this true ?

Yes.  Anonymous idiot thought you said people grew canes IN their tomato patches. Anonymous idiot spent too much time at Harvard and not enough time learning how to grow food.

You grow t he cane on the property line to provide a 'natural' fence. that you do not have to paint or fix.

You cut down the excess cane so it does not become invasive.

You USE the cut cane for staking plants like tomatoes and peppers and create  'Tripods' for veggies like peas and beans to climb.  You ALSO use cut cane to make fences around the garden to keep the chickens from wandering in.

You can use cane for all types of things...and I bet 'Harvard' wouldn't make it 5 mins with Bear Gryllis

No.  The reason being is that it is a way to ensure continued poverty.  The cane will kill the tomatoes.  It could be:  Poor people...............  .  In that case, the proverb is correct.  Poverty is caused by learned behavior of how to be impoverished.  Sort of a variation of critical race theory.  Or a variation of "good parenting skills".  The established behaviors exist because they produce the best civilization.  It you don't believe it, then burn Harvard.