Potato Planting in Tire Stacks?

[lesa]

I don't have a link- but they are petroleum products....

 

[digitS']

Here is a Washington State University horticulturalist talking about rubber mulch made from old tires:

The Myth of Rubberized Landscapes

She certainly doesn't like the idea.

Not quite the same thing, however . . .

Steve

 

[NiceTimeForSomethin'New]

I am all for recycling and reusing- but I am not crazy about the tires from a leaching point of view. Not sure what chemicals are still present- but would it get into the food you are growing?? I tried the barrel idea, last year with limited success. I've got mine in the garden this year-we'll see what happens! Congratulations on buying a farm! How exciting! Do tell us all your plans and describe your farm-we will all enjoy it vicariously!!

Yep, I'm not sure on the tire leaching thing...I have read that it is not a problem...but I'm unsure on that one...

The farm! 50 acres, 1 large barn (currently holding 3 horses and 3 goats), 1 large pole shed (current housing canoe, storage, etc, lawn "toys"), 1 smaller building we converted to a chicken coop this spring, ducks and geese (I'm getting into this farming thing!), the property is approx 60% wooded, the rest prairie/pasture type land. It is beautiful. I love it!

I am trying to figure out how to plant for my horses and goats (and everyone else) to save on feed this winter...I live in the land of ice and snow 6 months of the year.

 

[NiceTimeForSomethin'New]

Here is a Washington State University horticulturalist talking about rubber mulch made from old tires:

The Myth of Rubberized Landscapes

She certainly doesn't like the idea.

Not quite the same thing, however . . .

Steve

Oooo...I'm not liking how this very much...a bit scary! Hmmm, perhaps I can cut off the sidewalls, leaving the outer tire and use a liner?

What does everyone else think about leaching?

 

[NiceTimeForSomethin'New]

I did the potato in the tires deal last year. It didn't work out real well, but I think it was because of the wet year we had.
The sidewall of the upper tires held water and kept the straw I used as filler way too wet. The plants all died way before very many taters developed.
Out of the 10 stacks of tires I set up I maybe got a pound of new potatoes, with the largest being about the size of a tennis ball.
That being said, I'm trying the same thing again this year, except I have 5 tire stacks and 2 rows of conventionally planted potatoes right beside the tires.
As my stack gets taller this season I'm going to make holes in the sidewall of each stacked tire to allow any excess water to drain.
I hope to have a good report at the end of this season!!!

THANX RICH

Thank you for sharing your experience!

How high did you stack? What soil did you use?

 

[NiceTimeForSomethin'New]

We tried using the tires several years ago and had a problem with lack of water. The tires got so hot that the straw would dry out much faster than the dirt in the garden and I just didn't water it enough. If I were to do it again, I wouldn't use straight straw/hay, I'd use more compost. But like lesa said, at this point I'm too leary of growing anything in the tires because of leaching, so I would use food grade barrels or something along those lines.

Interesting about the drying out problem...I've actually heard that the straw/hay potatoes don't work out very well...perhaps it is a moisture issue. So pretend I know nothing (cause I've got a brown thumb!!!): Do you use strianght compost or compost and black dirt? If so, how to you mix? I lost!

 

[dickiebird]

I did the potato in the tires deal last year. It didn't work out real well, but I think it was because of the wet year we had.
The sidewall of the upper tires held water and kept the straw I used as filler way too wet. The plants all died way before very many taters developed.
Out of the 10 stacks of tires I set up I maybe got a pound of new potatoes, with the largest being about the size of a tennis ball.
That being said, I'm trying the same thing again this year, except I have 5 tire stacks and 2 rows of conventionally planted potatoes right beside the tires.
As my stack gets taller this season I'm going to make holes in the sidewall of each stacked tire to allow any excess water to drain.
I hope to have a good report at the end of this season!!!

THANX RICH

Thank you for sharing your experience!

How high did you stack? What soil did you use?

The stacks got to 3 tires high before the plants died out.
I didn't use any soil just hay and straw that was recycled from the barn.
This year I intend to use compost that is about 20 or so years old, very rich black soil, loaded with worms.
I checked the other day and as soon as it drys out enough to get my tractor into the pile of dirt I need to start covering the plants.

THANX RICH

 

[lesa]

Oh, nicetime, your farm sounds lovely!!! How lucky you are to have all that space - and outbuildings! Do you have some kind of a pond for the ducks? Would love to see pics!

 

[lilaclady]

http://www.thegreenestdollar.com/2009/03/how-to-recycle-tires-in-your-garden/

Here's a link that might be interesting -

 

[NiceTimeForSomethin'New]

Oh, nicetime, your farm sounds lovely!!! How lucky you are to have all that space - and outbuildings! Do you have some kind of a pond for the ducks? Would love to see pics!

The property has a very small natural spring and what used to be a large pond that dried up a few years ago. We are going to try to bring that large pond back this summer...exciting! Right now the ducks use a huge kiddie pool...