This is a new venture for me: growing potatoes in tires. I read about this initially on this Ed Hume website and became intrigued. Looking back, I must have meant to just research growing potatoes in general and somehow discovered the concept of using old tires to do it.
It intrigues me for a couple reasons. First, it is one step better than recycling. The best step is to reduce consumption all together, then reusing materials, then recycling the materials. Many tire centers, maybe all, have a system of recycling already in place. But it seems like a good opportunity to reuse before getting to that stage. I went to my local tire store and they gave me five for free – for starters. They said they have about 300 more should I need them…
Second, I like this idea because it maximizes production while limiting space. The whole idea is that you plant potatoes in one tire, then cover them with dirt. Once their greens reach about four inches, you add another tire and cover them with more dirt. The theory is that the greens are forced to turn into tubers (more potatoes) and regrow their greens. Doing this about 3-4 tires high results in forced production of more potatoes.
I am referring to this as a theory because I can’t say I have done this before. But apparently it’s worked for the person who has the site referenced above. They also talk about planting potatoes in straw, instead of dirt. I combined the tire/straw methods into one method. I don’t have enough soil lying around to fill all these tires, but I certainly have plenty of straw.
I didn’t realize you only need 2-3 seed potatoes per tire. After cruising the selection at Portland Nursery, I came home with five different potato varieties and enough of each to plant two base tires – that’s ten tire towers for potatoes. This weekend I am heading back to the tire store to get five more old tires to plant. I am growing Fingerling Russian Banana, Yukon Gold, Russet Norkotah, All Blue, and Red La Soda. Nice rounded out combo, eh?
At one time I considered growing my tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants in tires since they would enjoy the heat drawn in from the black tire rubber, but I simply don’t have the room in the yard. I’m afraid my backyard would look like an obstacle course… So for this year, the experiment with tires is solely focused on potatoes. Think it will work?
I am getting ready to try this same method! I hope it works. Thanks for posting your pics. Did you plant two taters per tire?
I planted three seed potatoes per tire. I bought six of each variety, so two tires will be planted for each. I had no idea a few go such a long way, as I didn’t exactly intend to have ten tires in my garden just for potatoes!
” Once their greens reach about four inches, you add another tire and cover them with more dirt. The theory is that the greens are forced to turn into tubers (more potatoes) and regrow their greens.”
So does that mean to cover up ALL of the greens of the potato plants? Or do you have to let the leaves stick out?
Does anyone have any pictures to show how they are covered up after adding a tire?
How do you keep the pile of tires from falling over?
Sidney
Hi Sidney-
This post should show you examples of what they look like freshly covered with dirt and stacked 3 high. They didn’t fall over and seemed quite secure since they were all balanced well and the dirt filled in between held them in place.
http://www.hipchickdigs.com/wordpress/2008/08/potato-tires-final-stack/
Leave a couple inches of green still poking out when you add dirt. Just try not to let them get taller than maybe 6-8″ without adding more dirt for intensive growing. Once I ran out of tires, I let them grow as tall as they wanted though.
I love the idea – very clever. But I wonder about any adverse health issues, using old tires and how the decaying materials from the tires will leach into the potato.
If you add straw then it lets light in so they grow up no problems. Added bonus with straw is clean potatoes, as long as no direct light is on the tubers.
As for the residue, I would recommend washing the tires with boiling water and detergent or soaking. It’s the left over pollution residue that could be dangerous so wash it off. The tyre rubber itself is pretty stable and will last many a hot summer.
only stack them 4 or so high, otherwise they might fall
Thanks for the input “future”. The ones I grew in straw had mold and rot issues though. Have you had this problem?
Can one add tires after they are 6-18 inches?
Sure, as long as they are not blocked from getting sunlight. I keep mounding soil around them so they are only 4″ above the soil.
with the stacked tire method, wouldn’t the potatoes on the bottom be ready to harvest first or possibly larger than the ones on top?
there isn’t a way to harvest the bottom ones without disturbing the ones on top. I didn’t notice a significant size diff either. I just let them all keep growing through the whole season until the leaves turned brown. That maximizes what the plants could produce.
Thank you for sharing. I too had been thinking about growing something out of some old tires around here. I will give it a try and hope it works. I wander if I could grow watermelons ,cantalopes, and pumpkins in the tires? I say you could.
I think Tires are great for Flower gardens, but when I grow my own food, I try to be as organic as possible and not even use treated wood (because of the chemicals that WILL LEECH into your food) much less a rubber tire. I would not eat anything out of that!
ohh and the stacking method you mentioned, I would think that the First potatoes at the bottom would start to rot before the 3rd layer at the top would fully develop… and would be a lot of dirt to dig up to get to the bottom…
Don’t mean to be a nay sayer, just my thoughts. It may work perfectly!
Good luck!
It worked great for me – we had potatoes in each layer without rotting. But I agree that growing food in tires may have some unintended effects. Studies have not proven it one way or the other regarding tires and potatoes. It still might be an idea for those with limited space and resources who don’t believe it has an effect.
I AM NOT USING TIRES. I am trying two methods. For one bed I am using washtubs with the bottoms removed. They stack well and are aesthetically inoffensive. For the other, I drove 4 6Ft. stakes in the ground and put boards around them creating a square box. As I add growing medium I add boards leaving a small space between boards allowing excess water to escape and some air flow. This is my first try so I don’t have a success story to share.
I currently have 4 tires stacked and my potatoes are growing like crazy! Should I stop stacking at 4 tires and wait for the green foliage to just die off, hence when to harvest them? I don’t want the tower to get too tall, which might increase the chance of them falling over.
Jessica, I think I only went as high as five. If you are worried about them falling, it might be good to stop at four. Good luck!