Grow Potatoes in Tires

This is a great alternative to the traditional way of raising potatoes in rows and best for any confined space.
Growing potatoes in tires is enexpensive, fun for the family,and best of all helps mother earth.
.so do your part to help

Step 1: Bedrock

Potatoes don't like to get water-logged so have good drainage below the tires.
I found that a bed of rocks under the tires woorks best.

Step 2: Tater-tire

• Choose a sunny spot in your yard, garden or on a patio or balcony.
• Stack two or three tires and fill them with damp earth and compost to just over half the depth of the stacked tires.
• Then place 4 or 5 seed potatoes in the stack, about 2 inches deep, with the eyes or shoots facing up.
• Cover with a couple of inches of soil and don`t forget to water

Step 3: Grow Chart

As the plants grow to about 2 to 4 inches, add another tire to the stack.
Add more soil around the young plants as well to support them.
Continue mounding up the soil around the emerging plants until your stack is 3 tires high.
Young potatoes will be forming all the way up the stack of tires

Step 4: Enjoy the Rewards of Growing Your Own Potatoes

Your potatoes will thrive in the warm environment of soil filled tires! In most areas of the U.S. early potatoes can be planted at the end of March. Your main potato crop can be planted in April or early May. If conditions are right, you will see healthy potato plants growing after about 6 weeks.You will be able to harvest early, "new" potatoes when the flowers on your potato plants have opened or their buds have fallen off. Just dig around in the soil and check. The young potatoes should be about the size of a hen's egg. Wait to harvest your main crop of potatoes until the potato plant foliage has turned brown. Then cut off at the stems, wait a few days and pull up the plant with potatoes attached!

Comments

[chickenlittle172717]

I’ve been planting potatoes in tires for a decade now. Get a great crop of potatoes. I’m the healthiest guy around and haven’t been to a doctor in 20 years. You can’t tell me they’re bad for you. If the tires are disintegrating, I dispose of them properly and use different ones. All of those chemicals you speak of are elements found in the earth. They are only harmful if ingested in large quantities. Use your brain people🙄

[JoseD191]

Hello. I'm very sorry but I was going to use this method, and found information mentioning tires can degrade and release harmful metals, like lead and zinc into the soil contained within them. I would suggest everyone to research deeper before proceeding with this method. I don't mean to be annoying nor discouraging, but I'm a materials engineer with training on hazardous metals impact on health. Mind you, I am also working to find a solution to avoid using tires.

[tuckerrulez209]

Those are not all potatoes

[Raymoran]

I planted potatoes about 4 months ago I planted them in a tyre and very good compost I added tyres until I had three with very healthy foliage I harvested my crop this week but only seven potatoes in the first tyre none developed any higher what have I done wrong ?

Regards

Ray

[ThomF3]

This is NOT a great idea for 2 reasons. First there are carcinogenic compounds that can leach into the soil and be taken up by the potatoes. Second, the black tires can make the soil too hot and reduce yields dramatically. I would not touch this method. Build your silos out of untreated 2x6 boards instead to be safe.

[phelan78247]

you are also incorrect, i dont think you know what carcinogens are,and obviously you have never grown in tires before, because they fill up with potatoes, i grow in two 35inch tall and 13 inch wide tires and get more potatoes per plant and area used than any open area. if you are going with the wood, use 2x12 boards and make two sides 24 inches and two sides 27 inches, the long pieces overlap the short ones when you screw them together to make square box. TIRES WORK THE BEST, GET LARGE ONES FROM TIRE SHOP RECYCLE PILE!!!!!

[JohnP757]

Phelan I think you are right he has never grown in tires. I'll be doing the tires this year,won't have to worry to much about the critters eating them

[amyswanson1972]

Every time you add a tire do you put more potato sprouts

[NicoleP132]

CAN I USE USED TIRES?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

[mcointreau]

Tires make wonderful planters, but are not ideal for growing edible plants. Harmful chemicals and toxins that accumulate during their usage on roads are virtually impossible to eliminate entirely from the tire, as these things permeate the material of tire itself, slowly leaching out over the life of the tire. You're better off doing the same thing in a 5-gallon bucket or wooden box. Some people use cardboard boxes, but those can also leak toxins from the glue and inks. Potatoes, being root vegetables, are especially vulnerable to soaking up all chemicals and passing them on to you. If you really want to use tires to grow food, pick something that grows on a bush, like berries. Not lettuce or root veggies -- the further the food is from the roots, the more filtration the water and nutrients get before they enter the food.

[joeynovak]

Are the toxin molecules smaller then air? Anything built up on the tire would be on the outside... And a properly sealed tire will hold air A LONG LONG time. So, unless the toxin molecules are smaller then air molecules, there is no way they will get to the inside of the tire. If you are really worried, scrub the tires really well with something first.

[inekenz]

Thanks for info. I changed my mind about using tires and now jus tusing some boards and it won't be so high.

[inekenz]

Thanks for info. I changed my mind about using tires and now jus tusing some boards and it won't be so high.

[lime3D]

Interesting. Can you point us to any data on the subject?

[bstewart13]

I have data. Use a hose to wash off the tires, if you live in an area where there is no rainfall. Water the potatoes while you're at it. Eat the potatoes, but don't eat the tires. Cook the potatoes first. :)

[cart562]

Huh, i never thought about that toxin thing before. It's ok though because the only things i've planted in tires so far are flowers and tomatoes.

[susie.moats]

Daddy did his a little different.... first tire same as here but he propped the tire open with sticks and filled the tire with heavy leaf mulch/compost. then sod/potting soil around the plant.. when the plants grew up level with the top of the tire he added another tire and let it grow up 3 or 4 inches then propped the tire open filled it with heavy leaf mulch in the tire and potting soil around plants.... leaving only tops of plants showing.... he repeated this process to use 4 tires and heaped the soil on the last tire (he called it hilling up the potatoes) then when the tops died back he got the biggest KICK out of kicking over a tire and sifting out all the potatoes.... he got 3 to 4 bushel from each tire tower....Suz :o}

[techie54]

I have seen and thought of doing this project, but didn't think about the drainage. Great 'ible! Short, sweet, and with good pics. Keep up the great work!!

[juanangel]

I agree that all manmade objects (planters, etc) one way or other releases chemicals and toxics at different levels and conditions. They still are used for planting or protection (plastic used to protect new plants and to kill grass around plants and trees). Other solids like tar, petroleum products are released downward or evaporate. Nowadays is almost impossible to be land contaminants free. Smog, diesel smoke, tire dust, trash, treated wood, etc. Glass is ideal but impractical in most cases. I am using a washing machine inner washing tube. No need to drill holes in it, and it is wide and deep enough. First time planting potatoes in the tropic and it is looking good.

[ussnowbird]

This is an old method of growing potatoes that I have not seen posted for a long time. Thanks for making it available. Thumbs up :)