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Venom - I have heard of, and originally wanted to do this until my (know it all) mother twisted my arm about it. She was sure that I would be poisioning every one with taters that had chemicals leeched from the tires.

Are you worried about this?

HG has posted a few times with his usual links about chemicals/toxins that leach out of tires.

Aside from that, I can't even walk in the bicycle section of a sports store or even ToysRus. The tire smell overwhelms me. Then, too, used tires would've picked up all the road junk, wouldn't they? ... not just asphalt, etc. but auto-exhaust and motor oil and whatever else leaks out of cars or gets spilled. If it was a used tire from farm machinery, maybe no road junk, but original chemicals are still in there, I presume, especially on the inside where it was not weathered away....

...

Apple.... uhhh. are you telling me... -gulp- that my "Know it all" mother was right?




oh god she will NEVER let me forget this....

I've heard of the tire method many times but, personally, I can't bring myself to do it. Although some may say that there is not much (if any) leeching of toxins with the tires and that it would not harm the plants or you, I personally don't believe it.

Just look at all of the things that were "proven safe" that were later dis-proven and you will see what I mean.

Here is a suggestion, instead of the tires, why not use wooden frames that are made with untreated lumber. The stack just as well and look way better that tires. Anyway, this is all just my opinion.

This year I'm doing chicken wire for this first small crop. Just enough to support the added compost in the corner they are planted but I also am thinking of starting new crops of carrot's and potatoes in bucket's or some sort of container in different area's around my house so we always have some for harvesting. Maybe start some seed potatoes in a month or so and carrot's... IDK just thinking, trying to provide all year long at least a basic staple veggie.

Down with tires.

Up with the earth and big ol' pots.

I wanted to clarify one thing that ozark lady posted about on the previous page...for the plants you let grow to maturity before digging, yes, there will be smaller potatoes mixed in, but if you can successfully use those for seed potatoes for the next crop, then they're by definition not 'new' potatoes. the name 'new' potatoes is reserved for those immature tubers harvested early...a true new potato, if planted, will rot, not grow, it not being mature enough to have its growing act together. it's age-related, not size alone.

not trying to be a know-it-all, just...let's get our potato terminology straight. it's important!

mrsgreenthumbs wrote:Are you worried about this?

Unlike the apparent majority here I'm not! There are enviro/issues that deserve attention but I have given up on following the various "reports" and "studies". Far too often they are based on crackpot science and produced by one or another organization looking for publicity. Even the few that might be trustworthy need real close inspection because often the tests used to formulate data are not even close to real life conditions. That whole mess, the sensationalism, the extremes used in testing, on both sides of issues creates so much of a smoke cloud that it is difficult, if not impossible, to sort the wheat from the chaff.

Even if you're not using tires, would that approximate diameter (18 - 24 inches) be a good figure for each potato plant?

TFA303 wrote:Even if you're not using tires, would that approximate diameter (18 - 24 inches) be a good figure for each potato plant?

I'd go with the 24 in. if you can. The more are the plants have, the better they can produce.

I've never worried about leeching from tires into my soil or potatoes and I know several ol' timers around here that have done this for 20-30 years.

Now I don't know about all the 'reports' or 'studies' either, but I can say this: If rain coming down over rubber tires 'leeches' chemicals that are bad for us, then God help us all considering the MILLIONS of cars on the road that drive in rainy conditions! Boy, there must be tire toxin EVERYWHERE. LOL

Ok, back to reality.

Another advantage to using tires is that the rubber insulates the soil within. Therefore, you can leave your potatoes in the ground (tires) long into the winter months.

Again...just my $0.02.

Venom in TN

We found old bathtubs work really well for potatoes, as long as they are tipped slightly toward the drain side to allow draining. They make hilling easy, just as in tires, and our old tubs look a little funky. This year, I plant to plant nasturtiums to flow over the sides to add to the charm, after the hilling.

Jal when you say hill them do you mean you plant them in the ground than after they start to grow you pile up dirt around them?

Yes, I dig a shallow hole and plant the potato eye about 2 inches deep on level ground. Then when the plants are ten inches or so high I pile up soil around them, about 4 inches deep.

One way to accomplish this is to use the Troybilt tiller with the hiller/furrower attachment on it. When my family was home and I needed lots of taters, that is what I would do. With several rows you just run the tiller between rows to cultivate, weed and hill them in one operation. Now I just plant one short row and am likely to just get a shovel to hill them up.

jal_ut wrote:

Jal when you say hill them do you mean you plant them in the ground than after they start to grow you pile up dirt around them?

Yes, I dig a shallow hole and plant the potato eye about 2 inches deep on level ground. Then when the plants are ten inches or so high I pile up soil around them, about 4 inches deep.

One way to accomplish this is to use the Troybilt tiller with the hiller/furrower attachment on it. When my family was home and I needed lots of taters, that is what I would do. With several rows you just run the tiller between rows to cultivate, weed and hill them in one operation. Now I just plant one short row and am likely to just get a shovel to hill them up.

AH, now I see. I misunderstood before. So for everytime I suggested that hilling potatoes was not need you can all slap me. I though that meant to build the hill first. I do however hill dirt as they grow.

In fact I like to dig deep plant potato than only fill a little bit not all the way. than as they grow keep filling and then hilling after above ground level.