Can anyone tell me how to grow potatoes in tires? Seems like I remember an article on this very subject in a past issue, but can't seem to find it in any of my old mags! Thanks and Happy Spring to all!! Lorrie

-- Lorrie Eveland (eveland@ozarkisp.net), March 25, 2000

Answers

I read an article on this, too, and as I recall, it simply involved putting some compost and straw in a tire, planting your seed potatoes, and then as the shoots come up, adding another tire with more compost and straw, and another, until you have a tire tower. when you are ready to harvest the potatoes, as I recall, the article said to "Kick the tires apart." That caught my attention because I wondered if the writer had actually done what he/she was advising. A tire filled with packed dirt (Michael Reynold's figure) weighs 300 pounds! Of course, a tire filled with compost and straw and potatoes won't be that heavy, but you might break your toes! I have grown a lot of things in tires, usually one level, but in tire towers, I carefully take some of the dirt out and then push them over.

There have also been some articles on growing potatoes in 55 gallon plastic drums. I tried that, too, with some former apple juice barrels. If you get barrels, be sure they had soy sauce or juice or a food product, not a toxic chemical! They are really heavy when filled with dirt. I found out that cutting them in half and using half barrels is better, and it's also better to make sure to have holes in the bottom so they can drain, otherwise you might have root rot or sour, moldy soil.

-- Elizabeth Petofi (tengri@cstone.net), March 26, 2000.

I havent tried tires but I saw a advertizement for potato bins in a magazine which looked interesting but before I ordered one I found the same thing at orchard hardware, [It IS a compost bin with holes in the sides , cost 12 dollars]so I put my potatos in the bottom and put straw on top of them [about 1 inch]3 weeks latter nothing so with nothing to lose I added some compost on top, today they are peeking through. As they grow I will keep adding compost and straw and at the end of the season I will open the bin and use the compost and harvest the clean potatos, If all goes well!

-- kathy h (saddlebronc@msn.com), March 26, 2000.

I don't remember where, but I saw somewhere that you took Old hay, or straw, (that had sit outside for at least a year) left it in the bail, and put holes into it. Placed a potatos inside the hay bail, and pulled the hay back as much as you could around the potatos. When you were ready to gather the potatoes, you broke the hay bail apart. Maybe this could help someone.

Beth (NC)

-- Beth (NC) (craig@icu2.net), March 30, 2000.

Ours became a fire ant mound, though if you live up north away from the little buggers, the premise is good. If I was going to do it again, which I am not, I would just use chicken wire or something light. Put your cut tubers in the soil and cover them, then as you have growth add your hay, till the cylinder of wire is up to the top, it would have the added benefit of the leaves coming out the side also. This would be alot eaiser to take care of and to take apart. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), March 31, 2000.