Growing taties in tyres

[Pip]

Hi I'm new to this forum and already I'm hooked. Its Greeaaat as a tiger friend of mine once said.

I read an article about growing potatoes in old tyres, It suggested that you could get a really good yield because you could earth up very effectively ie by adding new tyres as the plants grow. My question is are the tyres likely to leach nasties into my spuds ? Any thoughts?

ta Pip

[sewer rat]

Tatties in tyres

Hi Pip and welcome to the 'vine
In answer to your question, you can indeed grow tatties in tyres - they will not leach any nasties, but if you are at all concerned, give them a wash in a dilute solution of ***** Fluid (40% ***** to 60% water). Obviously the number of tubers per tyre stack will depend on the size of your tyres, but just use them tyres as a raised bed and add a new tyre as the haulms require earthing up.
Cheers
Rat

[Pip]

Thanks for your help rat, tho I assume you intend me to wash the tyres not the spuds!

[Geordie]

An advantage of this method is in colder areas.....because the tyres are balck they absorb heat during the day and release it at night.

[sewer rat]

Pip
You can wash the tyres if you feel it is necessary but depending on where they come from, it may not be required. Think if it was me, I'd err on the side of caution and give them a quick rinse.
Rat

[Acorn]

Spuds in tyres

I've read that this method only works for Maincrop potatoes. Has anyone had any experience of having grown earlies and maincrop in tyres and noticed that it doesn't work the same way?

[sandersj89]

I grow earlies in large pots and they are a great success, They have the added advantage of being portable so I move them in and out of the greenhouse if a frost is likely.

I put a did an idiots guide a year or two back starting with chitting which you dont really need to do for earlies:

"These are placed in a frost free, cool, light spot and left to sprout or “chit” for a few weeks. When the chits are a centimetre or so in length they are ready for planting:



Be careful not to allow the sprouts to get too long as they may break when planted. One or two chits per seed spud is fine.

Next I get the pots ready. I use large plastic pots that will last years. Make sure they have good drainage holes in the bottom, add more with a drill if required, and then add a layer of well rotted manure to the bottom:



Next add a thin layer of multi purpose compost to sit the seed potatoes one. (I do not sit the seed potatoes directly on the maure as this can burn the new roots, others do sit them direct on the manure and seem happy, personal choice I guess). In these sized pots I put two seed potatoes per pot. Sit the potato with the chits facing upwards:



The final step is to just cover the seed potatoes with a layer of compost taking care not to damage the chits. Then make sure you label the pot and give a little water depending on how moist the compost is:



Keep the pots in a warm, frost free greenhouse, earthing up as the sprouts break the surface of the compost until you reach the tops of the pots. Keep the compost moist to begin with, especially until the first shoots break the surface.

Move the pots outside after frosts have finished and keep well watered. Feed with a general purpose fertilize if you wish and as harvest approaches root around with your hand in the compost to check the size of the tubers. Start to harvest when they are the half the size of hens eggs. Do not try to store the tubers for more than a day or two as they quickly loose their exceptional flavour.

As the season progresses I will post more pictures so you can see progress. I hope some one finds this of use.

There is no beating home grown new potatoes cooked straight from the ground. They knock “Jersey Royals” into a cocked hat on taste.

Also growing in pots/compost removes many of the problems such as slugs/eel worm and they are very easy to clean, just run the new spuds under a tap and pop them in a pan or water with a sprig of mint to cook……yumm!"


With main crops the key will be watering and making sure the water gets down right to the botttom of the tyre stack.

Jerry

[Acorn]

Sandersj89,

That's great! It's exactly what I needed This will be the first year I grow potatoes and there were a couple of things I didn't have very clear. Thanks for that!
I'll post my progress too

[sewer rat]

Jerry
Excellent posting my man ! One question though. On your chitted tatties, do you rub off any excess to leave only two per seed ?.

[Nicos]

Have you the last 2 pictures..in full leaf and on the plate?

[sandersj89]

Jerry
Excellent posting my man ! One question though. On your chitted tatties, do you rub off any excess to leave only two per seed ?.

No, never rub them off though I often hear people do.

My yield is very good so it does not seem worth it!

Thanks

Jerry

[sandersj89]

Have you the last 2 pictures..in full leaf and on the plate?

Not so much as on the plate but these are last years examples.

Mimi



Home Guard



Just cook with mint and a touch of butter!
:-))

Jerry

[Acorn]

WOW!! They look gorgeous!! I will be happy with a handful, let alone good-looking ones!

[Nicos]

Lovely...mmmmmm! well done you!

[Beryl]

Seem to remember Bob Flowerdew growing in old tyres some years back.
Article in rival mag. The Kitchen Garden.