Tyres... to use or not to use?

[pjh75]

I heard, read or saw somewhere that tyres were good for growing courgettes or squash type veg in them... thought it seemed like a great idea so when my two front tyres were replaced a month ago I kept them and have them in the garden ready to use next year.

However I have just been flicking through Garden Organic's Organic Gardening Guidelines and it says that it is never acceptable (in an organic garden) to use tyres as a container for growing food crops unless they are lined first.

My questions are:

1) why not?
2) lined with what?

[Snadger]

I think tyres leech a few naughty chemicals into the soil? At one time they were considered PC and were usually stuffed with straw around the rim to give added insulation.
If you've already got them, I would personally use them..........but that's just me.
I know SR uses them to give a bit of wind protection and Bob Flowerdew used to advocate them for spuds, adding layers as the spuds grew.........unless he's went PC now as well.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do with them!

[pjh75]

Thanks for the info Snadger. I'd rather use them... seems a waste not to now. I thought it would be a good example of recycling and I got £5 off at the garage as they didn't have to pay to dispose of them.

[zazen999]

I've had long discussions about this back at GO HQ.

Yes, they do leech something but studies aren't sure of exactly what.....so to be on the safe side the general consensus is 'no'.

However, if you don't grow root crops in them, and just use them for building up height or protection from wind frosts etc; and stuff them with straw; then I can't see what real problems above and beyond the natural tyre wastage that is in the air all around us.....

I suppose like anything you do what you can 'organically' but what's best for your particular situation.

I'd still say avoid if you can, but you have them now.....

[taff]

oragnically they're probably not the best idea, but usefully, they are certainly that.
depends on whats more important to you, recycling or organic.
Me, I use them, they're not clogging up some landfill site, and I'm not a commercial grower, so a compromise was in order..

[womble]

However, if you don't grow root crops in them, and just use them for building up height or protection from wind frosts etc; and stuff them with straw; then I can't see what real problems above and beyond the natural tyre wastage that is in the air all around us.....

The thing is, if you go and have a look at the ground under a tyre dump, you will see it is horrible with oily type waste.
I used to think it was a good idea, although I never got around to using them, I used other things to build the level up.
But now, I think I'd give it a miss.

[zazen999]

The thing is, if you go and have a look at the ground under a tyre dump, you will see it is horrible with oily type waste.
I used to think it was a good idea, although I never got around to using them, I used other things to build the level up.
But now, I think I'd give it a miss.

I agree; and that's probably why they say 'don't do it'.

I have a few and use them around newly planted seedlings to protect them from frost during the spring, but I don't use them for crops since my long discussion as above. They are also good for weighing down large sheets of cardboard over winter

[Glutton4...]

I keep mine. They are very useful as both weights, and protection, as has already been mentioned. Also, I didn't want to pay the fiver disposal fee, either! Tight? Me?

[Jardiniere]

I've got two which i've used as the stand for my rain butt...............

[Dottie]

I use 2 to keep the covering on my pallet compost bin.

Another was used as a step and filled with earth. Over the years it seems my section of the allotment has had at least 2 foot of topsoil etc removed, so there is drop down to my plot. Having a step makes a big difference to access my plot via foot or wheelbarrow.

[pjh75]

Decisions Decisions... it did say you can use them if they are lined, so I guess if straw is the appropriate lining I will do that. Thanks everyone for your views.

[Alison]

I've got a few on my plot which I installed without really thinking about it and have strawberries growing in them. To be honest I'm not that concerned as I know the tyres had been sat outside in the wind and rain for ages before I had them so most things would have washed off and they're already there now. That said, I'm not planning on installing anymore.

[solway cropper]

I have four with strawberries growing in them. Someone had just dumped them at the side of the road so it seemed preferable to me to make use of them and not litter up the countryside. As for toxins, it is possible that some things will leach into the soil over time as the tyre decomposes. If you live in a town you'll breath in far more tyre residue every time you go outside than you'll get from growing food in them. It's a question of balance.

[Snadger]

Decisions Decisions... it did say you can use them if they are lined, so I guess if straw is the appropriate lining I will do that. Thanks everyone for your views.

I think that by 'lining' it is meant to stop any contact between the tyre and the stuff you are growing. Sinply putting a black plastic bin bag into the middle and filling it with compost to grow in should suffice (after packing the rim with straw of course)........don't forget to add drainage holes also.

[Wren]

Pro's an con's it seems

Thing that winds me up is when people use them on allotments, along with foam backed carpet an then abandon them for the next person to deal with when they get bored an give up their plot after one season. They just get left to Leach chemicals for the months it takes to evict them, an the new plot holder to deal with getting shot o it.

If i had my way i would not allow foam backed carpets or tyres on allotments. I don't think it is acceptable to leave soil putrid an chemical ridden in the name of weed suppressant an the next poor bu*gger has to get rid of it all.

Wren