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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: Seabea on June 13, 2010, 11:05:25

Title: Car tyre
Post by: Seabea on June 13, 2010, 11:05:25
I was looking at 'Freecycle' today and amongst the stuff someone was offering was a tyre which they said was 'good for potatoes'.  Any idea how a tyre would be good for potatoes?  I'm particularly interested as I had a flat yesterday and the tyre is beyond repair.  It would be good to find a reason to hang on to it rather than get rid.
Title: Re: Car tyre
Post by: macmac on June 13, 2010, 11:27:13
We've got a lottie friend who swears by her tyres while the rest of us swear at them  >:(
We had a plot holder who gave up, leaving our self-managed site with a huge bill for the removal of about 80-100 tyres .
Sorry Seabea I don't think your couple of tyres would impact but tyres are a dirty word in my book :(
Title: Re: Car tyre
Post by: caroline7758 on June 13, 2010, 11:34:54
I presume they mean you could stack up a few tyres and grow spuds in them as in a pot or bag.
Title: Re: Car tyre
Post by: Bugloss2009 on June 13, 2010, 12:13:35
it's one of those "Bob Flowerdew" type things. You plant potatoes in a tyre and as the plants push through, you stick another one on top and fill that with soil etc  etc until you get a ghastly great pillar of tyres you can sell to Tate Modern  ;D

there's some debate about whether nasties in the tyres may leach out into the soil..........
Title: Re: Car tyre
Post by: Psi (Pronounced 'Si'!) on June 13, 2010, 12:34:06
i am using a tower of 4 tyres his year to grow various squash in.   I've jammed lots of paper at various levels to retain moisture and good quality soil and planted an upside down water bottle to act as a watering reservoir direct to the roots. The idea is he black rubber retains a great deal of heat to warm the roots.  Going ok so far I think.
Title: Re: Car tyre
Post by: Isleworth on June 13, 2010, 16:25:39
I was looking at 'Freecycle' today and amongst the stuff someone was offering was a tyre which they said was 'good for potatoes'.  Any idea how a tyre would be good for potatoes?  I'm particularly interested as I had a flat yesterday and the tyre is beyond repair.  It would be good to find a reason to hang on to it rather than get rid.

I use some Tyres on my plot as Planters for Tomatoes, Herbs and Fruit Bushes... and other used them for forcing rhubarb and planting potatoes as you mentioned.

Many people dislike Tyres being used but I have found them rather succesful :)

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ceZI_lPIE7Q/SfDr4m443kI/AAAAAAAAAUU/0MAh0XfUsaw/s320/plot312009+046.JPG) (http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ceZI_lPIE7Q/SfDnTu22g9I/AAAAAAAAAUM/NTtXF8Fhn8s/s320/plot312009+041.JPG)

Regards,

Isleworth


Title: Re: Car tyre
Post by: Dadnlad on June 13, 2010, 19:06:50
Isleworth  -  are they frost proof ?

Enough to plant out early toms inside with a glass/ fleece lid maybe ?
Title: Re: Car tyre
Post by: Fork on June 13, 2010, 19:10:20
The tyres can be filled with straw to help against frost
Title: Re: Car tyre
Post by: Tin Shed on June 13, 2010, 19:19:40
I use them for my strawberries.
Title: Re: Car tyre
Post by: manicscousers on June 13, 2010, 19:29:07
squash june 1st this year  ;D
Title: Re: Car tyre
Post by: Jeannine on June 13, 2010, 20:50:35
Thay are not allowed on our site..reason is the rubber leaches into the soil and eventually contaminates it.

XX Jeannine
Title: Re: Car tyre
Post by: Seabea on June 14, 2010, 10:18:52
Ah well, I only have one.  Not a lot of use on it's own it seems, and also don't like the idea of leaching.  I just wondered how they could be used.  Hadn't thought about stacks.  Will give it a miss.  Thankyou for all the comments/explanations.
Title: Re: Car tyre
Post by: Psi (Pronounced 'Si'!) on June 16, 2010, 18:52:50
for those interested in sustainability http://earthship.com/ - houses using disused tyres.

Interesting RE the leeching http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tire_recycling#Environmental_Concerns - seems to be focusing on the effects to other wildlife rather than explicit toxicity of produce.  Interesting but is it worse than using treated timber raised beds or using other chemical nutrients/weed killers.  Interesting debate.
Title: Re: Car tyre
Post by: gaz2000 on June 16, 2010, 19:53:55
i have a large tyre for my mint  ;D

stops its spreading,also looks good
Title: Re: Car tyre
Post by: Duke Ellington on June 16, 2010, 20:06:13
Tyres can be stacked and used to raise water butts off the ground.
Title: Re: Car tyre
Post by: Jeannine on June 17, 2010, 01:43:57
Best with a stong rope through it and tied to a tree.......

XX Jeannine
Title: Re: Car tyre
Post by: Pesky Wabbit on June 17, 2010, 03:18:03
Best placed in a secluded spot so it can be sat on, with a bucket under, some (soft) newspaper torn into 4 1/2" square pieces and with some handy reading material at hand (ie "Manure and its uses").  

Tyre size should be selected for maximum comfort.

;D
Title: Re: Car tyre
Post by: Jeannine on June 17, 2010, 09:19:45
4 1/2 inch  :o

XX Jeannine
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