Car Tyres and Rhubarb??

[Isleworth]

Found a couple of tyres when I was clearing my plot and want to use them as planters... I have got some Rhubarb plants that are needing a home and wondered if I could plant a Rhubarb plant in each tyre?

This way I can save the raised bed space and thought this would also be a good way to recycle the tyres?

Something along the lines of this:




Please let me know your thoughts!


Thanks,

IsleworthTW7

[Isleworth]

[Ant]

We saved a tyre from a puncture, intending to use it for planting. But a bit of reading mentioned not to do it as the tyre can contain heavy metals (Cadmium) which can leech into the crop. Still uncertain  ???

Your post reminded me so I had another look and it seems to be 6 of 1, half a dozen of the others with respect to answers. Some say safe, some say not.

couple of links.
http://grow-your-own-vegetables.blogspot.com/2007/03/growing-potatoes-in-tyres.html

http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/sanders98.html

:)

[PurpleHeather]

Line it with a plastic refuse sack or two so that any poisons from the tyre wont penetrate the food. Put some chopped polystyrene at the base for drainage.

There is always a way around every problem.

I would not worry too much about the plant absorbing and passing on chemicals to you when eating. The big problem is to stop the poison entering the plant, killing it.

If you can, turn the tyres inside out. They were a novelty in the 70's. Used for planters instead of tubs for patio growing.

Strawberries did well in them too.

[tonybloke]

they make a really good 'slug and snail hotel' !! beware ;)

[betula]

car tyres are my pet hate in the garden and lottie.They are so ugly.

[Isleworth]

Cat tyres are my pet hate in the garden and lottie.They are so ugly.

Cat tyres  ;D

I do understand what you mean Betula, but placed neatly and painted they can look nice and don't stand out to much, especially once the plants have established.

Ant..

Thanks for the info regarding the uncertainty of tyres being safe for planting, think I'm going to give it ago anyway... Time will tell LOL.

Joking aside.. I have found a few sites with info on Schools that use Tyres to grow veg and can find very little info to support the possible leeching of metals from car tyres. With Children growing veg in tyres I do hope there is no truth in this :-\


Cheers everyone

IsleworthTW7

 

[betula]

Yes ,them cat tyres are really ,really,ugly :)

[Isleworth]

Now these are the sort of tyres I would like to get hold of... ;D Although don't know how I would get them over to the plot LOL

[betula]

Yes I must admit those have a certain Je ne sais quoi ;D