I have heard the old tyres are excellant for growing potatoes in, and pallets for make a compost bin. Does any one have any suggestions how I can get these items for free ( spent to much on seeds already) or any other suggestions on how to grow potatoes. I don't really wan them straight in the ground, and I would like to do some at home aswell
When Bob Flowerdew used to be on Gardeners' World he used to use tyres for growing things in. With potatoes he would start with one tyre, and put some compost and the seed potatoes in, and as they grew would stack more tyres on top, building up the compost as the potato plants came through.
I don't know where he got the tyres from, so can only suggest you go to your local ATS or Kwick Fit to see what they do with old tyres, and could let you have a few.
Sorry, can't help with pallets.
valmarg
For pallets we go to our local small industrial estate. There always seems to be loads, especially by the plumbers shop and the tile shop.
We just asked and they pointed us in the direction of the ones they couldn't return!
Another option is to put in a request at your local freecycle......worth a go!
Local timberyard is usually a good source, wood is usually delivered on 8x4 pallets.
Tyres are great for carrots as it stops the carrot fly.
A little word of warning make sure it is ok with your council or allotment officer as some councils class tyres as a enviromental hazard and are not allowed.
The_Snail
Pallets are so 1960s. Get into the 21st century and use builders giant sandbags for Moriati composting.
As for tyres, that idea is a bit worn to the rim as well. Black buckets might do a better job and look a lot nicer. Both tyres and pallets are heavy objects and neither do the job efficiently, take up lots of time in construction, difficult to move etc. etc.
Sandbags are close to every skip and the buckets in most flower shops. Another underused modern container is the polystyrene boxes that greengrocers get delivery of broccoli and similar produce in. All thrown away after one journey.
I like the idea of the greengrocers boxes, I have one just up the road from me I will be trying tomorrow, thank you for all the suggestions
We got loads of tyres from our local KwikFit garage. Just go in and ask. They have to pay to have the tyres disposed, so most garages should be pleased to get rid of them. I looked a bit weird though treking backwards and forwards with 14 car tyres in my people carrier! I've taken them to our allotment, filled them with soil/compost mix and planted my strawberries (and a few raspberries)in them. They worked so well last year that I'm doing even more this year. Found that 2 tyre height is best. They maks it easier for weeding (we have a big horsetail problem on our plot) and help to keep the slugs off the fruit. Also grew courgettes and chilli peppers in them last year too with reasonable success. I'm going to try potatoes on the kids' plot this year with a few tyres too.
If you're after pallets, try asking on your local Freecycle yahoo group.
i never though of growing strawberrys in them, i have tons of strawberry plants, how did you do it exactly with strawberrys in the tyres
we put courgettes and squash in them ;D
the tyres , not the pallets, we've made our compost bins out of them ;D
For strawberries just fill the tyres and allow to settle then plant.. 3 max 4 plants per heap... remember to replace every four years or so or do them in a rotation thing and grow roots in between! (The years those tyres aren't growing strawbs)... was very dubious about tyres until I saw them in practice... at a friends in Long Eaton..
;D
I've actually had tyres stolen off my allotment!
Our car needed 4 tyres replacing, so you should have seen the weird looks I got when I said I wanted to keep the old ones.
I plan to plant my blueberries in them as the soil on my allotment is too alkaline.
You can often find old tyres dumped at the roadside usually at local beautyspots >:(- I suspect by dodgy garages who don't want to pay the disposal charges ::) Tidy the environment and help your'e tattys grow ;D
you're right, fnstein..by the way, welcome to the site..we found ours dumped by the road at a farm..14 of them, we did 2 trips in our micra..now we've planted fruit trees through them, made a bench with them, with a piece of wood on top..and the rest we use every year, find they keep stuff warm and protected..also, you can fleece squash etc easily :)
do you tyre folks put anything on the bottom of the tyres to make a base or straight on the ground?
over a hole full of manure in the ground ;D