[TinaD]

Just had a thought.  I'm thinking of using tyres as mini raised beds but does anyone know if they leach out horrible stuff?  I try to be chemical free so it'd be a bit stupid if I ended up growing food in poisonous beds!

[Trillium]

I have friends who grow things in tires and they are still alive  The tires work fine for them as the tires tend to hold in more heat for roots so crops like toms, cukes, courgettes, peppers and melons do well in them. Each year you'll need to heavily replenish the nutrients with lots of old manure and some bonemeal and then you can start again. And do remember that warm soil evaporates water quickly so you'll need to watch tire soil more closely for moisture.

[Elcie]

I have mint growing in a tyre and it looks very healthy.  Doesn't look like it is poisoned!

[SMD66]

I may be wrong on this, but,
 we just bought a re-cycled tyre bucket type thing and it says on it that it wont break down or deteriorate as it's made of re-cylcled rubber- just like tyres.  Based on that I wouldn't expect your tyres to break down either.
What a good idea too! 

[scabs]

Back in the 70s, my grandad used to cut tyres right down the centre and then fold the two side back to get an hourglass shape; he and my nan used these as planters for years and years...

I seem to remember he painted them too (probably with a lead-based emulsion!   ).

Still, he didn't do too bad and lived into his 80s, and Nan was 91 when she died.

[sunshineband]

We grew some good crops of early spuds in stacks of tyres at school . Works well and there are no side effects that I know of

[janet12000]

Lots of folk at my allotment grow spuds in tyres. I'm planning on it next year. The kwik fit place near where I work are more than happy to give old tyres away.

[Jodie A]

Buying tyres from commercial outlets is getting harder.  They have to account for each tyre bought in/and disposed of due to the pollution/dumping regulations, or people letting them back on the road in the UK as illegal part worns.

However, they can still sell them as planters, sandal soles etc, but expect to get a chit saying that is how they disposed of them, and have to pay a minimal charge, and sign for them.

Mad I know....but bless our government and the EU Big Brother.

[blackisgreen]

i grew pickling onions and garlic in tyres this year both were the best crop ever

[TinaD]

Thanks everyone - most reassuring

[madcat]

I'm growing tomatoes in lorry tires ...  doing fine.  They like the extra warmth of the black tyres.

[smc]

tinad!  i grow my sweet potatoes in tires have 5 stacked up in green house and several outside,also at home i painted some and put my dayliers in and they are all good,did raise some eyebrows wifr the other half tho 

[missycat]

I have 18 tyres on my plot, some I stacked and used for my first early potatoes (grown under the apple trees) and I grew strawberries in others. Both crops did well but I don't really like the look of the black rubber...Has anyone painted their tyres and if so what kind of paint did you use and how long did it last?

[Babyshoes]

I must say, charging people for old tyres is a bit cheeky - I know from where I work that it COSTS at least a pound a tyre to have them taken away for proper disposal! I understand that they have to keep them off the road, but as long as you sign something saying you won't put them back on the road, they should be ok legally.

Try going to some of the smaller, back street places who are less likely to be fussed about giving them away. Certainly the small tyre place near my house just stacks them outside where anyone could take them after closing time...