Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: raisedbed on August 29, 2008, 18:53

Title: Car Tyre beds
Post by: raisedbed on August 29, 2008, 18:53

Hi,

I have just had the car tyres changed (at great expense) and I loathe to let the garage make even more money out of me by selling the tyres on. Having bought 4 cubic yards of recycled car tyre last year there is a lot of money in tyres!!

So I now have 4 good tyres at home which I intend to use as raised beds.  

Q.   Do I need to wash them or anything before using them.
      What could I grow in them well (courgettes??)


THanks

Raisedbed

Title: Car Tyre beds
Post by: Robin Redbreast on August 29, 2008, 20:59

why not make a home made wormery with them as for growing in them i dont know as i am novice but have googled wormeries and found that car tyres make pretty good housing for them in the right set up! :lol:

Title: Car Tyre beds
Post by: Beetroot queen on August 29, 2008, 21:04

Sounds like a fab idea for holding the plant off the ground, would be nice if possible.

Takes recycling to another level too. I would try it but then again my fingers are beginners so it might be worth waiting for someone who knows  :oops:

Title: Car Tyre beds
Post by: Yabba on August 29, 2008, 21:18

One of the common uses is for growing spuds. A mate who tried said "drill holes in the sidewall, they collect loads of water otherwise"

¥

Title: Car Tyre beds
Post by: kezlou on August 29, 2008, 21:27

I know some people have used car tyres to grow potatoes in. apparently they put the mains in the bottom tyre then second then firsts and so forth till they have a tower of tyres.

Have not tried myself it myself though.

Title: Car Tyre beds
Post by: cacran on September 01, 2008, 19:36

I have tried for two years to grow spuds in tyres. I have been dissapointed with the crop. I have used car tyres to make compost though, well motorcycle ones actually as the circumference is bigger. I will put my thinking cap on for next year.

Title: Car Tyre beds
Post by: raisedbed on September 01, 2008, 21:59

Thanks for the replies.  

Had thought about growing potatoes in them but have been disappointed by the yields I got this year growing them in the potato bags. So I guessed that the lack of space would still hinder them?

Like the idea of using them for composting, an easy way to keep increasing the height.

I have time to think as they are not going to get used in the plot for the next few months - lack of space until allotment mark 2 turns up!

In the mean time the children use one of them as a seat in their play pit, along with the other 4 cubic yards of tyre(surprisingly soft and bouncy when raked over).

Regards

Raisedbed