Tater Towers

Over the winter I planted some potatoes in my yard just trying to see what they would do. The location wasnt the best but when I recently went and dug around them I found a ton of seed potatoes just ready to be planted! I have a bunch of different kinds but I really want to grow the completely blue ones since they contain more nutrients and antioxidants than the white or red skinned varieties. Plus I would love to have some guarenteed organic potatoes I don't have to peel because they have been grown in so many chemicals... So since March is the best time to plant potatoes in coastal SC I'm planning on growing mine in tires, an idea my dad has told me about since I was little. The method is awsome since I can easily get my hands on some old tires and I won't need to do any weeding!

In order to start the project we need to loosen the soil beneath the tires to promote draining. Next we need to cut away the inner ring of the tire, leaving enough of an edge so they can stack and support the weight of the other tires. The first tire needs to be completely filled with a mulch/ soil mixture then 3-4 eyes or small seed potatoes need to be placed in the center. After the potatoes are placed they need to be covered with enough soil to bring it level with the top of the tire. The soil should be throughly soaked to promote growth.


After the plants get to be about 8 inches tall, place another tire on the stack and fill it with soil so that a few inches of the plant are still exposed. By gradually covering the plant with soil you are creating a 24-36 inch tap root without suffocating the plant. This process encourages the potato plants to send off more roots and more potatoes than hilling does. The black rubber absorbs heat and allows planting earlier in the season. This method requires no hoeing and once the plants are dried up the potatoes can be harvested mearly by knocking over the stack!
Other benefits:
In 2001 alone, Americans discarded nearly 281 million tires, weighing some 5.7 million tons! Dumps charge to dispose of old tires, and it is easy to get old tires for free to use in your garden.
Tires can be used to grow other plants as well. Tomatoes, lettuce, and other crops can have their growing season extended by these cheap warm beds. By using multiple sizes of tires strawberry planters can easily be created. If thats not enough you can help the environment by reusing an item that would normally take up space in a landfill.