Market Farming

[Alliums <garlicgrower AT earthlink.net>]

LaDonna wrote:


>  I am planning on growing them in old, stacked tires. Has any one used 
> this method and was it successful?


Don't do it.  Rodale for years claimed that it was safe and I had gardeners 
who were happy with the results.  However, in the past two years, studies 
all over (including at Rodale) have concluded that Zn, hydrocarbons and 
heavy metals DO migrate from the tires to the taters -- so no one is 
recommending planting in tires anymore.

The reason why there were so many studies is that folks were hoping to 
encourage 3rd World city dwellers to grow their food this way, but the 
intensive study results weren't good, so now such folks are encouraged to 
grow in bags, rather than old tires.



Dorene Pasekoff, Coordinator
St. John's United Church of Christ Organic Community Garden

A mission of
St. John's United Church of Christ, 315 Gay Street, Phoenixville, PA  19460