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  • From: Alliums <garlicgrower AT earthlink.net>
  • To: Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [Market-farming] Growing potatoes in tires
  • Date: Wed, 14 May 2003 10:15:41 -0400

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






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