tater tires

Sourthern Exposure Seed Exchange lists these varieties as suitable for mid-atlantic and further south.

http://www.southernexposure.com/potatoes-c-217.html

Kay

Yep, thought some of you would have ideas for southern potatoes. From what the blurb says, Carola looks like a contendcer. I've grown Butte with mixed results--very tasty, not so productive, so perhaps it, too, likes warmer areas. This spring we planted King Harry, and I'd like to compare results with anyone else who is growiing this variety. Anyone?

has anyone looked into weather there is any problem with chemicals leaching into food from the tires ?
I wouldn't worry about flowers. But contaminants from the rubber tires so close to the potatoes ??

Well!!!!!!!!!!! harvest time yesterday at the 100 day mark. My results were some better than my neighbors. It was still disapointing to me. I got 23 small ones in the first tire and 26 in the second but I get ahead of myself.

Began by pulling the dead vines most were still attached to their roots. My neighbors were not attached. Then clipped the stems at ground level, found the first marble it is just left of the stem.

I found almost all the potatoes in the bottom tire.

Results of tire one, the board is 12 inches wide.

Tire two had similiar results a few marbles in the upper two tires and the bulk in the bottom one.

Results of tire two.

As I have stated else where I will not repeat this experiment unless I know for sure the variety is indeterminate. I am not sure but surmise the weight of two tires of wet MM made the soil so heavy production was inhibited. I further think my neighbors results were due to poor drainage in the location he chose to place the tires.

Aw too bad, I know what it is like to watch a plant for that long ..... waiting waiting.... to find out what is going on underneath it, only to find not much....

This gardening thing is something that teaches us something, seems like almost every day.

I was thinking...

I lived in Pocatello ID for a couple years and knew a couple successful potato farmers. Anyway, Pocatello is in the SE part of the state where the majority of potatoes are produced and it's actually high dessert. I didn't do any veggie gardening when we lived there, but did flower garden and if I recall the soil was rather sandy and we didn't get much rain. Perhaps Mel's mix isn't the best choice for tater tires in the lower South? I've never tried it but based on what you all are saying I wonder if it just holds too much water, especially when it's piled that deep, and I'm not sure about the temperature in those tires if you try growing into summer! I've been wanting to try potato tires but now I think I'll wait and just keep some in my beds! I'm not even sure that I'll have success there my first year.

@dmj24 wrote:has anyone looked into weather there is any problem with chemicals leaching into food from the tires ?
I wouldn't worry about flowers. But contaminants from the rubber tires so close to the potatoes ??

I would personally never grow anything to eat in tires, because of the possibility of chemicals leaching into the food. Other kinds of plants may be OK, but not food. It's possible you could line them with something, but for me, I still wouldn't chance it.

I did this as a test that proved to be a failure. This year tires are gone. I now have a full 4'x8'x12" bed with all taters. I took half the MM out to add back as 'hilling'. My thoughts are to add another 12" frame on top and add straw to give more grow room and protect from sun exposure.