white potato ( Solanum tuberosum ) are one of the easy flora to grow in containers , as they can do well in special space . Although nurseryman can habituate bucketful , bags or plantation owner , containers made from old tire are a refreshing and cheap direction to create an easy - to - tending - for potato patch . Because tires can be stacked , they have more room than a conventional growing container , allowing gardeners to growlarge and small spud .
Making Tire Containers
To grow spud in tyre , you need to be able to progressively stack the tires as this will ensure a more freehanded harvest . Start by cut off the sidewall of the tire ( the noncorrugated side that dips in where it attach to the wheel ) . practice a discriminating utility program knife and wear body of work gloves for better hold and to protect your hand . Cut the sidewall off of at least three and up to five tires .
Tires do not need to be secured to the ground or each other as their free weight , when filled with poop , is significant . If you feel excess accompaniment is needed , however , place metal rods or bamboo perch 3 to 4 inch in the undercoat , pushing against the tires . Encircle the tires with at least three to four rod or poles to ensure the tyre can not agitate .
Growing Conditions and Varieties
Potatoes grow in tires need well - draining , loose soil and full sun , as well as at least six hour of sunlight a day . They do well in soil that is acidic and arenaceous . Because they flourish in alimentary - rich dirt , potatoes planted in tyre can be mature completely in compost , although potting soil can be mixed in . Because you will be add wise compost to the patch each time you tally a tyre , there is no demand to fertilize potatoes .
Thanks to stacking , both orotund - sized potatoes , such as maincrop murphy , as well as smaller , early crop , potatoes can successfully produce in tire . For a typical white potato , try the " Purple Majesty " ( Solanum tuberosum " Purple Majesty " ) , which produces a potato with imperial flesh and skin . The " Russet Norkotah " ( genus Solanum tuberosum " Russet Norkotah " ) is a more Graeco-Roman pick and produces white potato vine good for bake .
Potato works bring forth reddish blue flowers and humbled clunk of green leaves that get to 1 1/2 to 3 foot in diameter and height .
Planting in Tires
To plant white potato , fill up one cut tire with loose compost until only 1/2 inch of space exists at the top of the tire . dilute several seed tater so each piece moderate at least two eyes . If you want , chit potatoes beforehand , letting the seed potatoes sit out until 1 - inch sprout appear on each piece of music . It will take some six weeks for the sprouts to spring up prominent enough .
If you are cutting potatoes , let the piece dry out out for one or two days before plant . Place three to four seed potatoes in a dress circle around the center of the tyre , pushing them midway down into the dirt . put the shoots or eye of the potato facing up , and insure the ejaculate spud with compost .
Continuous Planting and Harvest
irrigate the murphy on a regular basis , give them 1 to 2 inch of pee per workweek . It is right to water deeply and infrequently , soaking the soil 8 to 12 inches deep each time , than to water lightly and ofttimes . The filth should always be moist to the tactual sensation . Water at the base of the plant to reduce the amount of moisture will on leafage as this increases the endangerment of disease . Once the potato plants have arise about 8 inch high , stack a second tyre on top of the first , filling it with compost . Keep the flora upright , so only 1 to 2 column inch of the plant life shows through .
carry on doing this until you have stacked at least three tire ( up to five is possible ) , hilling the plants each time so they are covered with novel compost . When the tops start to dry up , the potatoes are ready for harvesting . Do so by bit by bit removing tires , harvesting as you go . It should be 10 to 20 weeks after the last tyre is heap and planted with potatoes . Maincrop potatoes take longer to maturate , while first earlies senesce quickly .
