What's the old tire method?

Sorry to be the downer and I don't want to scare anyone, but growing in tires is a terrible idea. Here's some info. It's a white paper by the NiH reporting on a research project measuring soil contamination of 3 heavy metals, cadmium, lead and zinc, in a tire dump in the UK. A significant increase in surface soil concentrations of all three metals was measured with increasing proximity to a tire dump in West London.

Also, this from another write up from the UK on tire contamination: 

Adding to this problem, disposal releases potentially harmful compounds into the environment, e.g. polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), benzene and phenol which have suspected carcinogenic properties. Studies in Sweden estimate that 14 tonnes of PAHs are deposited onto Swedish roads each year through tyre wear (ENDS 1999). Landfill disposal and incineration also release these harmful substances. Most countries have relied on landfilling to dispose of tyres but the limited space and the potential for reuse has led to many countries imposing a ban on this practice. Landfills are not leak-proof which means that hazardous substances generated during the decomposition of material can filter down through the site and into the surrounding area. In this way it has the potential to pollute water courses and affect living organisms. Tyres tend to rise to the surface of landfill sites and restrict the future use of the land (Pavlou 1997).

Please note the bold part relates to growing in tires as they are doing in your garden what they'd be doing in a landfill, just sitting and leaching their contaminants. And when you consider the chemical action that is going on in that tire as a result of rain, and whatever fertilizers and pesticides might be used (even when using organic things, it's still a chemical process that allows the plant to utilize whatever inputs have been given), this could be a recipe for disaster. I understand there are those who have grown like this for years without ill effect, or so they think. Sometimes it takes years for symptoms to show up, or any symptoms showing up might be blamed on other causes/diseases/etc. So why take the chance when there are other alternatives, such as wood boxes, straw bales, etc. I know this might be disappointing, but the misinformation spread about the internet promoting the growth of anything in tires far outweighs the research against it. Sad. 

As for harvesting and storing potatoes, wait until the plants have died back and don't water for 10 days. After digging let them cure for a couple of weeks to "toughen" the skins which can be done in the garden right on top of the soil where they were dug. But if they can be gotten under cover and slightly lifted like on pallets or screens where air can rotate all around the potato, they will dry faster and more thoroughly. Then they need to be stored where it's cool, dark and humid.

Studies have shown that potatoes store best in dark perforated plastic bags that retain humidity, but not too much! Dry air will dry out the potatoes making them limp which is why they need some humidity to maintain their firmness. And of course the coolness and darkness keeps them from sprouting because remember they are still alive ; )). 

Keeping them dark also prevents them from developing too much chlorophyll which turns them green but doesn't affect their flavor. However, along with that chlorophyll they can build up levels of "glycoalkaloids" which will make the potato taste bitter. Have you ever made mashed potatoes and have them taste a touch bitter? That was the glycoalkaloids. (And too much glycoalkaloids can be poisonous, but you'd have to eat ALOT of green potatoes ; )) The rule is, if the potato has green sections, you can peel those away. If it's all green, throw it away!

I was never able to store potatoes where I'm from in eastern NC, but when I moved to the mountains, I could keep them into February, and then like magic, even with the darkness and constant humidity levels, they'd all start sprouting ready for the ground again!

I really hated being the barer of bad news.  I'm sorry y'all went through all the trouble and have potatoes to harvest. I first did research on this a few years ago when I learned my father-in-law was using old tires for compost bins. Great idea, and it worked well, and it was hard to convince him to stop. 

To add to Liz's bad news…places where they have used chipped/ground tires on playgrounds…are now removing them.  They have also put down pressed chipped tire mats for walking trails in lots of parks.  If you see any of these in your travels, please let the park authorities know of your concerns.

Most of the ones I've spoken to weren't aware that those mats would be leaching chemicals into the soil.

And I still can't figure out why anyone would want to use that stuff for mulching but I think they are still selling for that.

Have you ever passed a burning pile of tires?  Some of those will burn for YEARS and the smell is horrible…that's what is going into the soil thru leaching.

Dang, I forgot to answer the original questions….

You can dig potatoes any time after the bloom is done, good way to get new potatoes, HOWEVER, if you want a crop for storage & bigger, wait until they have died off completely & then dig.

DO NOT WASH or SCRUB OFF DIRT IN ANY WAY (even with your hands)…this damages the skin & they won't keep as well or at all.  I prefer to cure mine in a dry shady place so they don't get the sun exposure.

Store in a cool, dark, humid area…some basements work.  As a kid, we had a dirt floor basement we called the cellar & ours were stored in a big metal livestock water tank down there that was up on bricks or blocks.   We grew about 3/4 acre of potatoes & those lasted us all year plus gave us "eyes" for next spring planting.

I realize I am repeating what some others have said…sorry, just wanted to emphasize how we all do it.

You gals on here are great!

Here's a link to a video of planting potatoes in a "planter bag". My sister has done this and had very good results. You can get the bags at WalMart etc. and also on line. Better than tires I would think!