New to forum

[jackman44]

I am new here,but been a gardener for 40 years.I still learn something every year.I grow everything in tires.I cut the sides out of the tires,and use two for the tomatoes.I use single tires for all the rest of veg.All the tires are filled with horse manure and straw.Under the tires I put 4 inch field tile,the one with cutout slots.Put the water hose in the end of the pipe,and water the tomatoes and all the other fruit and vegetables.The tomatoes are in rows of 7 double tires.The tires are 4 feet apart.I have 35 tomato plants every year.The 40 single tires are put in rows of 8 tires.The are used for Peppers,Okra,onions,turnips,and some flowers.I have 100 foot row with 10 tires and 10 feet apart.That is for Watermelons.The Beans and Peas are grown on a fence made of Chicken wire.I am going to try and grow Cantaloupe on the fence.Will have to tie the fruit,to keep them from breaking off.
The reason the garden is done this way is because I am disable and getting up in years.I can sat down on a bucket and do all the things I need to.
Glad to be here
Can learn some new stuff
Jackman44

[Pharmerphil]

Hi Jackman, I'm fairly new here myself, been gardening a long spell too.
Where there is a will.....
Sounds you have a good grip on how to make gardening possible for yourself, I have worked in community projects to design and build handicapped accesssible gardens.

[hortlady]

To Jackmann! Good for you! Where there is will there is a way. I also like raised beds but for other reasons. My soil is very heavy and I avoid root rot by raising my beds. I have grown potatoes very successfully in tires. I start with one tire filled with compost and plant my taters. As the plants grow up 5 or 6 inches above the tire, I strip the bottom leaves off the plants, add a tire and either add more compost or just straw depending on what is available at the time. I keep repeating this. By the time the tires are 4 deep, I leave them alone until harvest. (Except when I cheat and stuff my arms deep down to steal a few tasty new potatoes!) When the plants have flowered and begin to die down, I just knock down the whole "tower" and help myself to the most perfect potatoes you'll ever grow! Try it! You'll like it! Hortlady :D

[hortlady]

Also to Jackmann44, I use old nylon stockings (usually knee highs) to support my cantalopes on a trellis. I have found that the stockings stretch without putting pressure on the melons, don't disintigrate and are easy to tie to the support. When you're ready to harvest, just cut them off! Hortlady

[Pharmerphil]

Thats what I use hortlady, and they do quite nicely!

[jackman44]

To Jackmann! Good for you! Where there is will there is a way. I also like raised beds but for other reasons. My soil is very heavy and I avoid root rot by raising my beds. I have grown potatoes very successfully in tires. I start with one tire filled with compost and plant my taters. As the plants grow up 5 or 6 inches above the tire, I strip the bottom leaves off the plants, add a tire and either add more compost or just straw depending on what is available at the time. I keep repeating this. By the time the tires are 4 deep, I leave them alone until harvest. (Except when I cheat and stuff my arms deep down to steal a few tasty new potatoes!) When the plants have flowered and begin to die down, I just knock down the whole "tower" and help myself to the most perfect potatoes you'll ever grow! Try it! You'll like it! Hortlady :D

Thanks,I will give it a try.
jackman

[littlechickenfarmer]

You know I am kinda new here also. So welcome, being that we are all almost new here I guess we can all learn alittle by exchanging views, opinions, and such. Thanks for being here for us.