Valor_X

I got the idea to re-use my old truck tires for a make-shift Planter/Raised Bed
I cut the sidewalls off with a knife so it's literally just the tire tread stacked on each other.

With all 3 tires stacked it's 29" Wide x 25" Tall
It took about 7 cu ft. of soil

Even though the tires are completely open all the way to the ground, I still drilled extra drain holes on the sides of the bottom tire to ensure good drainage from the clay at the ground.

Here it is next to a 26" whiskey barrel planter (sitting on top of bricks)

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Varieties I'm Growing

From Corm/Pup
Dwarf Cavendish ○ Super Dwarf Cavendish ○ Grand Nain ○ Niño ○ Manzano ○ Raja Puri ○ Tall Namwah ○ Blue Java ○ 1000 Fingers ○ Praying Hands ○ Orinoco ○ Variegated Florida ○ PR Red ○ California Gold ○ FHIA-03 Sweetheart

Plantains
Puerto Rican Dwarf Plantain ○ African Rhino Horn

From TC
Truly Tiny ○ Manzano ○ "Blue Java" ○ Dwarf Namwah ○ Thai Black ○ Veinte Cohol

bananimal

Where did you get the tires from?

Valor_X

I bought new tires for my truck and I told the tire shop I wanted to keep the old ones
Plus they charge a $5 recycling fee per tire so it worked for me.
The 4th tire was swapped to be my new spare so I had these 3 to work with.

__________________
Varieties I'm Growing

From Corm/Pup
Dwarf Cavendish ○ Super Dwarf Cavendish ○ Grand Nain ○ Niño ○ Manzano ○ Raja Puri ○ Tall Namwah ○ Blue Java ○ 1000 Fingers ○ Praying Hands ○ Orinoco ○ Variegated Florida ○ PR Red ○ California Gold ○ FHIA-03 Sweetheart

Plantains
Puerto Rican Dwarf Plantain ○ African Rhino Horn

From TC
Truly Tiny ○ Manzano ○ "Blue Java" ○ Dwarf Namwah ○ Thai Black ○ Veinte Cohol

sirdoofus

That looks like a good idea.....let us know if you have any issues with it.

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Who keeps calling me nuts??

wstrickland1

I don't need tires but that definitely looks like a great re-purpose idea. Keep us posted

cincinnana

Neat project.
A great and clever way for a conversation piece.
Watch your heat gain my black containers get 125 degrees+ and cook the roots.

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Valor_X

Yeah I did think about it absorbing heat but after quick research it shouldn't be an issue.
Black plastic pots will scorch your hand if they have been sitting in the sun and it will transfer that heat to the inside of the pot, but not rubber.

Rubber is a good insulator
Science has taught us that rubber is a good insulator of heat and electricity – making it ideal for cases that involve exposure in both circumstances. Materials such as wood, glass, paper, rubber and air are classified as poor conductors because they offer very large resistance to the flow of heat current.

Think about it, people wear thick rubber gloves to work on something hot. Not to mention it's thick rubber so the inside should only get warm at best.

Essentially - Rubber should be an ideal material next to wood for heat insulation. But of course, we shall see! I'll post updates

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Varieties I'm Growing

From Corm/Pup
Dwarf Cavendish ○ Super Dwarf Cavendish ○ Grand Nain ○ Niño ○ Manzano ○ Raja Puri ○ Tall Namwah ○ Blue Java ○ 1000 Fingers ○ Praying Hands ○ Orinoco ○ Variegated Florida ○ PR Red ○ California Gold ○ FHIA-03 Sweetheart

Plantains
Puerto Rican Dwarf Plantain ○ African Rhino Horn

From TC
Truly Tiny ○ Manzano ○ "Blue Java" ○ Dwarf Namwah ○ Thai Black ○ Veinte Cohol

edwmax

That works; I don;t know if you plant to move it around or not. .... but for most of us one tire height would be enough to allow excess water to drain and hold the corm above the natural soil surface. The roots can then grow down into the soil for any water needed while the tire protects the raised bed from the lawn mower.

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Valor_X

Yeah that's very true, the reason I did it this way is because this is the worst part of my lawn. Water tends to collect & it has the nastiest hardest non-draining clay soil, even the grass doesn't grow well as you can see. It was very tough just to dig out the grass from the topsoil.
That's why I also have a barrel planter beside so I can still grow in this area.
My hope is making it this tall should make the banana happy, even if some of the roots try digging down into the clay.

__________________
Varieties I'm Growing

From Corm/Pup
Dwarf Cavendish ○ Super Dwarf Cavendish ○ Grand Nain ○ Niño ○ Manzano ○ Raja Puri ○ Tall Namwah ○ Blue Java ○ 1000 Fingers ○ Praying Hands ○ Orinoco ○ Variegated Florida ○ PR Red ○ California Gold ○ FHIA-03 Sweetheart

Plantains
Puerto Rican Dwarf Plantain ○ African Rhino Horn

From TC
Truly Tiny ○ Manzano ○ "Blue Java" ○ Dwarf Namwah ○ Thai Black ○ Veinte Cohol

edwmax

The corm only needs to be above the soil surface. The plant will send roots down into the clay for nutrients and water. Bananas can live in very poor soil or gravelly/rocky ground. In time the banana mat will amend the soil to its liking.

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Valor_X

This is why I stacked the tires high & have a barrel planter here (and plan to add another)
It's been raining throughout the night (light rain) and this part of my lawn gets completely saturated and water easily pools up and will sit there.
The ground here will stay completely saturated for several days after it stops raining even in direct sun so it's just not suitable to plant on the ground. (The Colocasia Elephant Ears in left corner LOVE it though)
The barrel is sitting on bricks with several drain holes & the tires are stacked pretty tall so both bananas are going to be very happy no matter how much it rains.
The Cavendish in the right didn't have water pooling there but it's still nasty clay so the regular raised bed I built should work just fine.

I just want to be able make use of all the space I have by finding a suitable solution like this.

__________________
Varieties I'm Growing

From Corm/Pup
Dwarf Cavendish ○ Super Dwarf Cavendish ○ Grand Nain ○ Niño ○ Manzano ○ Raja Puri ○ Tall Namwah ○ Blue Java ○ 1000 Fingers ○ Praying Hands ○ Orinoco ○ Variegated Florida ○ PR Red ○ California Gold ○ FHIA-03 Sweetheart

Plantains
Puerto Rican Dwarf Plantain ○ African Rhino Horn

From TC
Truly Tiny ○ Manzano ○ "Blue Java" ○ Dwarf Namwah ○ Thai Black ○ Veinte Cohol

cincinnana

Sorry my friend.....please do a search on HEAT GAIN on black objects..
I am continuously trying to sway homeowners to switch from black mulch(which I love) but moved to pine straw.

Black bakes your plants.....plain and simple...
Stick your tongue on a black car.....now you know how your plants feel.

Black objects gain heat......Lots of it

Thick rubber tires.....baking in the Texas sun all day will GAIN Heat ....more than you want.
You are correct.......rubber will insulate ....all the heat that is gained during the days will bake your plants.

Not bashing your planters. which are clever.....but giving you a heads up....

I would be happy to provide links on heat gain of black objects.
Do a temperature check around 5pm of your containers..

Keep us updated...

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Valor_X

You can't compare painted metal (a conductor) to rubber (an insulator)
Of course the tires will get warm, but they shouldn't be scorching like a black painted hood on a car. And we're talking about the inside of the tire.

People are able to handle car tires barehanded that have literally been under the load of a 2-ton vehicle and constant friction on hot asphalt. People wouldn't be able to change a flat tire otherwise.

Worst case scenario I can just get a spray can of white or yellow paint lol

__________________
Varieties I'm Growing

From Corm/Pup
Dwarf Cavendish ○ Super Dwarf Cavendish ○ Grand Nain ○ Niño ○ Manzano ○ Raja Puri ○ Tall Namwah ○ Blue Java ○ 1000 Fingers ○ Praying Hands ○ Orinoco ○ Variegated Florida ○ PR Red ○ California Gold ○ FHIA-03 Sweetheart

Plantains
Puerto Rican Dwarf Plantain ○ African Rhino Horn

From TC
Truly Tiny ○ Manzano ○ "Blue Java" ○ Dwarf Namwah ○ Thai Black ○ Veinte Cohol