using loo roll tubes

**Two_Sheds** · 16-02-2010, 10:32 PM

Originally posted by Dave & Kate N Wales View Post

1. What seeds do you use them for?

Mostly things that don't like having their roots disturbed, or things that have long roots: carrots, parsnips, peas and beans

Originally posted by Dave & Kate N Wales View Post

2. do you just fill a seed tray with compost then put the tubes in or do yu fil the tubes to their full height with compost

Put tubes in a tray (else they fall over). Fill tubes with compost. Sow seeds into compost

Originally posted by Dave & Kate N Wales View Post

3. When you transplant the seedlings do you plant the whole tube in the ground,

Yes. It's cardboard, it rots away

Originally posted by Dave & Kate N Wales View Post

4. How do you water them?

sparingly, and from the top (unlike most things). If you water from below, they get too wet and go mouldy

**zazen999** · 16-02-2010, 10:53 PM

I fold them, so that instead of circular they are square and then
a - no compost falls down in between
b - they can be tied with a piece of string or wedged in so that they don't fall over.

I use them for things that won't be in there for long; so quick growers like beans and peas and sweet corn; the later sowings not the earlier ones.

**greasyfire** · 16-02-2010, 10:54 PM

ive seen people use loo rool tubes for starting of sweet potato slips

**binley100** · 16-02-2010, 11:37 PM

Originally posted by Two_Sheds View Post

Mostly things that don't like having their roots disturbed, or things that have long roots: carrots, parsnips, peas and beans

Put tubes in a tray (else they fall over). Fill tubes with compost. Sow seeds into compost

Yes. It's cardboard, it rots away

sparingly, and from the top (unlike most things). If you water from below, they get too wet and go mouldy

Wot she said.
I start just about everything off in loo rolls some I cut in half first if they're not things that need long roots. I use them as modules then if need be as in tomatoes prick the seedlings out into individual pots and finished loo rolls then go in the compost bin.

**Bren In Pots** · 17-02-2010, 12:35 AM

Originally posted by zazen999 View Post

I fold them, so that instead of circular they are square and then
a - no compost falls down in between
b - they can be tied with a piece of string or wedged in so that they don't fall over..

I make mine square shaped as well, and if i've got a spare one of those 24 cell Propagator inserts i stand the rolls in that instead of taping them all together.

**Jimmy** · 17-02-2010, 05:48 AM

Just a caution about "unknown" materials.
I did a post a year or so ago about my home made pots.
I used to make pots from old A4 sheets from work, wrap them round a coke can and staple. I used to grow my early beans and tomatoes etc in them.
However one year my beans and tomatoes looked decidedly sick. The only thing I could think of was work had recently changed from black and white ink to colour ink. I re-potted and they recovered but were never perfect.
Jimmy

**piskieinboots** · 17-02-2010, 07:36 AM

Originally posted by zazen999 View Post

I fold them, so that instead of circular they are square

I have to ask how you make a round into a square

**zazen999** · 17-02-2010, 07:44 AM

Flatten them, then flatten them the other way. Viola [as Raymond Blanc would say].

**Florence Fennel** · 17-02-2010, 07:56 AM

Now this might sound silly, but are some thicker loo rolls a disadvantage, i.e. don't break down as easily? I didn't have much success last Spring, but I wonder if that is because I use Andrex quilts?!!

**Scunny Zeb** · 17-02-2010, 08:33 AM

Originally posted by Florence Fennel View Post

but I wonder if that is because I use Andrex quilts?!!

Now your just being posh and showing off...

I have to make do with the local free newspaper torn into squares

**Florence Fennel** · 17-02-2010, 09:04 AM

What for the plant pots? I knew someone was going to tell me I was showing off - my grandchildren say they love coming to my house because I have posh loo roll. It's only because I too remember the newspaper squares SZ!

**stella** · 17-02-2010, 09:05 AM

The problem I had was giving the seedling enough water to stay alive but not so much that the roll went soggy and sort of listed to one side

**HeyWayne** · 17-02-2010, 09:31 AM

Also, if you use kitchen roll centres you can cut them in half and they are about the same length as most toilet rolls. Two in one kinda thing.

Another trick I learned from zazen is that if you fold the loo roll tubes you can store about 5-6 inside an unfolded loo roll tube. Saves so much space.

**piskieinboots** · 17-02-2010, 10:02 AM

I've just tried squishing and squaring up � la Zazen but it keeps falling over

clearly I'm not cut out for the Blue Peter bit - I'll stick with rootrainers which I totally adore

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