Paper pots

[sammy_roser]

Hey Zaz that's a great little tutorial, I tried it out and after a little bit of confusion I now have some cute paper boxes!

[muddyfeet]

I use this design [shameless plug]

The Linear Legume: paper pot design

I like those paper pots because they are square and you can fit them in a tray better and quite steady once filled. I have been using newspaper wrapped around a tube, but I will try these this year. Thanks for the link.

[Florence Fennel]

Granny Flo, I recommend my pot maker, from that tinterweb shop that is named after that bunch of strong ladies from South America and their forest. Reckon you could get your GG's to set up production line fairly well.

I can make those with a glass HH, but I will have a look. The GGs complained about the print on their hands from newspaper - girlies!

[Florence Fennel]

I like those paper pots because they are square and you can fit them in a tray better and quite steady once filled

If you fold your loo rolls twice vertically and store about 5 inside one of them, they end up square instead of round and fit nicely into plastic supermarket mushroom containers.

[Alison]

I read of this last year and have been saving loo rolls since.
Thanks for the advice on which seedlings to put in them.

I don't find loo rolls that good, I was talking about my little newspaper pots which I make using a wooden former. Personally I think that loo rolls can come into their own for long rooted stuff like beans but even if I saved them all year then I'd still not have enough for the amount of beans I want to grow so I prefer to use reusable root trainers for them and the little pots for chillies etc. I suppose you could cut loo rolls in half for chillies, toms etc but I'd not like them full depth as it would make it difficult to sink them deep into the next size pot if I let them get leggy.

[muddyfeet]

I don't like loo rolls because if you let them dry out ( which I quite often do) they seem to be really hard to rehydrate and by that time the plant is suffering. Newspaper is a bit more forgiving.

[Alison]

I don't like loo rolls because if you let them dry out ( which I quite often do) they seem to be really hard to rehydrate and by that time the plant is suffering. Newspaper is a bit more forgiving.

Yes, I find that too

[veg man]

I find loo rolls fall apart i.e glue come undone when wetand just unravels it self or is it me

[horticultural_hobbit]

I'm eagerly anticipating, the paper pots are sat in the heated prop, looking very sorry for themselves. Wet though.

[rabbit]

I don't get a free newspaper where I live and we don't buy one so newpaper pots a no go for me. I've saved a lot of egg cartons though, although from what I'm reading, they may suffer from dehydration in the same way as described above from loo rolls. Does anyone else save egg cartons?

I've also been saving 500ml yog pots, although only the clear yeo valley ones as I wanted to use them for cloches (no 2L drinks bottles, we don't drink any pop). But I'll save all of them now, along with mushroom tubs.

As a total grow-your-own newb, I'm just gathering info and it seems from above that paper pots are good for
-pes, beans, beetroot
-not peppers (but maybe chillis?)
-Not courgettes (and therefore maybe not summer or winter squash?)

[Two_Sheds]

Paper pots and the like are fun recycling projects. You won't get as good results though as you will from using made-for-purpose plastic modules and plant pots.

And I say that as a committed, yogurt-knitting deep-green tree hugger

[zazen999]

I like those paper pots because they are square and you can fit them in a tray better and quite steady once filled. I have been using newspaper wrapped around a tube, but I will try these this year. Thanks for the link.

Try this one as well...I only use these for beans and peas.

The Linear Legume: Using loo roll insides

[rabbit]

Paper pots and the like are fun recycling projects. You won't get as good results though as you will from using made-for-purpose plastic modules and plant pots.

And I say that as a committed, yogurt-knitting deep-green tree hugger

well precisely, I already have egg cartons, loo rolls, mushroom tubs and yoghurt tubs and I don't really want to buy the plastic purpose built stuff... I guess If I'm going to use them over and over I can consider it an investment.

I had thought the idea was the cardboard is better than modules because you can plant it straight into the soil and not damaging the roots of seedlings?

[Two_Sheds]

I had thought the idea was the cardboard is better than modules because you can plant it straight into the soil and not damaging the roots of seedlings?

I can get seedlings out of modules without damaging the roots

Yes, using a biodegradable pot does allow you to plant "straight out". The problems are that the pot can start to biodegrade/collapse/go mouldy during use (they're great for things that don't need to be in a pot for very long).

At school, they always use these recycled items, because it's good to learn what you CAN use if you've got no money or equipment.
Use what you've got. I'm not trying to put you off, I'm simply offering an alternative, and a point of view. An opinion. My experience.

[alldigging]

Plant pot from a toilet roll - YouTube

Saw a pic of a loo roll with slits in the bottom so the flaps were folded up like you do when you re-shut a box. Can't find it now but found the above little vid instead! Cute!

SimplyForties: Making Toilet Paper Roll Seed Starter Pots