There is nothing nicer at this time of year than to be sat inside by a roaring log fire preparing for the forth coming growing season. I'm in full swing at the moment making newspaper pots for plug plants and seedlings.An easy guide to making pots from newspaper.
1. Take a sheet of newspaper and cut in half, lay on surface and using the inside from a loo roll, roll the paper around it, with one end of the loo roll right up against the paper edge.
2. At the other end push the paper into the loo roll, this is going to form the base of the pot.
3. Pull the loo roll out of the pot.
4. Turn the paper edge over to form a 1cm fold at the other end to make the top of the pot.
5. The top of the pot with the 1 cm turned over lip.
6. To make the base of the pot get a cylindrical object (I use an aerosol spray) and push it inside the pot and bash down the turned in paper you did in step 2 to form the base.
The finished pot! These pots are really useful, they replace the need to buy small plastic pots and can be used in exactly the same way as peat pots. Fill them with compost, sow seed into them, when the plant is ready to be planted outside you plant the entire pot as it will rot away naturally allowing the plant to grow without having had any transplant shock! I use these for all sorts, when I buy small plug plants (Busy Lizzies last year) I use these to grow them on before planting into the garden, I've also used them for Tomatoes, Peas, Runner beans, French beans etc. The added bonus is that they are very eco friendly as you are recycling old paper and not using Peat pots! Happy pot making!!!!!
(p.s. if your pots grow mould on the outside whilst your seedlings are developing don't panic, mine always do this with no harm to the seedling plant.)
11 comments:
This is very useful! both in terms of information and a perfect use for newspapers. Worms love newsprint, too.
I also like your blog handle--a bit tricky to say quickly but fun nonetheless.
Great post Glosterwomble! I'm warming my hands by your lovely warm fire right now :)
Thanks Jodi! :)
That fire is a God send at the moment VP, bloomin cold is't it!!
Cool idea, I'd have thought they'd disintergrate a bit as you watered the seeds/plants, but I guess they don't or you would wouldn't use them lol... I shall be making some of these now no doubt!
ta muchly!
they're amazingly tough actually, watering doesnt damage them.
What an excellent blog topic! Lots of us are trying to re-use things on the allotment. I managed to get hold of loads of loo rolls this year, coming in handy!
I tried this last year wasnt that keen. I prefer loo rolls for my peas/beans
Yes I use loo rolls too, we have a mountain of them ready and waiting to be used as pots as we speak!! :)
I'm using this method and mine are already growing mold, (alot) after only 5 days ... do you remove it some way before transplating?
Hi Debitagg, don't worry about the mould, it always happens on newspaper pots and toilet roll tubes but doesn't hurt the seedlings/plants at all ( I normally get a LOT of mould on mine). It normally dies off after a short time anyway but if it doesn't just ignore it and plant it on in as you would have done.
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