For years now I have been sowing most of my seeds in yoghurt pots and margarine tubs as I find the shallowness helps when pricking out and the soil has less tendency to get waterlogged. However, I am branching out this year into growing seedlings on in a range of reused pots, bottles and tins.
I have become rather disillusioned with recycling of late. Most of the plastic we take into our house is recyclable but almost no councils have the facilities to deal with anything other than types 1 and 2 (polyethylene), and I am left with a heap of plastic which I know will either be shoved into the ground or incinerated (neither options are very caring of the earth). So I have decided to reuse more, even some of the things that the council will take away such as milk bottles, on the basis that at least the thing will have been used over and over before it is finally cast off, and I will not need to go out and buy more pots made from plastic (I apologise to plant pot manufacturers but that is how it is!)
As well as reusing plastic, I am experimenting with newspaper pots. I have purchased a very useful gadget - made in Sheffield so relatively local - for fashioning three different sizes of pot from strips of newspaper. It is called the Eco Potmaker from Burgon & Ball; it is carved from wood, and is very easy to use. Here are some of the pots I made last week, with Leaf Beet Vulkan growing on happily.
We also get through a fair few toilet rolls, kitchen rolls, and other items with cardboard tube centres. I usually put these, torn up, on the compost heap, but lately I have been experimenting with using them as root trainers for peas and beans. Root Trainers are a brilliant idea - get the plant to develop a good long root structure so that they are stonger and healthier when they are planted out; I have used the bought (plastic) ones for years, but wondered if I could make them myself. Here is my version of a root trainer pot; all you need is the cardboard tube from inside a toilet roll (if the cardboard is a bit flimsy fit a second tube inside to strengthen it), a square of paper (I used Inland Revenue brown envelopes cut into 4!)and a reasonably strong elastic band. Fit the paper over one end of the tube, folding in triangles as you twist the tube around, flattening the paper against the sides of the tube; secure with an elastic band. Prick a small hole in the paper for additional drainage. Fill with soil and push a pea or bean well down into the soil; write the name of the plant on the tube. Here are some examples of the finished article:
Baked bean tins are recycleable, but you could get more use out of them before consigning them to your green bin. Wash the tin thoroughly to remove all food scraps - you may like coconut milk or baked beans but your peas and sweetcorn probably won't. Use a nail to knock a few holes in the base for drainage. Fill with soil and you have a good sized container for growing on a tomato or pepper plant. If you leave the label on, it will also add a bit of colour and variety to your garden!
