Margarine tubs and plastic bottles ....

[weekendwellies]

I have started to use margarine tubs and their lids cut up to whatever size I want as plant labels to save a few pennies. Permanent marker (Sharpie) seems to not get washed off by the weather.

I am also using cut up plastic pop bottles. The cap end ( with the cap ) will go onto canes to stop my eye being poked out and to rest netting over; the bottom gets cut off and reserved for later, then the middle gets cut from top to bottom and slotted back into the bottom reserved from earlier making a seed pot that is easily removable for transplantation, the slit up the side making removal of small plants easier. Excess water seeps from the joint at the bottom so it needs to be put into a tray of some sort.

Knowing you Grapes you have already thought of this but it was an epiphany when it came to me and I had to pass it on.

[rustylady]

I use pop bottles as mini-cloches and cane toppers, but had never thought of the transplantable pot before. Excellent idea.

[rana]

Cut up white plastic washing up liquid bottles make resilient plant labels, especially good for those larger labels used on the veg plot.

[susieq100]

Meat trays - the sort that you buy chicken joints or mince in - make super seed trays if you punch a few holes in the bottom.

[Maximillian]

Yoghurt pots for labels or those actimel bottles. Also tin cans are brill. Not the rounded bottom ones tho. You cut the top with a can opener. Turn it upside down and cut the bottom. The bottom "lid" can Now drop down to the "top". It stays loosely at the bottom for drainage and you can slide your whole plant out using the "lid".

[Snadger]

Been there..........done that..........got the tee shirt to prove it!!!!!!!!!! (Or at least Flum has)

[Keith2202]

I have started to use margarine tubs and their lids cut up to whatever size I want as plant labels to save a few pennies. Permanent marker (Sharpie) seems to not get washed off by the weather.

.

Has the Sharpie been subjected to much rain yet? I use one to write my name on my mug at work and it doesn't last long, even though the mug doesn't go in the dishwasher and doesn't even get fully submerged as I only scrub the inside.

I've been using plastic milk bottles chopped up for labels, having trouble getting the "permanent" marker to avoid being washed off however.

[kiwirach]

i've been grabbing those plastic containers you get grapes or strawberries in and using those as seed trays.....slightly deeper than regualr trays so the seedlings can stay in a touch longer while i find homes for them. bonus is that most already have holes....theres only a few i have to punch holes into.

[basketcase]

I've been using the clear plastic trays you get from takeaways as mini-propagators. They work a treat!

And we really don't eat that many takeaways. They just mount up quickly...

No. really.

[Twinsane]

I made labels out of plastic milk bottles last year and wrote on them with a sharpie - the writing disappeared so had to wait for the fruit to see if it was a black or redcurrant

I use everything!
Any shallow plastic or polystyrene tray for seeds. The bottoms of milk or pop cartons I've cut up also gets used for seeds.

Milk bottles (we have 4 and 6 pt) get used as mini propogators (cut in half, insert top back into bottom, use lid to adjust temp or humidity), outside cloches, slug protection, compost scoops, seed trays and pots.

Pop bottles are used similarly to milk bottles and I use the tops as cane tip covers. I cut the bottoms off, invert them, insert in the ground next to a plant and use them for watering .

Old fast food cups/polystyrene cups are reused as pots. You can write directly on these because most only last one year.

Marg tubs, coleslaw tubs or any other lidded tub can become a mini propogator. I've also cut squares out of the sides, filled with beer, put the lid back on and used as slug traps.

Plastic paint/wood preservative tubs make bigger pots.

Now I just need somewhere to store them all!

[teakdesk]

Has the Sharpie been subjected to much rain yet? I use one to write my name on my mug at work and it doesn't last long, even though the mug doesn't go in the dishwasher and doesn't even get fully submerged as I only scrub the inside.

I've been using plastic milk bottles chopped up for labels, having trouble getting the "permanent" marker to avoid being washed off however.

Halfords sell "Paint Pens" to cover up scratches on car bodywork.

Not cheap but I've been using a black one as a label pen for seven or eight years - and the labels keep their words for many seasons !!!!!

[weekendwellies]

Has the Sharpie been subjected to much rain yet? I use one to write my name on my mug at work and it doesn't last long, even though the mug doesn't go in the dishwasher and doesn't even get fully submerged as I only scrub the inside.

I've been using plastic milk bottles chopped up for labels, having trouble getting the "permanent" marker to avoid being washed off however.

The labels that I did last year are still as clear as the day they were written, I am using the same ones for the new plants this year.

[NOG]

Use plastic milk bottle tops as crocks oin the pots.

[snakeshack]

I love watercooler bottles ,the bottoms make good seedtrays or plant saucers and the tops make great propagators

[basketcase]

Use plastic milk bottle tops as crocks oin the pots.

And Coke bottle tops too, NOG