Starting Things in Toilet Rolls

[The Doctor]

I used a fair few this season to start seeds off. Some worked brilliantly, others didn't, so I thought it might be worth pulling this info together somewhere.

Seeds that worked well

Sweatcorn
French Dwarf Beans
Runner Beans
Broad beans
Onions

These were all planted singularly, all germinated, then grew.......and grew!

All have since been hardened off and planted out.

Seeds that didn't!!

Early Brussels
Early cauliflowers
Tomatoes

These were also planted singularly, also all germinated, but then seemed to just stop growing and stayed very small. I have since replanted some of the tomatoes and early brussels into larger pots and they now seem to have started growing again.

I didn't bother with the cauli's since I've been told they don't like a check in growth so didn't see the point.

I have had no problems with any unidentified pests, though slugs do seem to like the damp cardboard!!

[Alice]

I started my peas and parsnips in the toilet roll holder. No problems. Germination 100%. All planted out and doing well - the peas are flowering.

[DirtDobber]

I'm curious as I had read about this and have been saving my rolls...do you completely bury the roll...I know that some say fiber pots will wick water from the soil so I was wondering if the cardboard might do the same...

[October]

toilets

This made me look at it as the 'rolls' was not on the main thread title! I was very curious - what do the rest of us do while the caulis are luxuriating in the lav?

Seriously, I hadn't head of this - it seems like a good idea. I started tomatoes both in peat pots and also in a cold frame on the allotment. [I found it there.] The ones in the frame went like anything, but although the peat potters germinated, they never really got any bigger, though they haven't died. Maybe the peat pots did draw out the moisture? Have planted out the ones from the frame - they seem ok.

[Digger-07]

I always bury the roll to the top in the soil when planting anything out.

[queen of the cobs]

the 'old chaps in the allotment' say to tear off the damp roll and plant the seedling straight in the earth - although if you make paper pots out of newspaper (which apparently everyone did during the war) then you can just plant straight in.

[The Doctor]

I used each roll as basically a bottomless single pot.

When I planted them out I took the damp roll off rather than burying it. Since none of the roots had managed to push through the sides, I figured taking it off would help them spread out faster rather than waiting for it to rot.

[TEB]

I place a used teabag in the bottom to help with mosture and retain the soil and then plant fully into the soil.

[DirtDobber]

I have a bunch of them saved but then I also have saved all my six packs and individual pots so I'll have to decide...I know my plants do well in the 6 packs so maybe what I should do is have a plant off and compare one against the other...

[ade]

toilet rolls

i put parsnips in toilet rolls 4 seeds per roll. worked a treat.then dibbed a large hole and filled with compost and settled the roll on to it then drew the soil in and grntily firmed it. going great guns

[Paulottie]

Well done Doctor glad it's going well. I can't see the point for onions (we would need half the village saving them and too expensive on compost) and I sow BB's direct (although the pea weavils an a*se this year)

Loos rolls, I found, could go mouldy and the compost sour(poss why stuff stopped growing?) I liked your teabag trick tho TEB. Some crops they are great for -particularly parsnips runners and maize. I do like the paper pot gadget.

[Alice]

Before planting, I stood the rolls up to their necks in water to soak thoroughly
and encouraged them to rip down the side at planting.

Teb - thanks for the tea bag tip. Nice one.

[Earthbabe]

Yes I like the tea bag tip. Another use for them. Great. I'll drink more tea.

[SuzieP]

And me. I made a right mess trying to keep the compost in this year but next year.........cup of tea darlin'?

[Paulottie]

.....cup of tea darlin'?

Yes please Sweetheart -1 sugar!