Kitchen Towel for Germinating Seeds

[mogs]

I use my Dad as a 'Fountain of Knowledge' often, being a novice and him being a retired grow your owner. We've had a discussion about the best way to germinate parsnip seeds prior to planting and he advises me that he always used blotting paper, which is mega expensive probably due to the fact that there are fewer ink pen users these days.

I mentioned using damp Kitchen Towels and he wondered whether there would be 'chemically things' added to the paper to make it whiter and this may affect the seeds. I think he's actually taking the Mick cos he's old school and I keep banging on about how I'd like to be as organic as possible!

I've read articles on using Kitchen Towels for this purpose and am not so pedantic to want to try and source chemical free, organically produced, fairtrade, non climate changing stuff- but told my Dad I'd ask the people who know!! Any ideas??

[zazen999]

Well, i put all my old kitchen towel in the compost anyway.

The only way to find out would be to contact the company that makes the roll and ask...but I do think that there's a level to organic-ness and that might be a tad too far!!!

I can't see it being that different to blotting paper, but someone else might be along with actual evidence.

However, I got good results from using good old kitchen roll with parsnips, to totally agree with the method in principle.

[Hans Mum]

if youre really concerned you can check whichever brand you use here
Guide to forest-friendly toilet paper, kitchen towels and tissues | Greenpeace UK
but as Andrea says how far do you want to take it, i just use whatevers in the kitchen (which is usually whatevers been on offer)

[starloc]

I use kitchen roll to germinate citrus seeds, all sorts of brands printed and unprinted, all of it works fine, its the best way with some seeds, i have never had any problem with anything on/in the paper causing problems with germination.

[Two_Sheds]

We should possibly be more worried about the bleach in tampons, than in kitchen towel
The Ecologist - Behind the label:Tampons

[lynda66]

We should possibly be more worried about the bleach in tampons, than in kitchen towel
The Ecologist - Behind the label:Tampons

i now know everything i ever wanted to know about tampons, and am soooooo glad i don't need em any more ..... have you thought about moon cups ??

anyway regarding the kitchen towels, i stick mine on the compost too, and will be giving them a go for germinating this year ..... i do think we could get a little obsessive ...... mine currently have santas on them

[allotmentlady]

i always use kitchen paper but the really cheap ones tend to have more bleach in them......my seeds are only used to bounty kitchen roll!!!!

i use 2 layers of kitchen roll, and then in goes into the airing cupboard until they germinate.

[mogs]

Thanks everyone - Kitchen Paper it is then! Think I'll steer clear of the tampons definitely, although sure the strings would have been useful to identify where the seeds had been planted maybe- and then again would be very interesting watching the birds flying across the allotment with tampons to feather their nests, ha, ha!