Saving �'s by recycling

[Mantha81]

I've put this thread here as I think us new shoots would benefit the most however, I think any veggie grower will be able to take something from the info!

What are your best recycling tips for saving money on your veg plot?

For example I save squash bottles from work and use as mini greenhouses and collect trays that once had poppadums or mushrooms in as water trays. My best, which I'm yet to make, is an old wine bottle held upside down on a wooden frame to be a bird feeder.

Would love to hear other, possibly whacky, recycling tips to help us all!

[bronwen]

Well I use some mushroom plastic type trays to plant salad leaf crops in. Can use the clear ones as a propagating lid. Also use long strips of newspaper to make small pots to sow into. I wrap the newspaper around an airfreshener bottle, fold the bottom up and press it down onto a smaller bottle top to squish it firmly into place. So far have used these to sow a couple of tomatoes about 4 weeks ago and they're a bit tatty now. I guess I just need to pot whole thing on into 3" pots?!
Picked up two small wooden fruit crates from the side of the bin outside local shops. Today I lined one with rubbish bags and used it to plant out 18 onion sets. I think it will work and really like the way it looks so am hoping to find some more of these crates soon!
Hopefully this will be an interesting thread you have started mantha81!!

[Shadylane]

Meat trays and such for holding pots, yoghurt pots for starter pots, liquid washing tablet containers (the clear plastic kind with the clip on lid thingy) can be used either to start a couple of rows of peas in or turned upside down as a chitting tray or mini propagator. I'm saving larger yoghurt pots and pop bottles to use as sink holes to water into. I cut up margerine tubs for plant labels. Just scrounged a bath off freegle to use as a water butt. It's butt ugly hehe but what y gonna do.

ETA bronwen - those fruit crates are great for carrying plants and seedlings to the allotment and for storing stuff in. You can usually get them from most fruit and veg places, I don't think they re-use them - shame they're so flimsy unlike the vintage ones.

[ugley_matt]

Sell you spare seedlings/plants at your work/club. I tend to do this with my surplus and it covers most if not all of my compost/seed cost each year.

[Mantha81]

I cut up margerine tubs for plant labels.

Excellent idea, the shop bought one's can be expensive! Never thought of this and I have loads of tubs I can use

[elsie-scot]

Hi
there is a thread on this already : http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ead_30193.html