Using loo roll inners to plant??

[Novice Gardener]

Hope this isn't too basic a question, but I've read on a few threads that peeps use the inners of loo rolls to plant seeds - this is all new to me, so can someone please tell me if you just plant one seed per roll and if when they've sprouted do you just put the whole lot, loo roll included, into the ground, oh, and how do you keep em upright??? Being a family of 5 we get through HUGE amounts of loo rolls

[SarzWix]

I used to wedge mine into an old ice-cream tub (rectangular one!) with some holes in the bottom. Then fill the rolls with compost and sow two seeds per roll of small seeds like parsnip, or one seed if large like peas or beans. If 2 germinate, just pinch off the smaller one. Then when they're big enough, plant out the whole lot.

[Novice Gardener]

Thanks, I'll give it a try

[bluemoon]

I'd do exactly as SarxWix said, but if the rolls protrude too far above the container you can also tie a piece of twine around to help keep them stable. Oh, and buy a funnel with a wide opening to fill them with - the first year I tried it I filled them with a teaspoon, it worked, but it took DAYS

[Eyren]

I wedge them into module trays - the larger sort with 24 modules to a standard seed tray. One seed per tube, since I use them only for big things like beans. The advantage is that you can plant the whole thing without disturbing the roots, and the cardboard just biodegrades...

[Cutecumber]

Yep, that's good advice from Sarzwix.

Find a plastic container to put them in, wedge them in together to stop them falling over and sow very thinly.

Try not to leave it too long before planting them out - they have a tendency to get mould and go slimey if kept wet for long in warm conditions. If you are starting root veg, such as parsnips, make sure you get them planted up as soon as, or preferably before, the root reaches the end of the tube or they may fork.

[shirlthegirl43]

If you are starting root veg, such as parsnips, make sure you get them planted up as soon as, or preferably before, the root reaches the end of the tube or they may fork.

And that is going to be way way before you expect it - I picked up a fibre pot with peas sown in yesterday morning - roots out the bottom but no sign of anything at the top Check your parsnips bottoms frequently

[brooklynodog]

I find I can get 40 (5x8) in a standard seed tray. Somewhere else I read a comment about the possibility of manufacturers adding some chemical to the cardboard that may prove to be detrimental. Does anyone know any more about this?

[carlseawolf]

I use the blue mushroom tray the greengrocer throws away and line the bottom with cereal box and you can get 35 tubes in there without squashing then.

[Paulottie]

I couldn't say about the chemicals.

I found a couple of problems with looroll tube (which I have used for sowing sweetcorn in the past.) Firstly they are too easy to over water, sometimes they seem to go slimey and mouldy and seed rots. Secondly when you plant them out, the opposite is true... they just don't rot quick enough.

What really put me off them though was someone posting about threadworms last year.

[Cutecumber]

I found they didn't rot in the ground, too, but then my soil is ridiculously free draining.

Now I have rootrainers, I have stopped using toilet rolls.

I doubt the actual risk of spreading threadworms myself - and everyone should wash their hands after dealing with compost and soil anyway.

[Paulottie]

And hopefully visiting the loo

[terrier]

Somewhere else I read a comment about the possibility of manufacturers adding some chemical to the cardboard that may prove to be detrimental. Does anyone know any more about this?

It was a comment made on gardeners question time (Radio4) last week.

[Paulottie]

Goodness Terrier, GQT has completely slipped out of my agenda in the last year or two...must start listening again. Thanks for that.

[esrikandan]

I read somewhere here about microwaving the tubes before use. Whilst I don't know about the chemicals, the microwaving should kill off any nasties.