Organic Pots

[yancancook]

Hi, have just joined the grapevine as have just built a raised bed in my postage stamp of a garden to try and grow some veg. Thing is, I've read about the newspaper pots which seem a great idea but are they good for organic gardens? Is the paper not chemically treated? Comments appreciated as want to grow organically if I can. Thanks muchly

[Demeter]

I've used newspaper pots this year, after reading around as much as I could to confirm the same thing.

I've heard from US sources that if you use coloured paper this may not be great due to the type of ink used by some printers (although I don't know if the same would be true in the UK where there are far more regulations! here I think they probably don't use the harmful type of inks but I could never find any confirmation of that) - anyway I have never heard anything about other chemical treatments being a cause for concern. So to be ultra cautious you might want to stick to B&W paper but otherwise should be fine.

PS I'm new here too - hi!

[Paulottie]

Welcome to the Vine people.

I used to use newspaper pots a lot, not much these days but I still compost all the animal bedding etc. I never compost glossy mags as the inks are indeed unpleasant.

I have gardened organically for 8 years but you shouldn't get uptight about it. Chemicals are everywhere in our world. Cars belch out fume etc. etc. It is a general philosophy to avoid covering your crops in nasties and to encourage the natural predators for your pests. You will perhaps use some chemicals anyway it is just that they are drawn from natural sources rather than artificially synthesised...EG: Blood fish and bone or Derris (which is stupidly being withdrawn for safety reasons)

You could use peat pots if you are really worried but then peat harvesting has environmental implications; plastic the same as it is produced from oil. (not in you back yard admittedly) Clay pots I suppose would be the greenest option.

[Two_Sheds]

Most newspapers are printed with vegetable inks these days. Safe to compost, safe for paper pots.
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...pots_4216.html

[brooklynodog]

I have been using newspaper pots for the first time this year, with success. I do however make them thicker by using more wraps of paper, otherwise they disintegrate too quickly.

[yancancook]

Thanks one and all, I'll give the pots a go then with good 'ole British newspaper.