Paper pots

[horticultural_hobbit]

I know these are divisive. Some folks like them, others don't.

Can they be used, and are they safe to, be used in heated propagators? Otherwise i am quite happy to use yoghurt pots

Made some the other day. Need to start sowing chillies, really. Toms to be done later.

[zazen999]

I'm sure they are safe, but I only use paper pots when things aren't going to be in them for long. Peas and beans, and seedlings before potting out and the pot gets planted too.

So if you are going to tip them out of the pot and repot them [toms, peppers etc] then you may as well use plastic.

I use this design [shameless plug]

http://linearlegume.blogspot.co.uk/s...20pot%20design

[Bren In Pots]

HH I use paper pots in my heated prop not had a problem with them. so long as they are stood on capillary matting to stop them drying out.

I made my potter using this link out of old bits of pipe and instead of the Dome Slip Cap I found a piece of wood to bung up the end of the inner pipe.

Newpaper Pot Maker

[horticultural_hobbit]

Ah, Zaz, you are clever! I'm less so, and have a wooden pot maker thing. Cheers, Bren, shall look into that.

I think I leave paper pots for beans and things. That said. Roots and brassicas. Might try them in paper pots.

[Bigmallly]

I tend to use paper & half loo rolls for the likes of beetroot that doesn't like to be transplanted.

[Alison]

I make dozens and dozens of paper pots with one of those wooden former things which makes pots which are about 1.5" in diameter. I've never heard of them being controversial though - thought that was reserved for peat pots. I sow all my tomato, chilli, aubergines, peppers etc in them so that I can pot on for the first time without disturbing the roots at all. I don't have many plastic pots that small anyway and the small size means that I can maximise the amount of pots I get in my heated propogator. Never use them for bigger seeds though, do them either in 3" plastic pots (courgettes etc), root trainers (beans, sweetcorn etc) or guttering for peas.

[veggiechicken]

I'm rolling up cereal box weight cardboard into tubes and securing them with the postman's elastic bands. Standing them upright in seed trays or mushroom boxes and away to go. That's the theory anyway! I've made some but haven't tried them out yet
Saves hoarding loo rolls all year

[horticultural_hobbit]

Oh I do like your thinking, Alison. So, you put them pots in, without anything beneath them? That's how I'd put them into the prop.

How long do you wait to pot them on, Alison, and once they are out of the prop, how do you stop them drying out, seed tray beneath of water?

[Alison]

Yes basically I ram loads of them into the propogator, straight onto the plastic base, making sure the newspaper is damp all the way through when I've sown. Don't need to water really in the propogator unless they start to dry out. Move out of the propogator as soon as they've germinated and leave on window ledge in a standard plastic tray, usually watering at least once a day (sometimes twice) with a gentle shower from a fine household watering can. Never have any problems with them drying out but as soon as the seedlings are just starting to produce proper seed leaves I repot into 3" plastic pots with no root disturbance at all.

[horticultural_hobbit]

Thank you, Alison!

[Florence Fennel]

Very frustrating for a Monday morning Zaz - I've never been any good at origami, might set the youngest Golden Girl on it.

[BUFFS]

i found that the paper pots tend to collapse as it seems to take so long for the seedlings to be ready for repotting/planting out,but thats probably just our dark summers(last two were the twilight zone),so i will use a propagator and some home made lights shown on another message,i am now using the large yoghurt pots to grow on,their size and depth means once potted on,they can be let grow on for quite a while,i did use my papers for bedding when we had chooks,i could just roll up the spread sheets and throw straight onto the compost bin,put your most hated polititions image under the roosting bars and let the birds do what they do,made me smile next morning.....

[MyLifeWithAndrew]

I make dozens and dozens of paper pots with one of those wooden former things which makes pots which are about 1.5" in diameter. I've never heard of them being controversial though - thought that was reserved for peat pots. I sow all my tomato, chilli, aubergines, peppers etc in them so that I can pot on for the first time without disturbing the roots at all. I don't have many plastic pots that small anyway and the small size means that I can maximise the amount of pots I get in my heated propogator. Never use them for bigger seeds though, do them either in 3" plastic pots (courgettes etc), root trainers (beans, sweetcorn etc) or guttering for peas.

I read of this last year and have been saving loo rolls since.
Thanks for the advice on which seedlings to put in them.

[Florence Fennel]

I sat in front of You Tube with a sheet of A4 and made a beautiful little paper pot. Tried again without the tutor and couldn't do it! Think I'll stick to pots, rootrainers and trays and I'll give loo rolls another chance as like you MLWA, I've been saving them all year!

[horticultural_hobbit]

Granny Flo, I recommend my pot maker, from that tinterweb shop that is named after that bunch of strong ladies from South America and their forest. Reckon you could get your GG's to set up production line fairly well.