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Creative Household Container Usage for the Growing Season – Seed Sowing
Collect Your Toilet Rolls & Newspapers
How and Why You Should Collect Toilet Rolls and Newspapers to Plant Seeds This Spring
Starting seeds in spring is an exciting time for gardeners, and collecting toilet rolls and newspapers now can help you create sustainable, cost effective seed starting containers. These everyday items are not only budget friendly but also align with eco friendly gardening practices and Permaculture Principle No 6 “Produce no waste”
Why Use Toilet Rolls and Newspapers?
Sustainability: Reusing materials that would otherwise be discarded reduces waste and aligns with permaculture principles. Both toilet rolls and newspapers are biodegradable, meaning they can be planted directly into the soil, reducing transplant shock for seedlings.
Cost Effective: Instead of buying plastic seed trays, repurpose these household items at no additional cost and reducing the microplastic that is going into the soil.
Convenient for Root Growth: Toilet roll tubes offer a deep space for roots to develop, making them ideal for plants like beans, peas, and sunflowers. We use them for sweet peas, lupins as neither like their roots touched. Newspapers, when rolled into small pots, provide similar benefits while being adjustable in size.
How to Use Them
Toilet Roll Tubes:
Collect tubes now and store them in a dry place.
When ready to plant, fold into squares so they touch in the tray allowing the soil to not fill the extra spaces when round, fill each tube with seed starting compost, plant your seeds, and water gently.
Keep them upright until they’re ready to be transplanted. Once the seedlings are ready for transplanting, you can directly plant them into the soil so no root disturbance
Newspaper Pots:
Use a glass jar or can to roll newspaper into small pots, leaving a base to hold soil.
Secure the shape with a fold.
Fill with soil and plant seeds, just like with toilet rolls.
By collecting these items in advance, you’ll be ready for spring planting with sustainable seed-starting options that are kind to your wallet and the planet. It’s a simple step toward a greener garden!
Using Toilet Rolls For Seed Sowing Video Reel
How To Stop Mould In Your Toilet Roll Tubes When Growing Seeds In Them
Collect Your Card Milk Or Juice Cartons
How and Why You Should Collect Your Card Milk or Juice Cartons to Plant Seeds This Spring
Reusing empty milk or juice cartons for seed starting is a simple and sustainable way to get your garden ready for spring. These cartons provide excellent seed starting containers and reduce waste, making them a perfect choice for eco-conscious gardeners.
Why Use Card Milk or Juice Cartons?
Sustainability: Recycling materials you already have reduces waste and aligns with permaculture principles of reuse and minimising environmental impact.
Cost Effective: Save money by using cartons as an alternative to buying plastic pots or seed trays.
Durability: The sturdy, waterproof structure of cartons makes them ideal for holding soil and moisture while seeds germinate.
Customisable Size: You can cut cartons to your desired size, making them versatile for various seed types.
How to Use Them
Prepare the Cartons: Rinse thoroughly to remove any residue. .
You can cut these cardboard cartons length ways on one side so you can fill with soil & plant into them. ideal for small space growing
You can cut off top and bottom of these cartons pop in a tray and fill with soil allowing you to bottom water them
Use them to plant plants that DON’T like their roots touched like sweetcorn, carrots, lupins, once grown put in soil and slide off the carton
By collecting your card milk and juice cartons now, you’ll have an eco friendly, budget conscious solution for starting seeds this spring. It’s a simple way to reduce waste while giving your garden a sustainable head start!
How To Use Your Milk Cartons For Sowing Video Reel
Milk Cartons to Grow and Transplant Sweetcorn Without Causing Any Harm To The Roots.
Collect Your Plastic Or Glass Containers
How and Why You Should Collect Plastic or Glass Containers to Plant Your Seeds This Spring
Reusing plastic or glass containers for seed starting is a fantastic way to embrace sustainable gardening while giving your seedlings the best possible start. These materials are readily available, cost effective, and versatile, making them ideal for your spring planting preparations.
Why Use Plastic or Glass Containers?
Eco Friendly: Reusing containers reduces waste, aligns with permaculture principles, and minimises the need for new plastic or other materials.
Durability: Both plastic and glass are sturdy, holding soil and moisture effectively. Glass, in particular, is non porous, making it excellent for moisture retention.
Customisable: Containers such as yogurt pots, plastic tubs, or glass jars can be adapted to suit a variety of seed types, from shallow trays to deep rooted plants.
Mini Greenhouses: Clear plastic or glass containers can double as mini greenhouses, trapping warmth and humidity to help seeds germinate faster.
How to Use Them
Clean and Prepare: Wash all containers thoroughly with warm, soapy water to remove residues and prevent the spread of pathogens. If using sealed containers like jars, ensure they have adequate ventilation for air circulation.
We generally don’t use plastic to plant our seeds in indoors, but they make great trays for bottom watering and mini greenhouses. Reuse plastic containers like yoghurt tubs, food containers, or drink bottles for makeshift pots, trays & greenhouse toppers
The different sizes will lend themselves to different plants, just pop some drainage holes in the bottom so you can bottom water on a tray or plate
Cutting fizzy bottles in half to plant in you can use the tops for greenhouses. you’ll be surprised what you can use in your home when you start looking
By collecting and repurposing these containers, you not only reduce waste but also create an affordable, sustainable solution for your spring gardening. Your seedlings—and the planet will thank you!
Different Types Of Containers Video Reel
Repurposing Household Items To Sow Seeds In, From Items You Would Usually Throw Away
You’ll be surprised what you find once you start looking around your recycling.
Happy Gardening!
Katrina & Clayton and family live in East Ayrshire and share their daily life in the garden on instagram. They practice permaculture principles in the garden, reducing & repurposing waste whenever they can. Katrina shows how home educating in nature has helped Clayton thrive. Clayton Completed The 2 Grow and Learn Courses with the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society. He is Autistic, Non Verbal & has been Home Educated since 2018. Katrina & Peter hold their PDC & PDC PRO Permaculture Design Course from Oregon State University They featured on BBC Beechgrove Gardens Ep23 2022 and returned in 2023 for an update,Katrina & Clayton are also columnists for ScotlandGrows Magazine, Guest Blog for Caledonian Horticulture as well as working with Gardeners’ World Magazine and many other brands.
They are also Author of the new Children’s Book Series: Clayton’s Garden Journey: Stories of Autism and Gardening. Topics on Growing, Harvesting, Sowing & Composting and 108 Page Weather and Seasons Weekly Gardening Record Book available on Amazon and Kindle. Listen in on their Guest Podcasts to learn more about them.Get Weekly Blogs Straight To Your Inbox
Author of the new children’s book series: Clayton’s Garden Journey: Stories of Autism and Gardening. Topics on Growing, Harvesting, Sowing & Composting and 108 Page Weather and Seasons Weekly Gardening Record Book available on Amazon and Kindle
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