Topic: any uses for old carpet tubes?

[rdak]

Probably a strange question....!

In raiding carpet shop skips for old carpet to cover my new plot, I've seen they throw away loads of large,thick cardboard tubes- about 5 inches in diameter.
It occured to me there must be an allotment use for these tubes, if only I could think of it.....!

[Mrs Ava]

well, I have seen some people who grow carrots, parsnips and leeks in drain pipes so they can get HUGE veggies - the carpet tubes would be a more biodegradable way of doing it.... ;D

[rdak]

how does that work? do you mean inserting the tubes vertically into the ground and sowing a seed inside?
or laying half a tube along the ground and starting seeds of in it, as I have seen done with drainpipe?

[Ceri]

I've seen the 1/2 a drainpipe longways trick done where you use it as a seed bed, then dig a trench and literally slide the seedlings into place so less disturbance - I guess if you wet the cardboard enough, and put some holes in it, you could just lay the whole thing in a trench and let the seedings grow through it - or would the decomposing cardboard take stuff from the soil so less stuff for the plants (stuff meaning trace element type things - the sciency people will know!!).  If you had new standard type bushes perhaps you could protect the trunk over winter?  Cut then into short lengths and use them for stilts on muddy days - not helping much, am I?!!

[teresa]

How about blanching leeks or celery?
a few together to force rhurbarb or half a doz tied together for a herb garden.
would keep mint in check.
Teresa

[Hugh_Jones]

Use them (cut into suitable lengths) to stand over any particularly pernicious weeds such as convolvulus, mares tail, deeply rooted brambles etc, let them grow up inside the tube, then spray them with weedkiller without damaging any surrounding plants.

Alternatively, if you wish to grow prize winning carrots or parsnips, stand 3ft lengths on the ground, fill with sieved soil (with added bonemeal), sow a few carrot or parsnip seeds on top (thin to one per tube when they germinate), water as required, and amaze all the other lotties on the site.

[ina]

How about blanching leeks or celery?  

Teresa, how exactly does that work with leeks? I have a giant bag of loo paper cores saved for this purpose but........... how do I use them? Do I slide them over the leek plants? My leeks are now about 20 cm tall. -Ina

[teresa]

Hi Ina

If you can gently thread the leaves through the loo roll then firm it in the ground or cut lengh ways slip it like a cuff around the plant try an anker it in the ground you could try to stick it with seloptape. ;)
All you are doing is stopping the light sunlight from making it green. ;D
Good luck Teresa

[Colin_Bellamy-Wood]

I wouldn't sellotape the split loo rolls Teresa - they will come undone in the rain.   One or two pieces of garden string might be more effective.   We're getting there, are we not. ;D ;D ;D

[teresa]

Hi Colin

My mistake should have read masking tape find this a must string is good.
Have used masking tape to for young branches of shubs and fushias which have broken taped up will heal and not affect the plant.
Teresa

[ina]

We certainly are getting there, that's the beauty of these boards. Thanks you guys. I had a general idea of how to use the tubes over the leeks but just wasn't sure. Plink........ the oven, cookies done, got to run. Bye. -Ina