Making paper-pots this morning I remembered people asking how. For any newbies thinking of doing it, well, it couldn't be much easier than this method.
Cut off top and bottom of a beans tin. Run the back of an old spoon around the cut edge to flatten the burr.
Broad-sheet paper torn down the spine and again in the same direction to give 4 sheets per full page.
Fold the top edge of one long side over by about 1/2 inch to give a firmer lip to the pot.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/Kenkew/DSC00547.jpg)
Lay the bean tin with it's not sharp edge just protruding above the paper edge and roll it up. Roll it quite loose or you won't get the tin off! I put a smear of paper glue along the edge to hol it together. It will hold without but might collapse when you wet the contents.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/Kenkew/DSC00548.jpg)
Roll up and tuck the bottom overhang inwards.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/Kenkew/DSC00549.jpg)
Remove the tin and the pot should keep it's shape.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/Kenkew/DSC00550.jpg)
You should manage one pot a minute after a bit of practice.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/Kenkew/DSC00552.jpg)
So what are you going to plant in them??
Already p*icked out beans, cauli, cabbage, kale, tomm's, pumkin and I dunno-what into some last week. I reckon they're better than peat pots. Peat-pots you have to buy and the compo you put into paper-pots is good enough to carry the seedlings through to planting out stage.
Why have I got boxes with RED X's and not any pictures I get all other pictures on A4A.
Ron
I think I got the pic's back, Sluggy.
very nice, thanks ken
i tried making a paper pot the other day and failed :(
must give it another go. i think i was using too much paper, actually
svea
Ken... that wouldn't be the Antwerp/Flemish daily paper, by any chance?
I used to live in Westerlo, near Herentals... and hit the cinemas at least once a week in Antwerpen...
Hi Gadi'...the paper is the Krant, a freeby. Makes lousy reading apart from the time I got my pic on the front page, but it's great for making pots!
Hi KenKew
Always wanted to know how to do it without them falling apart, your pictures look good.
I have used some toilet roll inners for my parsnips but I was thinking they might take quite a long time to rot down so wouldn't be any good for quick growing veg. I like the idea of paper pots, good for the enviroment and all that.
Am going to have a go at making some in a moment and replant my peppers into them, if they work out.
thank you
Melanie :)
I planted 20 dwarf bean plants on the lottie this morning which had been p*icked out into paper-pots. Just remember to stick your thumb into the side of the pot to help the roots grow out and to help the pot break down faster. 6 or 8 holes is what I do.
You have beans on your lottie already Ken!!?? I know the dwarf french are a bit tougher than runners and climbing frenchies, but I was still holding off for another couple of weeks.
They've been in an open cold frame all last week without any losses so I'm chancing it. Like everyone else I've sown too many so if I loose a few I'll replace them.
Sorry about this:
How do I post piccies?
Thanks for these, Kenkew. I always thought that you had to buy special polished wooden thingies. Your pots look better than loo roll inners!
Pic's re-installed by request. See above.
Thanks for that Ken. Very interesting ! :D
Excellent idea, saved me quite a few quid on growtubes