Allotments 4 All

I bought a lovely little gadget (from the Organic Gardening Catalogue) for making small individual pots from rolled up newspaper, and am starting off all my seeds so far in those. I'm hoping that I'll be able to plant them straight into the soil, as I've seen others do with those peat pots.

But I just read in a gardening book this morning that pots made from 'treated' paper will rot - which left me wondering, will this rolled up newspaper rot in time for the young roots to push their way through.

I'd be very pleased to know, has anyone else tried this method, and has it worked?

They should rot no problem , If you plant direct in the soil , The roots will go straight through the
wet newspaper. Go for sweetcorn, cabbage etc.

Yes they will rot down. Just before you plant, poke a few holes in the pot sides.
I can't think what your gadget is? Is it better than an empty tin?

See the post in the 'Top Tips' section.
Ken.

Here are 2 links to my blog showing my newspaper pots from last year, they are fab and yes they rot away perfectly!

http://fork-in-hell.blogspot.com/2007/03/by-eck.html

http://fork-in-hell.blogspot.com/2007/03/impatiens.html

i made some newspaper pots by folding a sheet of newspaper,no glue or staples needed if i can find the link i will post it.

Your reminder has just got me making my pots, mind you its hard work when the three year old is trying to help. :'(      ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Here are some of my folded paper pots from last year - they hold together just long enough and are about ready to disintegrate when you plant out!

Here's how to make them...
 

great drawing! just been trying to make it watching tv and i'll definitely be using them for my seeds :D

great tip!

thanks!!!

Why thankyou!

Wow, just had a go myself. Origami pots - great.
I also have a pot maker out of the Organic Gardening Catalogue - with that, the newspaper needs to be cut to size, so perhaps a bit more hassle.

Try using pages from the Sun and the Express as they're complete rot to start with.

Thanks  for your encouraging comments and pics of paper pots.  I admire the origami version, and yes, I can see the jam jar approach makes my  little gadget quite an extravagance, but it's beatifully made of maple - take a look!

http://www.organiccatalog.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=232&products_id=642

No, I'm not advertising, just it's a really nice thing , and I'm doubly glad now I know the paper will rot out in time.

thanks for the drawings, miniroots - works a treat. I'm folding old newspapers now, at my office desk, chomping at the bits to get them out and filled with compost.

Normal A4 paper works well, without the first fold.

Quote from: RobinOfTheHood on February 07, 2008, 06:36:58
Normal A4 paper works well, without the first fold.

will normal A4 rot down like news paper?

Quote from: littlebabybird on February 07, 2008, 10:03:14
will normal A4 rot down like news paper?

I'll tell you about April time.  ;)

Yes, A4 printer/photocopier paper does rot down, but it takes three or four times longer as its three or four times thicker.

Also, the more smooth/shiny the surface, the longer it will take to start rotting.

Apologies to miniroots for what I'm about to say, because those diagrams are just great!
  In the past I've used pilchard tins (particularly these because they're some of the smallest, round cans available) and using a strip of newspaper that reaches around 3/4 the way up the tin with an inch or so at the end, extending out away from the tin. Wrap around twice and then just fold the inch of newspaper at the bottom in. Then, simply pinch around the base. After doing this, it will stand up on its own and from the inside you can push down to make a secure base. They don't rot/fall apart too quickly, although I did find them going mouldy a bit and I think plants may be a little more susceptible to disease/fungal problems. I also heard to try to avoid using coloured newspaper because of the chemicals leaching, which is harder than it sounds... so many ads. Pots generally dried out more quickly in hotter weather than normal pots. Cheap though.
 

  Oh look, and after all that I've found a website that shows how: http://www.feesworld.com/how2make/paperpots/index.html

::)

http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,38563.0.html

littlebabybird - most A4 paper sold in this country is made mainly from fresh pulp (unless you go for the often dubiously labelled "recycled" varieties) and therefore takes longer to decompose.
Newspaper, however, at least the Western European variety, is made from nearly 100% reclaimed (recycled) paper (+card + rags) and breaks down quicker.
Eastern European and Canadian Newsprint (both also used in UK Newspapers) contains a percentage of fresh pulp, and is sturdier (and often whiter) and will take a bit longer to rot.
Cut Size (A4) paper can also contain optical brighteners (chemicals) depending on where it's been made (Indonesia? Brazil?) - so you might want to consider this if you have ambitions to be truly organic.