toilet rolls for root veg

[newchangeling]

This might be an urban myth but....

A friend of mine mentioned that when she visited Ryton last year she saw them sowing parsnips and carrots (I think) in the cardboard tubes from loo rolls so they could be started indoors.  Later, the entire tube is planted out and the carboard rots down.

Has anybody tried this? 

[newchangeling]

[Mrs Ava]

Not for root veg, but it is how I grow my broad beans and sweet corn with excellent results.

[Jesse]

Haven't tried with loo rolls but I am growing my seeds (sweet pea, tomato and cauliflower) in home made modules made from newspaper. Same size as a loo roll but slightly longer (similar to a root trainer). The idea is that when it comes time to planting outside I plant the whole thing so no disturbance to roots and the newspaper rots down, quicker than cardboard I should imagine. It is also easy to tell when the seedlings need watering because the newspaper dries out. I've stacked them into a large seed tray so they hold each other up nicely. I think breathable is also a good idea, plastic doesn't allow air through. Don't see why you couldn't do the same for carrots and parsnips. I thought the reason we don't sow in seed trays is because they don't like disturbance, loo rolls and the like avoid disturbance so you should be okay. You'd need quite a few though for carrots so might be quite labour intensive planting them out.  :)

[tim]

The consumption of loo rolls never fails to amaze me!!  = Tim

[Doris_Pinks]

Me either Tim, or the fact that NO-ONE else in the house seems to know how to change them! ;D

[newchangeling]

Thanks for the thoughts!

I think the idea behind using them for carrots/parsnips was the whole business of not disturbing the roots, as Jesseveve says.  I do also use newspaper pots, but I like the idea that these are much smaller and take up less space.

You'd need quite a few though for carrots so might be quite labour intensive

I thought you meant it might be labour intensive getting through enough loo roll for it to be worthwhile!   ;)

I've sent an email round my colleagues at work asing them to bring some in.  Starting to get some strange looks.... ;D

[ina]

Yessss, I'm going to try some parsnips in tall newspaper pots inside, sounds like a great idea. Later, when the soil has warmed a bit I'll also sow some outside. Never done parsnips before.

EJ, your loo rolls must be different from the ones in Holland. I tried them last year for broadbeans but the rolls never rotted away enough and they restricted the roots.

[Lady Cosmos]

Parsnips grow well in paper pots. I put them in as late as possible, last year it was 13 of Mai, To avoid the flies. I also put compost and sand i the holes and warm the soil (with black plastic- germination is much quicker). That will give you many  long and straight roots. Loo rolls: may be change the brand ;D ;D
I use not the hard carton rolls, they, indeed do not rot away quick enough.
But the soft ones, the ones you can crush easy with your fingers work pretty well.. I use them for runner beans, french beans, etc.

[Andy H]

so how are you all folding you newspapers?
Lessons in ory ???garmy :P needed I think

[Derekthefox]

This has probably been covered before, but what the heck . . .

to make paper pots from newspaper . . .

take one tabloid size double sheet (folded) aligned as normal portrait format in front of you.
Run a gluestick across the top margin.
Place a rolling pin across the bottom of the page and roll up.
Ensure the glue line has 'stuck', then slide the tube off the rolling pin.
Cut the tube into halves or thirds depending on required pot size.
Fold over the bottom two inches or so to secure the base.
Place in a seed tray and fill with compost and suitable seed . . .

Hope this is understandable, never managed to get a Blue Peter badge !

[ina]

Aha! How to make paper pots. I got me a wooden thingamejiggy from England to make them with. Works great! You roll a piece of newspaper around the mold, fold the bottom and twist/push it onto the base. The bottom stays put and the whole pot stays in shape without glue or tape. The bottom of the mold has an indentation that fits over the center sticking up part of the base. I hope these pictures show it better than my words.

[Andy H]

Where did you get it Ina?
Is it specially for the purpose?
I want one..............................NOW............... >:(

[Moggle]

Derek, your description made sense to me, thanks for sharing, will be very helpful. Thanks Ina for sharing your gadget too, looks great  :)

Andy H, I am sure I have seen those somewhere, I was thinking the organic catalogue, but can't seem to find it on their web site. I will scour a couple of my catalogues and find out, unless Ina comes back with her answer sooner.

Edit

Here's the link, it's called a 'potmaker'

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

[Andy H]

found one! in us dollars though so searching for one now in uk.

http://www.tvorganics.com/main.cfm?Action=show1product&ProductCode=GT0010&formkey=020103105958

[Jesse]

Pretty sure I saw those in the Harrod mail order magazine. Think they have a website, do a google. I prefer Derek's method because then you can make the pots any size you want, just use a different size bottle instead of a rolling pin to get the diameter you want. Or use two cups or pots, make sure one fits inside the other. Same principle as the gadget Ina has but cheaper.

Yes, Harrod do have them, here's the link: http://www.harrodhorticultural.com/HarrodSite/search/product/Gifts%5FTimber+Potting/GRE-315.htm

[ina]

Where did you get it Ina?
Is it specially for the purpose?
I want one..............................NOW............... >:(

Hi Andy,
After I read your question I spent a long time thinking and trying to remember the name of the place where I got the pot maker. I know it was at lavender fields in Norfolk but I don't remember the name. Finally decided to find a picture we had in the hope somebody would know the name for you.

(when I was ready to post the picture, I saw that several others had already posted places where you can get one but after all that searching, I'm gonna post it anyway hahaha, I think I paid 8 or 9 pounds for it and I remember I thought it was expensive at the time but so cute and it works great).

[Andy H]

Thanks for that. Great picture. Would love to know where on Norfolk. Going on the broads in august so was wondering if it was easy walking distance from a mooring point???
Bet its miles away though :-[

[Andy H]

Ina
Found the lavender place. Use this link.

http://www.norfolk-lavender.co.uk/content/default.asp

[ina]

We didn't take this picture ourselves, borrowed it from internet hehehe. Sorry, I should have said that when I posted it.

Ah yes, I could ofcourse have googled it today when I was looking for the name of the place, after all that is how we got this picture, a long time ago, for our vacation slide show (not much in bloom while we were there).

Andy H, I have no idea if it's within walking distance of a mooring place, we went there by car.

It really is a nice place to visit, we took the guided tour and the man told us so many interesting facts about the lavender plants and history, I especially liked the distillery tour.

[Mrs Ava]

Funny you should say that Ina, I had taken on board what you had previously written about the loo rolls not rotting away terribly well, so when I was planting them, I carefull tore the rolls, following the spiral line to just open them up a bit, careful so zero root damage and hopefully the roots can do their things.  Didn't have a problem last year with my corns or squashes though, altho I did notice that some loo rolls are better quality than others, especially the loo rolls purchased from the 'cheaper' shops like Lidls.  :-\