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Cheap Trick: Make Your Own Seedling Pots with Toilet Paper Rolls





A quick tutorial on recycling empty cardboard rolls.




• Take your empty and cut 1 inch slits across one side.

• Fold the slits down until it forms a flat surface.

• Pack a little potting soil inside each tube.

• Plant your seed.

•  Stand them up in a tray and water regularly.

• Once sprouted, plant tube and all directly in the ground.

Not only does it provide a collar against cutworms, but you never disturb the root system. The tube will disintegrate within the season and provide additional mulch to the soil.

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Comments

Michael Keyton said…
Thank you for that roll seedling tip. Nothing more to say :)
June 3, 2016 at 3:19 AM
Angela Brown said…
That's a pretty good idea. For a little while, we kept the rolls so kiddo, in her crafty stage, could make binoculars :-)
June 3, 2016 at 3:21 AM
Stacy McKitrick said…
Cool! If I ever plant again, I'll keep that in mind. :)
June 3, 2016 at 4:26 AM
betty said…
That is an excellent idea about the toilet paper! Wouldn't it be good just to buy it for the year and then not worry about it?

betty
June 3, 2016 at 5:55 AM
Maria Zannini said…
Mike: I think it's most valuable for roots that are easily damaged in transplanting, like most root vegetables.

My area is warm enough to sow directly but I can see using this technique for colder regions where it pays to start them indoors.
June 3, 2016 at 6:42 AM
Maria Zannini said…
Angela:
re: binoculars
That's a cute idea.! Never having had kids (other than Greg) I don't have many tips for kids' activities.
June 3, 2016 at 6:43 AM
Maria Zannini said…
It's a good idea for your region where you can't plant outside until later in the year. You'll have a head start from your neighbors.
June 3, 2016 at 6:44 AM
Maria Zannini said…
Betty: Some of our friends think that driving 30 minutes to the nearest town isn't so bad, but not when you run out of something.

Toilet paper is one of those things I never want to see in short supply. :)
June 3, 2016 at 6:46 AM
JackieBCentralTexas said…
Both are excellent tips Maria. passing the seedling one on to my husband as he may just implement next growing season in containers rather than in-the-ground planting since apparently our rains are going to be severe this year instead of gentle which is what we need for a garden to survive and flourish.

Plus everyone around us who planted is complaining about the abundant rainfall/severe thunderstorms drowning their gardens and the usable produce is way below normal for them as a result.
June 3, 2016 at 9:25 AM
Maria Zannini said…
Jackie: We've been lucky. Since our main garden is in raised beds nothing has drowned. It's thriving, though we could use a little more sunshine to get the fruit to ripen.

It's been a weird weather pattern this year.

PS Happy birthday!
June 3, 2016 at 12:02 PM
Starting Seeds On The Cheap said…
[…] paper tubes: I did a Cheap Trick post on this one. If you can remember to hold on to your toilet paper tubes, they make easy and free […]
May 8, 2018 at 2:01 AM
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