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My new seeding containers
5 posters
Page 1 of 1
My new seeding containers
Today started my seeding using a new system rather reusing my plastic trays this year. Trying a Biodegradable approach using paper rolls i.e. paper towel and toilet paper rolls.
The finished containers are 3 inch tall and about 1 " in diameter hold almost a 1/2 cup of seed starting soil. Made about 75 of these containers using white glue they seem to be sturdy enough. All nestled together with long wood craft sticks that are alphanumerical tags as recorded on my note pad and seed packets no need to write down the plants.
What is yet to be determined is how long before they start to break down, Think they will last longer with those all nestle together. Note my avatar, with a party tray 18” with the lid and the wood sticks support the lid over the containers. There is a 3" peat moss container in the middle for watering from the bottom. All the soil is moist and the lamp just lays onto of the lid about 3 inches from the container tops. with a seed plant heating pad underneath. So far so good, time will tell if this method is worth repeating.
Mostly Several kinds of hot peppers and some Lemon balm and Bee balm.
The finished containers are 3 inch tall and about 1 " in diameter hold almost a 1/2 cup of seed starting soil. Made about 75 of these containers using white glue they seem to be sturdy enough. All nestled together with long wood craft sticks that are alphanumerical tags as recorded on my note pad and seed packets no need to write down the plants.
What is yet to be determined is how long before they start to break down, Think they will last longer with those all nestle together. Note my avatar, with a party tray 18” with the lid and the wood sticks support the lid over the containers. There is a 3" peat moss container in the middle for watering from the bottom. All the soil is moist and the lamp just lays onto of the lid about 3 inches from the container tops. with a seed plant heating pad underneath. So far so good, time will tell if this method is worth repeating.
Mostly Several kinds of hot peppers and some Lemon balm and Bee balm.
recoush-
Posts : 105
Join date : 2014-03-01
Location : United States, Illinois, zone 5
Re: My new seeding containers
Can you post some pictures of the process you used to make the containers? What did you need to glue together? And, are you going to place them straight into the garden, tube and all?
roaminroad-
Posts : 13
Join date : 2014-01-14
Location : Zone 7b Northeast Arkansas
Re: My new seeding containers
yes i will as soon as they let me link
Made a power point show with a PDF file with slides and photos on drop box
also on photo bucket. wont let add the link (sorry) tried to paste and break it up but still sees it as a link
Made a power point show with a PDF file with slides and photos on drop box
also on photo bucket. wont let add the link (sorry) tried to paste and break it up but still sees it as a link

recoush-
Posts : 105
Join date : 2014-03-01
Location : United States, Illinois, zone 5
Re: My new seeding containers
Method to make the containers.
The paper rolls IE TP and paper towel rolls are appx 1"x4"
By dividing the container into fours and cutting up an inch
My method which is faster is to wrap an index card around the container add a quarter inch and cut at the line and then fold the card in half and half again. Then tape the index card into a tube and use to mark the four cut marks the small index card is about an inch shorter than the Tube
Cut at the marks then you fold over the tabs and secure with either white glue (school) or glue sticks. Make are dry overnight.
IF not completely dry and you use too soon and not completely dry, as the water hits the wet glue it will pop it open.
There are many people who collect and sell boxes of the TP / towel rolls on eBay 30 for 8 bucks start saving them and using them instead of tossing.
Each 1x3 paper container holds appx 1/2 cup of soil the paper wicks up the water So once they are wet and kept wet you can tell when they start to dry too.
Being paper the whole paper tube make it soaked and plant go right into the loose soil and done.
The paper rolls IE TP and paper towel rolls are appx 1"x4"
By dividing the container into fours and cutting up an inch
My method which is faster is to wrap an index card around the container add a quarter inch and cut at the line and then fold the card in half and half again. Then tape the index card into a tube and use to mark the four cut marks the small index card is about an inch shorter than the Tube
Cut at the marks then you fold over the tabs and secure with either white glue (school) or glue sticks. Make are dry overnight.
IF not completely dry and you use too soon and not completely dry, as the water hits the wet glue it will pop it open.
There are many people who collect and sell boxes of the TP / towel rolls on eBay 30 for 8 bucks start saving them and using them instead of tossing.
Each 1x3 paper container holds appx 1/2 cup of soil the paper wicks up the water So once they are wet and kept wet you can tell when they start to dry too.
Being paper the whole paper tube make it soaked and plant go right into the loose soil and done.
recoush-
Posts : 105
Join date : 2014-03-01
Location : United States, Illinois, zone 5
Re: My new seeding containers
Here is recoush's link for the how-to info. Nicely done
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3bm69233x1owa8l/How%20to%20make%20seed%20starting%20roll%20pots.pdf

https://www.dropbox.com/s/3bm69233x1owa8l/How%20to%20make%20seed%20starting%20roll%20pots.pdf
Re: My new seeding containers
Very kind of you!
Much appreciate your posting the link
Much appreciate your posting the link

recoush-
Posts : 105
Join date : 2014-03-01
Location : United States, Illinois, zone 5
Re: My new seeding containers
After seeing all the new snow come in, thought maybe would put off starting the seeding. Prepped the new containers and have 24 new biodegradable seedlings started nice to see someone else with growing seedlings makes the spring seem even closer.
Seems like from now till the last frost have seedlings to complete every weekend.
Last year my wife saved some seeds from something, so they became my 1st to seed. After placing and watering the seeds. Rembered what they where Spaghetti Squash from the farmers market oh well only about 5 weeks early
Seems like from now till the last frost have seedlings to complete every weekend.
Last year my wife saved some seeds from something, so they became my 1st to seed. After placing and watering the seeds. Rembered what they where Spaghetti Squash from the farmers market oh well only about 5 weeks early

recoush-
Posts : 105
Join date : 2014-03-01
Location : United States, Illinois, zone 5
Re: My new seeding containers

18 " party tray full of the empty containers
here are the 1st 3 mystery plants spaghetti squash

recoush-
Posts : 105
Join date : 2014-03-01
Location : United States, Illinois, zone 5
Re: My new seeding containers
Been 3 weeks got my peppers and squash growing the Towel Containers are still intact, no strutural faiure as yet and they are wet ( damp) most of the time
the squash was a mystery and planted early is is too tall now a jiffy peat pot
removed the light and lid can be seen in the last photo
the dirt on the side was an accidental spill and was just watered, so will disappear very soon sitting on a heating seed mat 70 degrees all the time
so far so good




the squash was a mystery and planted early is is too tall now a jiffy peat pot
removed the light and lid can be seen in the last photo
the dirt on the side was an accidental spill and was just watered, so will disappear very soon sitting on a heating seed mat 70 degrees all the time
so far so good





recoush-
Posts : 105
Join date : 2014-03-01
Location : United States, Illinois, zone 5
Re: My new seeding containers
I'm so glad you are showing this and keeping us updated. I'd like to start some seeds of cucumbers and squash in toilet paper rolls since I know they don't like the roots disturbed when planting outside. I tried using newspaper roll ups one year but they never disintegrated once I buried them in the dirt. I'm hoping the toilet paper rolls will do better. Best of luck to us!


CC


CC
CapeCoddess- Posts : 6824
Join date : 2012-05-20
Age : 67
Location : elbow of the Cape, MA, Zone 6b/7a
Re: My new seeding containers
Thanks for the encouragement
The squash container in the Jiffy post is a test, hopeful the Squash in the pot in the container will break down with the Soil. This was planted too early (a mystery seed) this is an important part of this bio container will it breakdown?
Forgot to mention this is a germinating soil rather than just plan potting soil or MM
This is Johnny's Germinating mix, a variation of the 512 mix...
About 65% are growing some of the seeds are long time 15-20 days started my seeds the 1st weekend , almost 2 weeks since the peppers and Squash was planted. Seems like the Balm grew a lot faster than the package said (itty bitty little leaves are the Balm)

The squash container in the Jiffy post is a test, hopeful the Squash in the pot in the container will break down with the Soil. This was planted too early (a mystery seed) this is an important part of this bio container will it breakdown?
Forgot to mention this is a germinating soil rather than just plan potting soil or MM
This is Johnny's Germinating mix, a variation of the 512 mix...
About 65% are growing some of the seeds are long time 15-20 days started my seeds the 1st weekend , almost 2 weeks since the peppers and Squash was planted. Seems like the Balm grew a lot faster than the package said (itty bitty little leaves are the Balm)
recoush-
Posts : 105
Join date : 2014-03-01
Location : United States, Illinois, zone 5
Re: My new seeding containers
Update, the Towel roll containers are working great. Have 21 types of seeding started of the 21
17 are growing as few as one old 2011 seeds was worth trying as this was Cayenne.
Many are new seeds 2014 of this 21 of 17 are growing and 3 of them started this week One is not growing Spinach started a 2nd set of seeds, Spinach earlier last week good news found some plants to replace them with they will arrive end of April.
Will continue with this method as the Towel rolls don't cost any thing
17 are growing as few as one old 2011 seeds was worth trying as this was Cayenne.
Many are new seeds 2014 of this 21 of 17 are growing and 3 of them started this week One is not growing Spinach started a 2nd set of seeds, Spinach earlier last week good news found some plants to replace them with they will arrive end of April.
Will continue with this method as the Towel rolls don't cost any thing

recoush-
Posts : 105
Join date : 2014-03-01
Location : United States, Illinois, zone 5
Re: My new seeding containers
nice update, thanks! Are any of the rolls dividing at the seams from water at all? are they in the ground yet or still on the tray? If still on the tray when will you be planting them out in the garden?
CapeCoddess- Posts : 6824
Join date : 2012-05-20
Age : 67
Location : elbow of the Cape, MA, Zone 6b/7a
Re: My new seeding containers
starting to collapse but no seam breakage, expecting it will begin soon. should have started a test sample with soil no plants for seam testing oh well
The 2 Squash ( spaghetti N Melon) placed into a Jiffy pete container. The plants started to grow long vines (bit early these seeds came from produce and soaked seeds before planting) they are on a 2nd heated tray by a south window.
The rest are on the tray many of the Pepper are ready to come out into real sunlight (2nd tray) Grow lights are over the seeding trays as seen in previous photo
21 types of plants: 6 veggies, 2 herbs (balm), 7 Peppers, 2 tomato, 4 flowers. 3 of each in the Towel Rolls, some additional started x3
looks like 2 + more weeks before i can start hardening. Hope full to be planting around April 28th average overnight temp is 32 degrees.
Hope today to start prepping the SQF garden in my raised bed setup a center line walk board as (6 feet wide) may need two as suggested not farther then 2 feet apart ( 4 feet) Plan to set up the grid.

The 2 Squash ( spaghetti N Melon) placed into a Jiffy pete container. The plants started to grow long vines (bit early these seeds came from produce and soaked seeds before planting) they are on a 2nd heated tray by a south window.
The rest are on the tray many of the Pepper are ready to come out into real sunlight (2nd tray) Grow lights are over the seeding trays as seen in previous photo
21 types of plants: 6 veggies, 2 herbs (balm), 7 Peppers, 2 tomato, 4 flowers. 3 of each in the Towel Rolls, some additional started x3
looks like 2 + more weeks before i can start hardening. Hope full to be planting around April 28th average overnight temp is 32 degrees.
Hope today to start prepping the SQF garden in my raised bed setup a center line walk board as (6 feet wide) may need two as suggested not farther then 2 feet apart ( 4 feet) Plan to set up the grid.

recoush-
Posts : 105
Join date : 2014-03-01
Location : United States, Illinois, zone 5
Re: My new seeding containers
the Towel rolls work great after about 8 weeks they are starting to breakdown and are very mushy.
they soak water up from the bottom when tray watering and allow the water to flow through to the bottom into the tray when watered from the top used seed starting formula
got my Pieris and Sugar maples planted was planing to start Hardening the seedlings this week but we are back into the 30's Started my Lupine and cornflower so they should be good come early may
have to make up some more towel rolls as i used up the 95 i made they all have growing seedlings and most are ready to plant moved the larger one to the heated window tray.


they soak water up from the bottom when tray watering and allow the water to flow through to the bottom into the tray when watered from the top used seed starting formula
got my Pieris and Sugar maples planted was planing to start Hardening the seedlings this week but we are back into the 30's Started my Lupine and cornflower so they should be good come early may
have to make up some more towel rolls as i used up the 95 i made they all have growing seedlings and most are ready to plant moved the larger one to the heated window tray.


recoush-
Posts : 105
Join date : 2014-03-01
Location : United States, Illinois, zone 5

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