Here is an older article from my previous blog. We needed a filler for today so please excuse my re post. Enjoy the information and links though.
Ever thought about buying one of those wooden round peg “things” that make newspaper pots? Well, except for the fact that they look nice they are totally irrelevant because there are lots and lots of links on line for many different styles of newspaper pots.
Really my issue with the purchased wood pot maker is that it is only one size and often gardeners need multiple sizes for our different potting needs.
So today I am adding some links for different newspaper pots to make. Please hang on to these instructions because you may find yourself using them sooner than you think. Especially if you decide to start asparagus, or some other early plant.
Not only can you use newspapers to make many many recyclable pots of different sizes, but they are easy to find and get for free from friends and neighbors even if you don’t take a subscription.ย And if your community like mine does not recycle newspaper, which makes a great place to acquire lots of newspaper, then another really good place to get large reams of it for pots or mulch is your local school. Since we don’t take the paper, nor do any of our neighbors, that is where we have to go when we need large amounts. Since I also use newspaper under my mulches to ultra suppress weeds, I try and start collecting in the late fall/ early winter since the schools are out in the summer and I will then have more trouble finding enough paper for all my needs. Usually at least one of the teachers will use them for the current events so it’s a great place to start with anyways.
So here are some links that will give you a number of different ideas and styles for pots to make.
Since this is an older article from my previous blog some of the links were bad and needed replacing but all seem to be pretty good still.
Here is my favorite style of pot demonstrated by no ordinary homestead along with a video for those of you who enjoy learning that way.ย This is a new link for this article but I do so enjoy this more “square” style of news paper pot.
There is also this one without pictorial, just word directions : http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles/polachic49.html
Here is a seed envelope making page which is handy for right now Seed envelopes.
Here is another pot: Newspaper pot 2
Here’s another pot: Newspaper pot 3
And a few more pictures here: Newspaper pot 4
Now I know that you can also use things like toilet paper rolls but I have some problems with those:
1—they aren’t big enough when you need to grow out things like tomato seedlings that need to be potted and repotted.
2–I buy the “triple” roll size rolls. So I would have to save those all year just to get barely enough rolls ๐ And when storage is an issue—who wants to. I’d rather just toss them in the compost pile.
3 — For those of you who are paperless, even in the bathroom, that idea leaves you a bit high and dry (sorry…couldn’t help myself ๐
By the way—I also own a “soil blocker” as seen here: Peaceful Valley farm and garden
I own the smallest and the medium size. I love them for seed starting when I have the room to set up all my seedling “stuff” Sometimes my garage is chock full of too much stuff for me to get everything going. Slowly we are rectifying that problem but sometimes we have large projects going during the winter and our storage space comes at a premium. Seed blocks (with cats, dogs etc are a bit messy for beside your bed)
However I do love to use them to start things like sweet peas or other seeds that don’t “really” need to be sprouted inside but maybe I just want to. The seeds that come fast and quick….so I don’t need to have the block around for long. Eventually I will invest in the big one but since I really only need it for a few plants I just haven’t gotten around to purchasing it. Each year though I get better and better at starting and supplying all my needs for my garden so I do see it in my future. During the interim the newspaper pots take up the slack since I can make them as big as I need them to be.
Thanks for mentioning my newspaper pot tutorial! I’ve had such great results making them that way and even though I go a little crazy making them just before each planting session begins, I can’t think of a better way to use up free newspaper.
I’m also going to be adding a tutorial on folding origami seed envelopes soon…if life will slow down just a little. Famous last words, right?
Thanks again & I’m going to be adding your blog to my Homesteading blogroll.
Your welcome Tiffany ๐
[…] over at Not Dabbling In Normal pulled together a comprehensive list of ways to make starter pots for seedlings out of newspaper – different methods to suit different uses. (The dancing one has also written a great article […]
[…] over at Not Dabbling In Normal pulled together a comprehensive list of ways to make starter pots for seedlings out of newspaper – different methods to suit different uses. (The dancing one has also written a great article […]