Cinnamon Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 I have been collecting them since last summer,when I heard that they were ideal for seed sowing,but have a couple of rookie questions. So,do you fill them to the top with soil,or not? Then you sit them in a tray,I assume,so they can be easily watered? And do you use a whole inner,or snip it in half. I guess they are ideal for bean seed as its best to get a long root run..... And do you just plant the seedlings out still in the inner which will rot away? I like the idea of this,but need some pointers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 I have been collecting them since last summer,when I heard that they were ideal for seed sowing,but have a couple of rookie questions.So,do you fill them to the top with soil,or not? fill it as you would any plant pot Then you sit them in a tray,I assume,so they can be easily watered? yes and to keep them together And do you use a whole inner,or snip it in half. I guess they are ideal for bean seed as its best to get a long root run..... I used them whole And do you just plant the seedlings out still in the inner which will rot away? yes I like the idea of this,but need some pointers the only time I used them I think that they had been glued up with an anti fungal glue as I didn't get a single seed germinate the rest off the packet did. I used them for parsnips Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 I've used these a few times and generally get v good results. You can use them at full size for e.g. beans, sweet peas or anything that has "big seeds" and long roots or cut them down for smaller seeds. I tend to fill them just below the top, as you would with a "normal" pot. They're best put in a tray 'cos after being kept nice and damp the tubes go a bit mushy but that also means when the seeds are ready for potting on/planting out, you don't need to take them out of the tube which will just biodegrade. All in all, I've done just as well with seeds planted in loo roll middles as in pots or anything else (seeds don't seem to mind!!! ) but would be interested to hear what you plant in them and with what result. Good luck, keep us posted ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted February 27, 2011 Author Share Posted February 27, 2011 Great advice - thanks very much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 You can make your own seed roll from a sheet of newspaper. I use any handy small bottle as a template and simply tuck the ends in for a bottom. That way you can pick them up before there is much of a root system without loosing a lot of the soil. Most of my larger seeds go in those and they rot away once planted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 20, 2011 Share Posted March 20, 2011 I have never had much luck with loo rolls - I got little brown mushrooms/fungi growing around the edges - and no sprouting seeds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chooklady Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 I've got my first batch of peas coming up in some loo rolls, I cut them in half and so far so good. They are germinating nicely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treekeeper Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 I always do my sweetpeas in them with great success don't over water and you won't get fungi etc. Just plant out in the rolls and they rot away in the compost SIMPLES! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 I have never had much luck with loo rolls - I got little brown mushrooms/fungi growing around the edges - and no sprouting seeds I used to and originally had very good results but I haven't for the past couple of years because of the same problems as Dilly - and coral spot growing on the card. I use root trainers now, and as I've found the manufacturer I can get spares easily when they go kaput. I've used them with far better success than with the loo roll bits and they don't go mouldy and can be reused time and again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted April 4, 2011 Share Posted April 4, 2011 Just adding a different twist - Pot Noodle pots with drainage holes put in make brilliant deep pots for beans to root into. They have a use after all! After my family had such a craving for these disgusting things we now have boxes full of these pots and OH loves making holes in them for me! I suppose if you put 3/4 pea seeds in that would work very well too. They like to stretch out their roots, although I have root trainers for those as I have previously mentioned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 I'm just about to get cracking with my loo roll middles (oo er missus?!) - have used them successfully in the past, just planted seedling, cardboard and all into the ground. they do need to be wedged together into a tray of some kind, so they dont all fall over when they're damp. what I CANT remember though is if I need to start sweet peas and sunflowers off in a cold frame or similar? just waiting for my cold frame to be delivered, have a sunny but draughty windowsill available in the meantime... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...