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'toilet roll seed starters'

Chris MasonChris Mason Posts: 159
in The potting shed

 

What's your opinion on 'toilet roll seed starters'? I want to sow sweet peas, garlic chives, comfrey, borage and a few other things, do you lot think this would be a cheap, practical and environmentally friendly way to start these plants off inside? 

  Thank you 
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Posts

  • chickychicky Posts: 10,410

    I always do my sweetpeas ths way, then plant the whole thing out come May.  Have always had pretty good results.  You often get mould appearing on the side of the tubes (they gat a bit soggy) .....but I ignore it, and it never seems to have done any harm.

    We were having a chat on here a few days ago about the loo roll inner mountains we are all beginning to amass ....so I know I am not aloneimage

  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,036

    I always used loo rolls but they have changed them for the make I use. They are biodegradable and flushable now. The loo rolls last year had almost disappeared by the time I planted them out, bit of a collapsed mess!

    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,036

    Sometimes it's maddening. I put a lot of seed packets in a used supermarket bag and the bag is turning into white flakes.

    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • LoganLogan Posts: 2,532
    I've been using them for years, I agree with Chicky they do get a bit mouldy but that's ok.The kitchen roll tubes I use for parsnips, just plant it all out side when the roots have reached the bottom. Don't water them first or they'll break upimage
  • cornellycornelly Posts: 970

    Kitchen roll tubes around leeks when I plant them out, earth up around, gives the leeks a good length of blanch.

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,087

    I use loo roll innards to start peas and beans but not smaller seeds which don't need to send down such deep roots.  I use 3 or 4 inch square pots for squashes and trays or modules for everything else.

    I keep seed packets in old ice cream tubs, sorted by weather the final plant is leafy, fruity, flowery or rooty.

     

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Chris MasonChris Mason Posts: 159

     

    I've found that if you sort of fold one you can squeeze one inside another, I'll do this so it's twice as thick and hopefully it will make it stronger thus it might hold its shape until they're planted. I don't fully understand what one of you mean when you say 'root space' are you referring to things such has carrots etc (things that are harvested for their roots?)

  • KatziKatzi Posts: 15

    Tried this for sweet peas a few years ago - ended up with a lot of very mouldy loo roll centres!

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