[Lupin lurcher]

Hi everyone, I have heard that some seeds do well grown in empty toilet rolls as you do not have to transplant them, as they are degradable you can plant the whole thing into the ground.  My question is what type of seeds do I use for this method, does it work or not.  Thanks Mandy

[mr Isaccs]

Hi Mandy,
     I'm collecting loo rolls like mad at the moment, have asked friends to save them for me.
They work very well, just like a bio-degradable pots.
     Beans and peas are good started off in them but you can plant anything you would normally plant in a regular pot, and saves root disturbance too.
     If I can't get enough them I shall get on with making some of Richies paper pots.

[Ivor Backache]

works very well for parsnip.

[galen]

As I've typed replies have come in !! Anyway to agree with both last year I used toilet rolls for all my beans (runner, french and broad) and to start my replacement parsnips in. They do become mouldy, I just cleaned them up every now and again and had no problems.

With the parsnips, you do have to plant them in the ground, in the tube, as soon as the seedlings appear.

You could also try paper pots :

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=11390.0

Good luck

[Trillium]

Individual pots like loo rolls are good for plants that don't like their roots disturbed with any sort of transplanting: cukes, melons, parsnips, beets, sweet peas and a few other fussy flowers.
Sometimes you get a bit of mold on the rolls, often due to the glues used, but a quick spritz with cool camomile tea or a damp off product will sort that out.
When planting out, be sure the top of the loo roll is below the soil surface, or, clip off excess paper tops before planting.

[Lupin lurcher]

Thanks e very so much for all your replies.  Gallen, when you say they can become mouldy and you kleen them up, do you pull them up out of the ground and kleen them.  Mandy

[galen]

Mandy

No, the tubes can become mouldy quite quickly, way before they go in the ground, all I do is give them a wipe with a damp cloth - What Trillium suggests would be safer from a potential desease spreading point of view but I've had no problems at all.

Do make sure the loo rolls and ground are damp before planting to ensure the tubes disentegrate.

[Lupin lurcher]

Thanks Galen, sorry for being a bit thick but am very new to this game. I have about 20 loo rolls at mo, but as I am growing carrotts, parsnips, sweet peas, beans (or trying to) will have to invite family and friends round for a very hot curry and ask them to save their loo rolls, should have enough in no time.  Mandy

[Elcie]

Hi I also used mine as 'collars' around my leeks to get a whiter stem which worked really well.

[mr Isaccs]

Your a likkle naughty mandy, intending to send your family and friends home cra***ng themselves just so you can get your hands on their loo rolls 

[Lupin lurcher]

I am a bit naughty, Issacs, but to get a good crop you must use cr*p lol, or so Ive been told.  Mandy

[mr Isaccs]