[Snap Dragon]

I have millions of toilet roll tubes hanging around at home.... apart from the girls making things out of them, and composting them what veg can I start off in them.

I used them for sweet peas last year but what about veg?

[digital_biscuit]

Someone on my plot used them to grow peas and beans in and then when they are large enough you can put the whole thing into the soil.

[sophiejo]

I have just planted some broad beans (red epicure) in them. Not sure how well it will work, as i haven't tried it before.

[Contadino]

I have 50 kohl rabi germinating in them now.  The plan is to transplant the whole tube to the ground when it's warm enough.

I'm also going to try germinating some yellow onions in them from seed, as my book says they don't like being transplanted.  So far I've had no luck germinating onions ever, so I figured it has to be worth a try.

[davesplot]

Hi, last year I had excellent results with parsnip seed starting them off in toilet roll tubes.

I used the following method about March time last year.

I cut the toilet roll tubes into 1/3rds, placed them in a seed tray and then filled them up with potting compost placing 3 seeds per tube.

Once germinated and the plants about an inch in height, I transplanted each tube into a prepared hole; each hole being formed by an iron bar to a depth of about 8 inches, then filling each hole with good soil.

Once growth was well underway i carefully removed two of the parsnip plants to allow the strongest to grow on.

I raised about 80 plants in all to a good size with very little forking.

Hope this helps.

Dave

[Nikkithefoot]

As well as starting veg you can put them over young leeks. Helps to blanch the stems without getting dirt between the leaves.

Nikki

[growmore]

I use toilet roll centres for nearly everything. Brassicas I start off in a tray them transplant to t.r.c. then into the soil including the card. Sweetcorn, Parsnips, beans - the list is huge . They are great and biodegradable. You can transplant into the soil without disturbing the roots and the cardboard just rots away

[Aunt Sally]

I've planted some broad beans into Richy's style rolled newspaper tubes.  They seem to be holding together at the moment  :?

[EzLou]

They also make excellent kindling when you can't find any newspaer and the electrics gone off.

[mashauk]

I've been using the paperpots for germinating (although none of my peppers have come up so far), but once out of the propagator they do seem to dry out very quickly, is this normal?

[Falcon_man]

Can you start carrots off in these??

I know you are meant to plant them straight into the soil but if the tube roles prevent disturbing the roots would this work, has any tried previously?

Cheers

[Rob the rake]

Can you start carrots off in these??

I know you are meant to plant them straight into the soil but if the tube roles prevent disturbing the roots would this work, has any tried previously?

Cheers

Carrots throw down a long tap root very quickly, so you'd need to transplant when the seedlings are very young.

I know some of our members have had success with this method, so it may be worth trying a search.

[jolly jen]

ok can someone please explain how you grow seeds from using loo  rolls please,do you use soil as well?

[Trillium]

Yes, you'd fill the roll with potting mix rather than actual soil, water it, add a bit more mix if necessary, put your seed in and top with a bit more dry mix (which will dampen on its own). Have them already set on garden drainage trays but not squashed together. They need a bit of air so mold doesn't start.
Some people cut the rolls in thirds, others use the whole roll. Depends on what you're starting and how long it needs to stay there. Parsnips and toms benefit from the whole roll.

[jolly jen]

thank you,i will try it out and pass it on to my mate as we both couldnt work it out,