[massa]

Hi, i read on here a while back that toilet roll tubes are excellent for starting off something and cant remember exactly what they where good for i have collected loads but cant find the topic that mentioned them! does any one use toilet roll tubes for anything specific?

[Aidy]

they make great pretend binoculars  
Seriously, use them for all sorts like sowing broad beans, runners etc, sweetcorn, I know people have planted parsnips in them and just planted the whole thing in the ground once they have germinated, the list is endless really.
Edit: remember the glue they use will go mouldy in time!

[arugula]

They are great for use in making RICHY'S PAPER POTS.

[robbodaveuk]

They are best for parsnips and sweetcorn, they don't likr their roots disturbed, so just plant the whole lot out, bog rolls an all.

  Robbo.

[Kristen]

I think they are a bit narrow-diameter, and I prefer Richy's Paper Pots instead.

I'm storing my loo rolls to try popping them over the leeks to see if I can blanch a longer stem.  Maybe the celery too ...

[juliec]

Just read Richie's paper pots.  I think thats brilliant and Aunt Sallys plants look so healthy  growing in them.  I cant wait to get the kids making them.

Thanks again to this site.

Jools

[Jamie Butterworth]

I use them to start Sweet Peas as they hate root disturbance

[Goldfinger]

I think the answer to the question in the link about 'will the ink in the paper poison the plants/earth?' is that nowadays, the ink is virtually harmless in small quantities, on the paper.

'Elf & Safety, don't you just luvvit!!! 

[Nige2Plots]

Toilet Roll tubes do have numerous uses. If you cut them lenghtways they can be used to help keep your Leeks white and free of soil. In the non sowing period I compost them.

[Kleftiwallah]

http://i981.photobucket.com/albums/ae294/Kleftiwallah/IMG_2987.jpg

My overwintering onions going in plus tubes.   Cheers,   Tony.

[Yorkie]

Just looking at your picture Tony, I would advise anyone to remove the piece of roll / paper which sticks up above the soil.  It will act as a wick to remove moisture from beneath the soil, so that the roll can dry out - affecting the roots' ability to grow out through the roll, and preventing the roll from speedy decomposition.

[Totty]

Yorkie,
 That really is excellent advice. Up until now i always plant parsnips and carrorts directly into tubes in the ground. I never worried about having any tube stuck out. I will now.

Totty

[DD.]

Good spot Yorkie.

We've advised the same in the past with sweetcorn, didn't make the quantum leap to onions!

[Nikkithefoot]

The same would apply to using paper pots too. The tops must either be completely buried or torn off once they are planted.

[Kristen]

I tear mine off and just poke them into the soil ... they'll rot the same as the rest then!