Everything these days is expensive, and also the more we consume the more we damage the environment. So I recycle where I can, if we have yogurts I save the pots, pierce a hole in the bottom with a screw for drainage and I’ve got a pot to start a seed off in. As we often have yogurt I have a steady supply of pots that don’t cost a fortune. If we buy mushrooms from a supermarket I reuse the plastic container as a seed tray. The clear plastic containers make great mini greenhouses placed on top of seed trays.
Pots that don’t cost a fortune
By far the best money saving/planet friendly gadget is the paper pot press my son bought me last year. By following the instructions on the box I can turn half a sheet of tabloid newspaper into a bio-degradable pot that’s perfect for starting off peas, beans, brassicas, squashes and much more(but not root crops). Then when the plant is ready to be planted out I plant it straight into the soil without removing the pot which because it’s made from newspaper will eventually disintegrate into the soil allowing the roots to spread uninhibited.
Another type of pot that I have found to be unbeatable for starting off parsnips is the tube that the toilet paper is wrapped around. As parsnips don’t like their roots disturbed all you need do is to pinch the tube closed at the bottom then fill with potting compost and sow your parsnip seed. Then when it is time to plant them out make a hole in the soil with a dibber and gently spread the bottom of the tube open and plant into the soil (tube as well). The tube being made of cardboard will disintegrate long before the parsnip has grown.
Other Ideas
I’m sure there are many other good ideas for recycling everyday items and turning them into pots please comment below and tell me your top tips.
