Reusable seedling cup update

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I enhanced the technique today. Using a 60 count pack of 16 oz plastic cups, I seeded tomato plants in under 90 minutes. I use 1/2 sheet of newsprint laid over an upturned Bama Jelly glass drinking tumbler. Press the seedling cup down over the tumbler and newspaper, give the paper and plastic cup a spin, fold the paper edges up and remove from the glass. Makes a nice cup shaped cavity for filling. Fill with potting mix, tuck the edges in making the seed hole, then compress with the glass if you like. A poor man's soil blocker and homestead planting assembly line.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), March 19, 2002

Answers

Jay, I do something like that, though I don't use the plastic cups, I just make the newspaper pots and pack them rather tightly into an old plastic dish pan so they stand up. I use an old soup can with duck tape around the sharp end. It works great! I've got several things going though to early for tomato plants here just yet.

-- Kelly (homearts2002@yahoo.com), March 19, 2002.

They sell little wooden things to do that with just a strip of paper that look like a shorter, fatter version of the wooden "pusher" that comes with a kitchenaid mixer.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), March 19, 2002.

I just use old yogurt cups I've saved for several years. Kelly, I sowed some tomato seed in pots today. I usually do them about this time and put them under grow lights and by planting time they are a nice size. I plan to put out at least 60 tomato plants this year.

-- Barb in Ky. (bjconthefarm@yahoo.com), March 19, 2002.

Did you really Barb? Wow I guess its later than I thought. I went out to the garden today, splash splash splash-any more rain, and I'm going to have to take the row boat. and we are suppose to get more rain!

Yeah, I've seen those little wooden gadgets and wanted one but they seemed a little pricey. My old soup can works pretty well.

-- Kelly (homearts2002@yahoo.com), March 19, 2002.


I don't own one either, I just was wondering why the plastic cups at all--the gadget is just for newspaper.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), March 19, 2002.


I just save a glass jar the size of the pot I want then cut the paper in strips to a size that will allow me to wrap around the jar with enough to fold over the bottom. I think that the glass makes it easier to get the finished pot off the jar as it is smooth glass. I also wrap the paper around several times to make them more sturdy. gail

-- gail missouri ozarks (gefozarks@centurytel.net), March 19, 2002.

What I like best of my approach is that with an initial investment of $4, I'm set for the next 3 or four seasons. Bet that wooden thingy costs a bit more.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), March 19, 2002.

It's great that everybody is recycling newspapers, but if you're in a hurry and still want to save money (who doesn't?!) buy a box of those little paper "Dixie" cups that are for bathroom dispensers. They're very cheap, and one box goes a long way. All you have to do is add soil & seed. You can put them straight in the ground or into a bigger pot when they're big enough (I usually punch a few holes or tear out the bottom first. They break down as fast as the newspaper - dispite the slightly waxed coating. And since they're small, you can pack a lot of them in a pretty small space for germinating.

-- Deborah Stephenson (wonkaandgypsy@hotmail.com), March 19, 2002.

Hello Folks,

I just use tin cans with a couple of holes punched in the bottom. They work well and also help the enviroment by not filling up the landfills.

Sincerely,

Ernest

-- http://communities.msn.com/livingoffthelandintheozarks (espresso42@hotmail.com), March 19, 2002.


Ernest, you can't recycle tin cans in your area? We can't recycle yogurt containers where we are now, although you can in other areas.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), March 19, 2002.


Just a note of caution:

Last year I used newspaper pots, and every plant that was in them was sickly and stunted. They did not recover until planted out. All the others that were in plastic trays or containers were fine. I think it may have been the dyes or something.

-- Chenoa (ganter@primus.ca), March 20, 2002.


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