Seedlings - Newspaper pots
A good way of growing up your seedlings is in newspaper pots.
They work best if packed into a polystyrene vegetable box (ask your greengrocer) or some
They work best if packed into a polystyrene vegetable box (ask your greengrocer) or some
other plastic box. Isolated newspaper pots dry out quickly, especially in warm weather.
Make sure the box has drain holes in the bottom and keep the pots moist but not soggy.
You will need a sheet of newspaper, a bottle or can to use as a mould,
and a roll of sticky tape.
Start with a sheet of newspaper. Fold it lengthwise along a line a bit
less than one third of the height of the page:
Fold the paper lengthwise again, along the upturned edge of the paper.
You should be left with a strip of about 3cm at the top. This will fold
under later to form the base of the pot:
Next you will shape the pot by rolling the newspaper around a bottle or
can. Position the can (or bottle) so that the bottom of the can is along
the folded up edge.
Roll the paper around the can and secure with a piece of sticky tape.
A spray paint can is excellent as its indented base allows you to
make a good sharp crease when you push the unfolded end of the
newspaper under to make the bottom of the pot.
Then fold the last 3cm of the paper into the the bottom of the can and
pinch firmly around the edge to hold the base of the pot in place:
Slip the paper pot off the can: voila! A pot, ready to go.
Pack the pots into your polystyrene box or other container. Carefully fill each pot with potting soil and
plant a seedling into each one. Alternately, plant seeds into them. They work well for plants that don't
appreciate being transplanted, eg zucchinis and others in the curcubit family, beans or peas. Plant
one zucchini or pumpkin or cucumber seed per pot or two bean or pea seeds per pot.
When the seedlings are about 10-15cm tall they can be put into the garden. No need to remove the
newspaper, it will rot away in the soil, and the little plants will not suffer any root disturbance.
Bean seedlings ready to go into the vegie patch, pots and all:
