Wondering if any gardeners here have used paper plates as starter pots. I'm gonna buy a pack of seeds and make sure it works but wondering if anyone has seen this. We used et cartons when I was a kid but they are all styrofoam now.
Gardeners?
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I haven't. But I'm not sure it would work too well, unless you were going to transplant them. I haven't had much luck with the little brown paper cups meant for seed starting, the roots don't seem to break through the way I want.
I have better results starting in plastic trays, or cups, and then transplanting into the dirt, after popping the plants out of the cups.
I have better results starting in plastic trays, or cups, and then transplanting into the dirt, after popping the plants out of the cups.
I have been using a soil block machine so no pots or toilet rolls. I found toilet rolls sometimes grew mold as well. The soil block has worker fantastically well.
I got mine from https://www.worm.co.uk/products/eco-soil-block-maker in the UK but they are available at many websites.
My first year using them and very pleased with how it is working. I used it to grow 500 blocks of herbs under lights and then watered with a mist on the top while the seeds germinated and then after i could see roots popping out the bottom i water from the base. The roots air prune and hold the soil together. You have to get a good ratio of soil/water to get it to bind well and you can add perlite too. After a few trial runs you will find a good consistency that holds up well.
Originally i had a DIY version i made out of a old piece of PVC pipe and a kind of plunger to pop the soil out but after the first 500 batch I upgraded so i could make 4 at a time.
I got mine from https://www.worm.co.uk/products/eco-soil-block-maker in the UK but they are available at many websites.
My first year using them and very pleased with how it is working. I used it to grow 500 blocks of herbs under lights and then watered with a mist on the top while the seeds germinated and then after i could see roots popping out the bottom i water from the base. The roots air prune and hold the soil together. You have to get a good ratio of soil/water to get it to bind well and you can add perlite too. After a few trial runs you will find a good consistency that holds up well.
Originally i had a DIY version i made out of a old piece of PVC pipe and a kind of plunger to pop the soil out but after the first 500 batch I upgraded so i could make 4 at a time.
Thanks for the responses. Sorry it took a while to get back. I've been super busy with work. Yes I was planning on transplanting. They would be used for apple tree rootstock. However now I'm kinda interested in the compacted soil starters. Think I will look into that more as well.
I use egg cartons, have friends and family save them, put a couple 1/16 hole in bottom. You can also pulp paper with a sink plunger, bucket and water. To answer your OP, yes you could use paper plates, just get it wet and form to size.
I use egg racks so egg cartons isn't a big issue for me
edited: I should say incubator egg trays instead of egg racks, I purchases a 30 egg tray new just for storing eggs.
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I'm using isa brown, plymouth rock and sussex, good layers year around, fertility a little low on the hens so not even running a rooster this year, next year I may run a heavier breed with better fertility running 4:1 ratio 1 cock per 4 hens just not this year.
Nice. I started with bastard chicks. Mostly mix breed. Couple isa browns. When I got my jerseys a few of them were temperamental towards the jerseys so both roosters and 2 of the other hens have found their way to the freezer. The Jersey's are my end game. Big broilers. Big eggs just not as often but more than enough. That with my big ass garden I'm set for food. Lol
I start a lot of garden plants with peat pellets from Walmart.
Peat pellets are great for cantelope, tomatoes, pumkin, watermelon, honeydew...and reefer (or so I've heard).
Peat pellets are great for cantelope, tomatoes, pumkin, watermelon, honeydew...and reefer (or so I've heard).
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I use mainly the paper type egg cartons that people who buy organic give me. Only thing in the garden I have to start are the eggplants, tomatoes and peppers. Being as South as we are everything else goes straight in the ground. I have also used those pellets which have good results but I've learned that if I don't have to buy, I don't anymore.
Just my two cents. I have been growing plants ranging from veggies to orchids since I was young. Those compostable starter pots can be hit or miss. I currently use plug trays. Once the roots set well they are easy to pull out and transplant. Plus the trays are cheap. They come in several cell sizes and if taken care of they can last for several seasons before the sun starts to break them down. Just don't store them in direct sunlight because they can warp.
This is a small cell very sturdy plug tray which is good for seed starting and fast transplanting. I use the 162 cell tray for small stuff like spinach, lettuce and the sorts.
https://www.greenhousemegastore.com/containers-trays/trays-flats/proptek-26-13-propagation-trays?returnurl=/containers-trays/trays-flats/?count=60
This is a good all around tray. Not as sturdy but very handy. The 75 and 98 cell trays are what I use.
https://www.greenhousemegastore.com/containers-trays/trays-flats/propagation-trays?returnurl=/containers-trays/trays-flats/%3
This is the bottom tray that I use for the 72 and 98 cell trays. This helps to support the plug trays when you move them around. The 162 cell trays do not need a bottom tray due to how rigid they are.
https://www.greenhousemegastore.com/containers-trays/trays-flats/1020-daisy-trays?returnurl=/containers-trays/trays-flats/
Just some food for thought for next spring.
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I get all my propagation trays from Greenhouse Megastore. As a prepper, I keep a lot of the 288 cell & the 162 cell trays in storage in the barn. I also keep the 1020 trays plus store some humidity domes for them. For the 1020 trays, I keep the 36 cell inserts to be used for certain varieties that might need to grow bigger before going in the gardens. I figure if we have an extended crisis, then I will need to make good use of every seed I have... especially that first year. In normal times, I plant seeds much too close together to ensure good germination, and then thin as needed. In a crisis, I won't want to thin out perfectly good plants, except for amaranth, so therefore my plan would be to start seeds in the trays and then transplant into the gardens.
Also I forgot to add that with plug trays it is almost an essential to use a seeder of some sorts. There are different types out there but I use the "Mini Wand Seeder":
https://www.greenhousemegastore.com/supplies/seed-starting/mini-wand-seeder
https://www.greenhousemegastore.com/supplies/seed-starting/mini-wand-seeder
@Noctis_Labyrinthus Welcome to the forum and thanks for the posts. You may want to stop by the introduction page and let the rest of the good folks welcome you.
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Noctis Labyrinthus eh? Welcome to the board Uncle Martin! LOL
Ok, so I have a black thumb, all of the plants I get die. I follow water, nutrient directions closely, but no matter what I do, it seems like they all perish. Any suggestions for this plant killer. Well, other than to stay away from plants...
Growing several of each type and trialing different soil, light, humidity and water conditions may help. Pick hardy plants that are near immortal. Are you growing house plants or garden plants?
I find spider plants, cactus and succulents are near impossible to kill if it is indoor plants you are growing. As for the garden, most root veg and berry bushes are strong plants. Fruit trees too but protect them in the winter or else the deer and rabbits will eat them. The leafy veg you gotta watch out for the insects eating them.
Failing that buy fake plants.
I find spider plants, cactus and succulents are near impossible to kill if it is indoor plants you are growing. As for the garden, most root veg and berry bushes are strong plants. Fruit trees too but protect them in the winter or else the deer and rabbits will eat them. The leafy veg you gotta watch out for the insects eating them.
Failing that buy fake plants.
I have killed a cactus. Just to give you a scope, of my plant killing abilities. I guess I better find a partner that is a gardener and just keep my hands off the plants.
Just keep trying, sooner or later something will survive. I always tell people that now is the time to learn, when you can call it a hobby. If shtf then it very well mean your survival, and that’s no time to learn.Ok, so I have a black thumb, all of the plants I get die. I follow water, nutrient directions closely, but no matter what I do, it seems like they all perish. Any suggestions for this plant killer. Well, other than to stay away from plants...
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Alright MamaBear, try out some lettuce. It is easy to grow during spring time. Plant some seeds, water, let it sprout. Lettuce needs water and that is the biggest thing you have to worry about as it grows in most soil types. I am just guessing here; but maybe you killed your cactus because you watered too much? My mother did the same when she thought she would try her hand at succulents.
