Starting seeds indoors

[Fishychix]

You can plant mint in bottomless containers in the ground. Mint spreads through side shoots(?) not by the roots. You will want it a little above ground so the shoots dont just go over it.
I have a black thumb, but I have used paper tubes, yogurt cups, just about anything that will hold dirt and isnt too bad to carry around when it comes time to put it into the ground. The paper tubes were the most successful for me. By paper tubes
I mean toilet paper, paper towel rolls, etc.

 

[Sally PB]

TP tubes as seed starting planters hold together long enough if you have them placed so that they support each other. Yes, they start to fall apart, but they last a few weeks, at least. When it comes time to put them in the ground, I have to handle them carefully. Folding to make a bottom helps them stay together, and here's a link to show you how:
https://www.thespruce.com/toilet-paper-rolls-for-seed-starting-2539798

@TJAnonymous, I use about a quart of tomatoes a week. I figure I got 1+ quarts of tomatoes per plant, which is low, but I want to be sure I get enough. Don't be impressed with my 50-60 plants... my neighbor plants over 100, and cans about 150 quarts.

 

[TJAnonymous]

TP tubes as seed starting planters hold together long enough if you have them placed so that they support each other. Yes, they start to fall apart, but they last a few weeks, at least. When it comes time to put them in the ground, I have to handle them carefully. Folding to make a bottom helps them stay together, and here's a link to show you how:
https://www.thespruce.com/toilet-paper-rolls-for-seed-starting-2539798

@TJAnonymous, I use about a quart of tomatoes a week. I figure I got 1+ quarts of tomatoes per plant, which is low, but I want to be sure I get enough. Don't be impressed with my 50-60 plants... my neighbor plants over 100, and cans about 150 quarts.

I love to repurpose things... We've been saving every milk jug and bottle for 9 months. I have 5 giant boxes full... Almost ALL of which is used in the garden in one way or another.

I told hubby last night to start saving TP and PT tubes. I think he thinks I've lost my mind....

I can't imagine having that many tomatoes.... I planted 7 plants last year. Two died. The others gave me quite a few tomatoes but not nearly as big or as much as I bet you had. I'm still working on my tomato thumb.... Going to use self-watering containers this year for my tomatoes and peppers.

 

[Sally PB]

I told hubby last night to start saving TP and PT tubes. I think he thinks I've lost my mind..

I pulled one out of the trash and told my husband to save them. His response was, "Oh, we're doing that again?" I told him how well it worked last year, and he just nodded. Now he saves them.

I have garden math like I have chicken math. Garden math makes you save stuff that people throw out. Ummm, yeah, like milk jugs! You have it too, I can tell!

 

[TJAnonymous]

I pulled one out of the trash and told my husband to save them. His response was, "Oh, we're doing that again?" I told him how well it worked last year, and he just nodded. Now he saves them.

I have garden math like I have chicken math. Garden math makes you save stuff that people throw out. Ummm, yeah, like milk jugs! You have it too, I can tell!

ROFL.... I think we were both bitten by the same philosophy bug.... . It's almost like you were in my house during a very eerily similar situation and conversation....

Of course, I just call it being smart!

 

[Fishychix]

What do you use the jugs and bottles for? I LOVE reusing things

 

[TJAnonymous]

What do you use the jugs and bottles for? I LOVE reusing things

Many different uses, actually... I use empty water bottles to make self-watering seed pots for sweet corn.

I use milk jugs to create slow drip watering pots for my tomatoes. I have also cut up milk jugs to make mini greenhouses for seedlings.

I save wine and Corona bottles as self-waterers in my house plants.... This is especially handy when I go on vacation or business trips. I just stuff a moistened cotton ball in the end, flip upside down, and push into the soil.

I use the leftover plastic containers from strawberries and raspberries for self-watering containers for smaller plants and seedlings.

And I also BURY Simply Lemonade, Simply Orange, Sunny Delight, 2 litre soda bottles, and milk jugs in the ground or my raised beds for self-watering or below ground watering....

Here's some examples
Strawberries

Garlic

Brand new blueberry plants

Apple tree seedlings

 

[CluckerFamily]

I use some seed starter trays, some egg cartons if I have some to spare, and then newspaper for the rest. I think this year, I will just do the newspaper. I have a simple paper pot maker that helps form the newspaper pots and when the plants are large enough to transplant outside I just rip off the bottom of the newspaper pot and plant it in the ground.

 

[TJAnonymous]

I use some seed starter trays, some egg cartons if I have some to spare, and then newspaper for the rest. I think this year, I will just do the newspaper. I have a simple paper pot maker that helps form the newspaper pots and when the plants are large enough to transplant outside I just rip off the bottom of the newspaper pot and plant it in the ground.

I've never heard of newspaper pots... I'm interested in your process here... I used to get the Wall Street Journal (free thanks to a gazillion airline miles). I saved all my newspapers in a big garbage bag... I use them to line the dog crate whenever I have a sick or injured chicken to nurse.... Never thought of using them for seeds...

 

[CluckerFamily]

I've never heard of newspaper pots... I'm interested in your process here... I used to get the Wall Street Journal (free thanks to a gazillion airline miles). I saved all my newspapers in a big garbage bag... I use them to line the dog crate whenever I have a sick or injured chicken to nurse.... Never thought of using them for seeds...

It is super easy to use. I bought it for less than $15 at a local/well known nursery.