Springtime = Folding Seedling Pots

I've been busy lately folding newspaper.

This is the time of year when we need to get our tomato seeds planted and out in the cold frames.   Instead of purchasing the supplies from a garden center we (ehhem.... *I*) fold our pots from older newspapers.

I have some photos that I could add and i had planned on typing out the directions but I think that I will take the easy way out and post a couple of video links instead.  The video links are below.

First a few notes:

*  I do not use the colored pages, although if there is an ad that takes up 1/4 or less of a page I might still use it.

* If you HATE ORIGAMI (like I do) these pots are super easy because they are totally forgiving.  Some in the videos will tell you to crease the edges tight and to make sure everything is aligned.  Honestly, if you get it in the ballpark it will be just fine.  The dirt helps these boxes retain their shape.  They are VERY FORGIVING!!

* Some people who really get picky about organics will not do this due to the chemicals and inks used in the newspapers.  Honestly, the inks used by our local newspapers are soy based.   We are sure to use quality soil and manure.  I guess I just trust that the little seedlings will use these nutrients and that any chemicals in the paper will not poison my plants.  Since they spend most of their purpose in the GROUND where we do not use chemicals, I trust that we are still better off than the jars of sauce you would purchase in the store where tomato is the 3rd ingredient in the list. :)   Perhaps I am wrong, but honestly starting my seeds in newspapers just does not bother me.

* The shape and size of your finished seedling box is determined upon the size of the paper you start with.   I think every year we have folded pots our end product has been a different size and shape.  One year we had to tape them because there were no flaps a the top.  It was just a weird shaped paper.  Lately our local paper has chosen to go more narrow and now the top flaps are actually longer than the box itself.   I might have to trim the flaps this year....we shall see.

* We have used these pots to start seedlings inside under lights and also outside in a cold box.  

* The bottoms do give out with time and watering but if you are willing to have a bit of a mess and get your hands dirty (umm....you ARE transplanting flowers from dirt into the ground) then it's really not a big deal.   Last year, we scooped up a box and plopped it and many of it's friends onto a piece of plywood that we carried up the hill to the garden accepting tomatoes.   It worked swell. :)  The year before we had them inside and we just carried the entire plastic seedling starter tray full of our paper boxes outside.

Here are those links and if you would like some pictures of my own stash let me know in the comments below.

I do not own these videos.  I do not know the people in these videos but I have watched them and they use methods of folding that are similar to mine.

Link 1 - This is the video that I learned from several years ago.

Link 2


Link 3 - Is a precision queen.  She adds some extra folds to make her pots come out perfectly placed.   If you want precision check this link out.

Anyone else out folding your own seedling pots?