For those of us lucky enough to live in year-round gardening climates, it's that time of year to ready the winter garden. After I pull out last season's spent plants and amend the soil with generous amounts of compost, I let everything sit and gel for a couple weeks while eagerly awaiting my shipment of cold season seeds.
I love to start my seeds indoors, not because of the frost (pretty much a non-issue here in Los Angeles) but because I can tend them more carefully when they sit upon my counter, nudging me for attention while I putter about the kitchen. Starting seeds indoors requires some sort of growing container, and I have tried many over the years--flats, cubicle trays, pots made of peat, plastic or clay--each with their pluses and minuses. Then a few years back I stumbled upon something called a Paper Potter--a simple wooden device used to make sturdy seed pots out of newspaper strips. I’m not one to buy garden gadgets--my hands act as shovel, trowel, and hoe--so naturally I was reluctant to shell out $20 for the Paper Potter. I finally relented and have since found it to be worth its weight in gold.
Making the pots is a snap, just roll a newspaper strip around the cylinder, fold in the bottom edges, press firmly onto the base mold to lock the edges into place, and the pot is ready for soil and seeds. I can bust out 20-30 pots in about 15 minutes, but I leave this joyous task to my son who enjoys it most of all.
The main advantage in using newspaper pots for seed starting is that they can be planted directly into the garden when transplant time arrives, even those finicky plants that prefer direct sowing are less apt to complain upon transplanting. The newspaper breaks down in the soil quickly, and the roots push right through with ease (in the case of squash, the roots generally burst through long before I can get them to the garden).
Since each pot is made using recycled, biodegradable materials, the Paper Potter is about as eco-friendly as it gets. Additionally, the wood used in making the Potter is harvested from Forest Stewardship Council-certified forests, and its packaging is made from recycled material.
Manufactured in England by Nether Wallop Trading Co. Ltd., you can order your Paper Potter locally through Living Green. Can't get past the $20 price tag? Check out the Feathered Nest for a tutorial on using a spice bottle as a makeshift Paper Potter.
Peace,
Annie
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