Cheap environmentally friendly pots?

[FarmerCathy]

I'm trying to find something to sell my tomato seedlings in for next year, but not in plastic. I like the Coco pots, but they are kind of expensive at $0.38/4" pot. Any ideas? Peat is not a sustainable product so I don't want to use that either.
Thanks, Cathy

[Worth1]

See if this suits your fancy.

http://www.enviroarc.net/pots.php
Just looked their from Australia :>(
Worth

[FarmerCathy]

Thanks Worth1. It's too bad they are in Australia though.

[dcarch]

I have seen newspaper used to make pots.

dcarch

[Worth1]

I have Googled biodegradable pots and found many things made from grains and bamboo.
I have yet to find a price for some reason.

I can’t imagine how much work it would take to make that many pots from newspaper though it is a good idea.
One thing you will have to consider is a professional look to the pots.

Its strange how folks are when it comes to packaging, I know people that won’t order from a catalog that doesn’t have pretty glossy photographs to look at.
Even though they know what it looks like anyway, they will order from a fancy catalog and pay a LOT MORE MONEY!!

Maybe sell them on the tomatoes first and then an environmentally friendly pot later.
Just my thoughts on the matter.

Worth

[FarmerCathy]

That's what I think I'm going to have to do. Just keep searching I guess. I've been looking for awhile, but thought somebody might be using something they like that isn't too expensive. Have to wait to get a customer base and maybe raise my prices a little to be earth friendly.

[amideutch]

How about Jiffy Pots. Ami

[Zana]

Lee Valley Tools sells a wooden last for making newpaper pots. My mother gave me one about 4 years ago. Think mine is for a 3" dia. pot. Works well for transplants. And its the kind of thing I put together while watching TV.

[dcarch]

Making larger and more sturdy newspaper pots.
Just an idea for someone to try out, I have not done it myself, there is a chance it will work:

1. newspaper strips.
2. boiled starch or flour to make a thin paste as glue.
3. use a brush to apply paste.
4. use molds to make pots.
5. after the pots are dry, use vegetable oil to waterproof inside of pot.

The finished pots will be biodegradable. I estimate it will take about 2 minutes to make a pot once you have a system set up.

dcarch

[neoguy]

We use a similar one to what Zana is using. We bought ours from Johnny's years ago.

[FarmerCathy]

Originally Posted by dcarch

Making larger and more sturdy newspaper pots.
Just an idea for someone to try out, I have not done it myself, there is a chance it will work:

1. newspaper strips.
2. boiled starch or flour to make a thin paste as glue.
3. use a brush to apply paste.
4. use molds to make pots.
5. after the pots are dry, use vegetable oil to waterproof inside of pot.

The finished pots will be biodegradable. I estimate it will take about 2 minutes to make a pot once you have a system set up.

dcarch

Great idea! I'm going to try that. I want 4" pots and I think this might work best. That's a good winter project. Do you think they will hold up for a month to 6 weeks?

[tomakers]

I used newspaper pots for my transplants last year and thought they worked very well, although they are not particularly "pretty", they are bidegradable and cheap if you subscribe to a newspaper or have friends who do. They also allow you to water from the bottom as they suck up the water just like peat pots. You also don't need any fancy tools, just the right sized can or jar or what have you to roll them on.

[FarmerCathy]

When you roll the paper how do you transplant the seedling in that? Do you know of a link with pictures. Is the bottom open? I'm just having trouble picturing how to do this.

[dcarch]

OK, I tried it. Works. A 4 1/2" Dia. x 6" newspaper pot.

You need the mold to make the bottom nice.
Inside mold is the plastic container.
cut open another container so it will fit better for the outside mold.

dcarch

[dice]

Here is the Earl version:

http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...newspaper+pots