Peat pots, plastic inserts, newspaper pots, miscellaneous? What are your favorite containers for starting veggie seedlings?
I used to be a plastic insert guy but they are getting harder to find. Thanks

I am using some old styrofoam egg containers for the second year in a row (same ones). I just cup the top off and use it as a drip tray beneath the bottom, which has holes poked in the egg cups. I also use ice cube trays with holes melted in the bottoms, placed in a plastic storage bin which holds my yarn in other seasons.

If I try to start seeds in larger containers, I find that I tend to overwater, they take up a lot of space, and when some of the seeds don't come up I wind up disgusted by the amount of dirt I wasted on them.

Everything that does come up can get repotted to old pint freezer containers when they begin to outgrow their starter pots.

I'm going to use paper pots this year. I used peat pots, but after reading how destructive that can be...plus the fact it took them close to eight months to rot...I've decided just to make my own and recycle!

I use Jiffy 7 peat pellets and always remove the outer webbing before potting up. Used to use Parks bio-dome but not worth the expense.

I use a lot of dairy products -- cottage cheese, yogurt, sour cream -- and they make great potting containers (useable for several years, and I don't know if that's a plus or minus). I don't start seedlings in them, however; I'm part of the group that repots seedlings several times before they go into the good earth. The plastic, cut in appropriate sizes, also makes good cutworm collars.

DirtPit,

This is probably a stupid question, but I am forgetful about watering so with my plastic inserts I could get away with leaving the bottom tray with water (well dilute chammomile tea) in it. Can you do that with peat pots or do they get too soggy?

Thanks

Use the egg shell halves and you can plant the entire thing with it's seedling. It's also good for the soil and free--if you eat eggs!

Gigi

Besides inserts, which I get fairly cheaply from Pinetree, I also use cottage cheese and deli containers, clear plastic trays from mushrooms and other veggies, cut off plastic milk bottles and cut-the-long-way orange juice cartons. I dumpster dive (actually trash can dive) outside a local landscape nursery where I have gotten fabulous large pots as well as numerous small ones and inserts. For tomato transplants, collect large soda bottles (2-3 liters) and cut off the top part where it begins to slant upward. Then cut holes in the side at the bottom for drainage. Don't cut underneath, as the plastic is thick plus the "pot" will sit on the holes and not drain properly.

> I'm going to use paper pots this year. I used peat
> pots, but after reading how destructive that can
> be...plus the fact it took them close to eight months
> to rot...I've decided just to make my own and recycle!

I have seen the manufactured starter seed paper pot maker online, is that what you are using or is it possible to make the starter pots without that official item? Does anyone have any directions? I was thinking of trying out the paper pots, but would rather save the extra dollars into other gardening items.