Seedling Epiphany (was Re: finding pots)
- Subject: Seedling Epiphany (was Re: finding pots)
- From: B* D*
- Date: Sun, 10 Mar 2002 22:46:31 +0200
Want pots? BIG pots?
STOP whenever you drive past landscaping work.
I picked up a load of pots these past few weeks from the roadside
landscaping of a new subdivision that I passed on my way to work. Many
suburban developments now incorporate a wide "greenbelt" along the main
roads... because it's intended as a sound barrier, this kind of landscaping
usually involves largish shrub and tree specimens. I was able to do well for
myself with the leavings - even though the landscaping workers gathered up
most of the larger pots (I think they get a discount if they return them to
the nursery), there were still plenty of leftovers.
I also picked up some very useful sapling trays from a roadside forestation
project. They even saved me the empties - I guess that's the difference
between government workers and a private landscaper!
The sapling tray has become my favorite planting flat - the cells are
tapered and deeper than normal flats used for annuals. This is very good for
gardeners like me who don't always get around to planting things out in
time... the plant keeps growing without suffering. They are also ideal for
woody cuttings, after all that's what they're made for... you get a nice
sized plant, a good solid root ball, and very economical use of the soil
mix.
And the flat is one solid piece, not like the flimsier seedling flats that
are made to snap apart into individual pots. It's a lot easier to handle a
bunch of small plants as one unit with the sturdier tray, and they are
strong enough to last several seasons. I have some that are 6 inches (15
cm) tall, and some that are deeper. The shorter ones have replaced toilet
paper rolls for most of my annual flower and vegetable seeding, and the
deeper ones have replaced milk cartons and juice cans for corn and bean
seeds, and for hardwood cuttings.
... I used to try to be very environmentally sound, doing as much seeding as
possible in yogurt cups, toilet rolls, and other recycled containers... but
it just got to be a hassle, and I have less and less time for gardening as
the family and job responsibilities have grown. I tried soil blocking, but
lost too many plants to heat, disease, and dropped-and-shattered rootballs.
At one point a whole bunch of tomato seedlings painstakingly transplanted
into toilet rolls toppled over and rolled onto the floor - I think it was
midnight on a worknight and I was already three weeks behind the planting
dates in my area - and I just said "ENOUGH with the funky containers!"
I have since moved almost all my propagation work into sturdy, reusable
styrofoam and plastic trays - some scavenged, some bought. Here in Israel
they don't have the hobbyist styrofoam "seed plug" trays with a plastic
dome - the trays made here are full-flat sized for professional greenhouses.
I bought several types, then cut them down to 3x4 or 3x6 cells, depending on
the size of each cell. These fit nicely into the clear plastic boxes that
they pack apples and tomatoes in - I can get stacks of these for free at the
supermarket (so I am still recycling, just not going crazy over it). The
result is a homemade mini-tray and propagating dome. Plants that need
another move up before planting out go into the sapling trays.
The styrofoam trays are sturdy, easy to clean, and recyclable. Very
economical use of the potting mix, too. They are a cinch to water - I just
pour water in one of the clear plastic produce packs to about an inch (2-3
cm) deep, then float the styrofoam tray on top. Within an hour or two the
top surface is moist by capillary action, and almost all the water is
absorbed - a real time saver and I've had very little damping off or mold
diseases. When I think of all those seedlings I nursed in icky, half-rotted
toilet paper rolls...
I have used the styrofoam seedling trays and plastic sapling trays for
several seasons, which I never could with all those flimsy, crinkly annual
pots I used to devoutly save for reuse. So I think things even out in terms
of earth-friendly consumption of plastic - and it's a lot easier on the
gardener, working with rigid, sturdy trays in standard sizes.
No more individual seedling pots for me.
Ben
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