How To Grow Seedlings With Newspaper - The New York Times

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A simple roll of newspaper creates a biodegradable pot to get your spring planting season off the ground.

For those dreaming of spring, starting seeds indoors allows you to begin the growing season earlier than planting them outdoors (where you have to wait until after the final frost). And some plants, like certain tender vegetables, just do better starting indoors. With so many seeds in those little packets, finding enough containers can be a task. Instead of buying containers (or even using recycled plastic ones), try a simple technique to turn this newspaper into biodegradable pots that you can plant directly into your garden (therefore not disturbing your seedlings’ roots) when conditions are suitable. Until then, enjoy the up-close seed-sprouting show, which every year feels like a mini-miracle.

Tips:

Read the seed packet or do a little research to see if your seeds should be started indoors or outdoors, or even if they need any special treatment like soaking, chilling or scratching.
These pots do not retain water as long as plastic pots, so check on them at least once a day to make sure they haven’t dried out.
Open or rip off the bottoms of the pots right before you plant them outside or in a larger container to allow for root growth.

Materials

Newspaper
Scissors
Small can (from tomato paste, for example) or straight-sided jar
Spray bottle or small bowl of water
Pencil or permanent marker (optional)
Seeds
Sterile potting mix
Tray or baking sheet with a lip (optional)

Step 1

Cut the newspaper into strips so that they wrap around your can at least one and a half times and are at least 1 inch taller than the can. (For a tomato-paste can use a strip that is four and a half inches wide and 12 inches long.)