Directions to Make Newspaper Seed-Starter Containers

Making your own newspaper seed-starter container has two advantages: The process uses newspapers that may end up in the landfill and it gives you a biodegradable pot. Because of their thinner walls, newspaper pots break down quicker than peat or coir pots, and once placed in the soil they allow the plant’s roots to expand quickly into surrounding soil. Using newspaper seed starters is a particularly good growing method for plants that may suffer transplant shock, such as cucumbers, squash, melons and other vine crops.

3-foot lengths of 4-inch diameter PVC pipe
Newspapers
Flour
Tape measure or yardstick
Scissors or shears

Instructions

- 1
  Cut or purchase 3-foot lengths of 4-inch diameter PVC pipe.
- 2
  Make a paste of flour and cold water. Start with 1 cup of flour and 1/2 cup of water, adding more water as necessary to make a paste the consistency of pancake batter.
- 3
  Spread the newspaper sections on a flat work surface. Open the fold of the newspaper. Make sure there are at least two to four full-size sheets in each section. The opened sections will measure approximately 23 by 24 inches.
- 4
  Place the PVC pipe parallel to the edge of the 24-inch side of the newspaper section. Roll the newspaper completely around the PVC section.
- 5
  Lift the edge of the rolled-up newspaper and generously paste the underneath edge. Press the edge flat and apply additional paste along the seam. Wipe up any paste that gets on the top or bottom of the PVC pipe with a damp cloth.
- 6
  Stand the PVC pipe up in a warm place and allow the paste to dry several hours or overnight.
- 7
  Place the PVC pipe and newspaper roll on a flat work surface. Using the tape measure or yardstick, mark off 5-inch sections of the newspaper roll with a pencil or marking pen.
- 8
  Slide the newspaper roll off the PVC pipe.
- 9
  Cut the marked sections with scissors or heavy shears.
- 10
  Press under the bottom 1 inch of the 5-inch sections, using your thumb to pleat and overlap the paper inside the pot in 1-inch folds.
- 11
  
  Homemade newspaper pots make excellent containers for garden seedlings.
  
  Turn the pots bottom up and add a dab of paste to the folded-under sections. Allow the paste to dry thoroughly before filling the pots with seed-starting soil mix.

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