Last Updated on February 16, 2022 by Real Men Sow
The little microclimate in my sheltered corner of the world finally caught up today, and we got snow. Normally, I love snow, but with my usual sledging partner 8 months pregnant I chose to mope around the house doing man jobs, like drilling holes, putting shelves up, and fixing bikes.
In between this, I did some web surfing and stumbled across a forum post in which a gentleman says that as much as he loves his allotment hobby, he has pledged not to let him cost more than a fiver a month.
Why Should You Reuse Every Day Items In Your Garden
Resourceful and thrifty, are two of my favourite things. Inspired and desperate to do something loosely veg growing based as my garden disappeared under 4 inches of the white stuff, I put the drill down. It was time to start saving some everyday household items for use on the veg patch this coming season.
Things to Reuse from Your Household
Toilet Rolls
I use these for growing in modules. Cut in half or thirds, they’re particularly useful for seeds that are tricky to germinate, like parsnips. Fill them with multipurpose compost, pop a couple of seeds on top and then sprinkle over some more compost, and once the seedlings get a few centimeters high you can plant the whole thing out. The cardboard will simply rot down into the soil.
You can use biodegradable pots from the garden center, but of course, they’ll cost you. 🙂
Margarine Tubs
I once paid two quid for a bag of white plant labels, and then I saw my mum cutting up margarine tubs and using them instead. I bowed to her frugal ways and spent the next two quid on seeds.
Yogurt Pots
Before the sad closure of my local nursery last summer, I never paid for plastic plant pots as they always had a big box of free second had ones for customers to help themselves to. Since then, my supplies have run dry, so I’ve used yogurt pots to fill the void with no problems at all. Just remember to put a few holes in the bottom.
Plastic Milk Bottles and Drink Cans
These make great safety covers for the tops of pointy sticks and canes and double up as effective bird scarers when they rattle in the wind.
Plastic Bottles
Big squash bottles are great for turning into cloches for frost protection and early sowings. Simply cut one in half and slot it over the young plant. They might not be as stylish and attractive as a purpose-made cloche, but they’re not £30 either…
Things to Reuse from Your Garden
Cuttings
Although not strictly a household item, I remembered the wife had been hacking away at the garden this week, so I collected up all the twigs and cuttings. Snipped down to 2-3 feet high, they’re perfect for dwarf pea plants to grow up.
Wooden Boxes
Even before I took on my allotment I was a sucker for an old wooden box but now I’ve got a use for them. They’re perfect for salad and other leafy veg and being mobile, you can start them off early indoors before moving them outside when things warm up.
My favourite boxes are old wine ones, but even a stray piece of wood can be cut up and banged into a presentable planter.
Cardboard
The other day I went to the dump and was rather surprised at how much cardboard was in the recycling there. Large pieces of cardboard are really handy for laying over parts of a plot that is work in progress, as they keep the weeds down whilst you work out a plan of attack, and then just compost down into the soil.
Great tips Jono! Cardboard is also great for smothering out weeds or turf grasses, just lay down and cover with a few inches of wood chips or other mulch.
My favorite plant labels are cheap vinyl mini blinds. Find a broken one that somebody is throwing out and you have a nearly lifetime supply. Write on with a regular pencil.
Some great ideas there. I’m really trying to reduce my use of plastic in the garden. I wrote a piece for Grow Your Own this month about the alternatives to plastic. My shed is stuffed with washed and stacked plastic pots but I’m going to try lots of alternatives this year. I’ve got some wooden seed trays and a paper potter and a variety of biodegradable pots.
When I took on my allotment there were bits of plastic everywhere from discarded labels to plastic twine. My quest is to not litter it with any more and use natural products as much as possible. Better get saving those loo rolls. 😉
Good post. Everything I do will be as cheap as possible! I got given a paper potter for Xmas and am looking forward to using that (using newspapers given to me from a neighbour – or taken out of the recycling at work). I know my mum has had a lot of success using loo rolls to plant in.
Where do you manage to find old wine boxes from?
Alan – perfect timing, they’re throwing those out at work. Thannk you, great idea.
WW – I love that idea. You are right about there being so much plastic all over the place. I’ve seen people make pots out of old newspaper too, that might be worth checking out.
I have that magazine upstairs, will check out your feature.
Adam – I was lucky, and a friend’s dad was throwing some out. Its crazy really, I’ve seen shops selling the things for over a fiver recently!!
Its a great idea to reuse and recycle in the garden! It saves money meaning you can save up those pounds to put to a really useful garden tool in the long run!
I also love the fact that these tightly packed tubes for seeds won’t fall over! Its frustrating when top- heavy pots fall over and make a mess!
I find this article very interesting, we live in the 21st century where recycling must become part of our habits and customs for the conservation of our planet. Another innovative idea that goes hand in hand with recycling are the so-called Vertical Gardens, where plastic bottles are cut and fastened between them with ropes, inside which are placed different types of flowers vegetables and vegetables. It is an esthetic and economic idea that allows you to have your personal garden even if you do not have enough space for it.