UPDATE: |Never throw away cardboard toilet roll tubes as they have surprising use in gardens News

Rather than reaching for the bin, there is a clever use for your leftover toilet roll tubes

Households have been urged not to throw away their leftover cardboard toilet roll tubes as they have a surprising use in your garden. There are many little-known household items that can come of use outdoors.

From pouring beer to get rid of slugs, to lemon peel, washing up sponges and chilli powder being beneficial for plants and wildlife, there are several ways you can use ordinary everyday items.

One keen gardener has now shared how you can use toilet rolls as ‘excellent’ seed starters instead of plastic pots for things such as peas, sweet peas, beans, parsnips and carrots.

The hack was shared on Reddit on the subreddit, GardeningUK, which is a discussion of gardens, gardening, tips, advice and successes with gardeners across the UK.

Sharing their findings, @AngelicArches26 wrote: “Just a quick PSA. If you are trying to reduce your plastic waste in the garden or have run out of starter pots/trays then toilet rolls make excellent seed starters.”

They then went on to explain the process, stating: “Just cut four cuts about a 1/2” deep at the end of the tube and fold like you would seal a cardboard box without tape.

“They create nice, long, biodegradable pots that would be great for peas, sweet peas, beans, parsnips and carrots, daikon, you name it.

“To pot on or put in beds when they are big enough, just peel the cardboard away from one of the edges and you have a nice plug ready to plant, chuck the old tubes in the composter to bulk out your browns in the summer month.”

Reacting to the hack, one gardener responded: “I do this for sweetcorn, get the seeds germinated and plant the whole thing in my tubs.”

@RegardingTheFailure commented: “I do this too, except I wet the end of the tube so I can fold it without having to cut it,” to which @AngelicArches26 responded: “Smart! I haven’t tried it this way, I should give it a go on my next round.”

@AvoriazInSummer wrote: “I’ll try that out. I use bog rolls as starter pots too but put a folded bit of cardboard in the bottom,” as @AngelicArches26 replied: “Super easy trick and I find they hold up really well!.”

However, some gardeners said that they found the tubes got mouldy. @VictoriaKnits wrote: “I’ve done this before without bothering to close the bottoms. I set them up in an old strawberry punnet and had no problems lifting them once they’d settled in. I had a couple that got mouldy but most were fine (and I’m terrible at getting watering right).

@AngelicArches26 responded: “Ah that’s a shame :/ I use this method every year with great success, I leave them in a mesh vegetable basket so they are completely free draining and only water as needed, I find this is the best way to prevent mold with these and the reconstituted cardboard pots you can get in the shops.”

@OutlandishnessHour19 commented: “This is a nice idea but I always struggle with the pots getting mould if I use anything other than plastic.”

@peardr0p added: “Mine too!! Seemed great to start with, but ended up with a tray of soggy, mouldy seedlings…

“They still worked and were mainly flowers so not worried about contamination, but I didn’t like having so much mould in my growing space so have gone for re-using plastic pots this year.”