Experiment

wast cardboard tube seed starters

I’ve seen seeds started in cardboard tubes and decided to try the process for myself. Since it snowed yesterday, this might be as close as I get to gardening for several more weeks — although the weekend is supposed to be in the forty’s.
I’ve already seen other gardeners posting photos of their garden, crocus, daffodils and tulips. We lag so far behind Southern springs; and like the sap rising in the Maples, my gardening drive is going into full gear.
So here’s my experiment. Cardboard tubes cut in 3 or 4 inch sections. I saw a video where they folded it in half and then in half again to make four corners which might make it easier to place the tubes tightly together, but I just packed them with potting soil.
Planted Scabosia seeds, ‘Oxford Blue’ from Thompson and Morgan.
What I like: reuse trash materials that eventually are composted back into the soil when seedlings are planted, sides are porous so more air gets to the roots.
What I don’t like: Unlike my plastic yogurt containers, there is no lid to hold moisture until seeds sprout, containers are soft, squishy. Will this characteristic harm roots? Don’t know. I wait and see.