Usefull Tips and Money Savers.

hello everyone, been thinking about the vast knowledge and experiences that all the members on GC must have amassed.(hundreds of years worth i should think)i mean things we do all the time and take for granted that others will probably know and already do.for eg;
when i go shopping i buy meat that come in clear plastic trays which i wash out and use to either stand plant pots in(water from the bottom to encourage root growth)or, cover pots(acting as a kind of cheap propagator lid.)
another good one is: instead of buying plant pots or seed trays i buy packs of white plastic cups,the kind you get in vending machines,to sow veg or maybe a flower like sweat pea or morning glory singly,(saves pricking out).a friend at allotment told me that one last year and when i look into greenhouses over there,i see them .rows and rows like soldiers,all with good strong seedlings.
sorry for going on a bit but i just thought that if anyone thought of anything we could share it in this thead.
what do you think.good idea ?

 

forgot to add:for drainaige in plastic cups punch a hole through the bottom(i use the corkscrew on a penknife)and put the soil in first or the cup will collapse in your hand! :D

 

Elaine - I used to run courses where the tea/coffee came in polystyrene cups which I would collect and save as pots. Now I've given up paid work (and hassle) I have to buy them, but they are still cheaper than "proper" pots. Polystyrene also holds the heat over night better than plastic.
One tip I came across years ago was that when making drainage holes, poke them around the bottom SIDE. Due the the flat base of cups a hole in the base doesn't drain well if the cup is on a flat surface.

The translucent plastic boxes from Chinese take-aways make good mini-propagators. Put a few holes in the base, keep the lid on until seeds have germinated.

 

hello, i was recently given some great advice.
dont fiddle with your brassicas this month on account of the May Fly.meaning dont weed them or youll loosen the soil and the May Fly will get in and you end up with maggot like things destroying your precious cabbages!keep a close eye on them and spray with insecticide(if you use it). :eek:

 

sorry, should have posted that in pests and diseases.

 

I use the clear plastic containers (ones without holes) that you get with meat, fish and fruit to make floral arrangements for when I visit graves. I used to buy those hard pastic green trays to put oasis blocks in but they work out quite expensive. But these, being clear pastic, don't look obvious and some of them are often pretty deep so will hold a lot of water and make the flowers last longer.

I also use the thin plastic bags which magazines and catalogues come through the post in, to wrap small quantities of waste food pet food and such before putting them in the bin. Cuts down on smell and flies!!

[ 16. May 2006, 04:25 PM: Message edited by: michaelmasdaisy ]

 

Just labelled a plant, sent to me by a kind member, using heavy tin foil(Felix cat food tray) ..I etch the name and no danger of the writing getting washed off...again :rolleyes:


[ 21. May 2006, 05:08 PM: Message edited by: Paladin ]

 

Nick.. That's a brilliant idea. Ta!