Homemade Starter Pots

Love getting your plants started indoors but hate paying for those little starter pots that cost an arm and a leg only to transplant them into the dirt a short time later?  Since we're living in the northwest where its rather wet, its hard for us to get out and till in the early months.  Once we get our raised beds in, it won't be as hard but until then, getting things started indoors is a must. I was cruising through pintrest the other day and found a post that led me to a blog that had instructions on how to do so, sadly, I've cleared my history and can't find the link. Hopefully these pictures and instructions will be helpful.

This was a single sheet that I tore in half, for the full two page parts, just tear them into four sections.

Once you've torn your news paper into the sections fold each on in half lengthwise (parallel with the text).  This seemed to be the easiest and the best if you don't want to use tape.

Align the paper along the side of the jar.  I used a stage two baby food jar for most of mine. I did use a straight sided glass for the 24 for corn figuring they would need a bit more room.  The baby food jar worked perfectly and turns out about the same size as the small starter pots you can get in he store.

Wrap the paper all the way around keeping it as straight as possible.  Once you're finished wrapping, hold the paper together with your hand (tape is optional but I don't think it's biodegradable like the paper so I opted out).  

Twist the loose side in the same direction that you were wrapping.  I found that if I twisted the opposite way, they weren't staying together by themselves. 

Fold the twisted part over and push it up into the jar/glass.  

Here is the inside of a finished one.  It has a slight bump but as you can see, it's holding itself together.

Her it is from the side, the bottoms may pop out a little until they get some weight in them but mine still stay together.

Here are a few that I've made and are waiting for seeds. I just used an old metal cake pan that is pitting and peeling for these.

And here are some that are ready to go with our corn starts.  These were a little bigger and I just cut a box down to the perfect size and put a garbage bag inside of it so that I can still water them.

Most of our news paper comes free from the local paper and an occasional Sunday paper that I purchase for the coupons.  Other than that, they didn't cost a penny. I tried using some small disposable cups a few years ago but you have to get pull the dirt and plant out before you can plant them in the ground.  These you can drop straight into the ground and the paper will compost down into your garden. 

Enjoy!