recycle and re-use

[the custodian]

i have only been gardening a short while but i have quickly learnt to recycle and re-use, things such as toilet roll tubes and plastic milk bottles as planters and name tags etc, im sure there is a wealth of knowledge out there so how about putting it here to share with all on the forum especially us newbies as we are always looking for ways to save time and money not to menchion the planet

[Nature's Babe]

Hello Custodian. Yes loo rolls make very useful root trainers, when planted the roots grow through easily without disturbance. The compostable type veg containers make useful containers when planting peas, they are about 6" wide, seedlings planted in those can go straight in the garden without any root disturbance as they grow through quite happily without any check. I also check out bootsales for garden tools and old glass containers big enough for mini cloches, and unusual plant containers. Last bootsale I found A 5m long poly cloche for £2! Always fun to find a bargain. It's worth keeping an eye on freecycle too, I have seen greenhouses, sheds, tools,
plants a shredder, mower, water butts and compost bins too etc all free for those that need them.

[Primrose]

On the question of recycling, I use the square 5 litre mineral water bottles with the bases cut off as mini cloches for courgettes, cucumbers & tomatoes. But I've got a problem with some of them which somebody on here may suggest how I can solve.

The bottles have a little plastic handle around the neck of the bottle for carrying them. This handle makes it ideal to thread them all along a horizontal bamboo cane on the wall for storage when they're not in use. However, several of the carrying handles have now snapped which means I can no longer easily hang them up out of the way. Any idea of some other way of hanging them?

[the custodian]

you could try wrapping some twine around the neck and making into a loop

[Johnboy]

Hi Primrose,
Are the caps still on the bottles?
JB.

[Primrose]

No, the tops of the bottles are open for ventilation and to allow me to put a stick through them to anchor them in situ when it's windy.

[Shallot Man]

Primrose. Why not slip them down the largest bamboo canes you have, base first.

[MikA]

Primrose,

Good idea with the bottles. Maybe for storage, could you drill a hole in the middle of the next cap you get, Pass a piece of string through the hole with a good strong knot, then pass the string through the open top of the bottles with the cap on the inside?

[Compo]

You could buy some cheap cable ties from the pound shop put one around the neck in the groove where the neck screw finishes and put another cable tie made into a small loop threaded through the first cable tie so you have figure of eight one loop around the neck and the second loop through that loop ready to hang on anything you like?

CoMpO