Nursery Supply Places??

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Can anyone reccommend good places to get things like flats, and seedling containers? I was thinking of actually using paper cups for seedlings, but would like to judge from all sides. I did a nursery supply search and didn't find much of what I needed. Thanks folks!

-- Doreen (bisquit@here.com), January 05, 2002

Answers

Hi, Doreen, are there any nurseries or plant places near you? Lots of times they just throw the flats and pots away - don't take the time to sterilze them for next year. Usually they'd be glad to get rid of the used ones.

Also, check dumpsters behind nurseries - they often throw out hundreds of plants that are a little brown and won't sell. My daughter used to work for a nursery, and she brought home hundreds and hundreds of ailing plants (mostly annuals) of all kinds that they were going to throw in the dumpster - lots of them lived!

Wish you were closer - I have lots of flats and pots that I don't know what to do with!

-- Bonnie (chilton@stateline-isp.com), January 05, 2002.


I agree with Bonnie. ask at your local nursuries for their used ones. In the past, I've purchased 1 gal pots for 50 cents and the humongous tree size ones for $5. I also find plenty at my favorite dumpsites. . I also use lots of coffee cans and juice cans for pots. Tomato paste and small sauce ones for starter pots

I have catalogs that sell seed flats and pots and they seem WAY too expensive for me. I think Worms Way and Garden Supply are two expensive ones that come to mind.

http://pbmfaq.dvol.com/list/ Search around here and see what you can find.

If these are for your own use, you can do what I do. I use eggshells in the styrafoam cartons for starter trays. I gather used dixi cups from next to the bottled water stand and styrofoam coffee cups from the church hall to use for pots. I like the eggshells because they provide good calcium and to plant, I just need to peck out the bottom and plant the whole thing. I also use lots of coffee cans and juice cans for pots. Tomato paste and small sauce ones for starter pots. Lets face it, I am too cheap to buy these things if I can do it for free.

-- Laura (LadybugWrangler@hotmail.com), January 05, 2002.


Check with Peaceful Valley Farm Supply. Website is: http://www.groworganic.com I've used them for several years and like them very much. I also get pots in town from a nursery that does landscaping. They always have lots of pots and are happy to share.

-- LaDena,Tx9 (littledena77458@yahoo.com), January 05, 2002.

I have used both paper and styrofoam cups. Over the several weeks that a cup has damp earth in it, the paper cup can fall apart and even mold a bit. I used the wax lined ones for extra strength. The styrofoam cups did fantastic. They even helped hold in warmth. They did not mold or fall apart. On paper ones the bottoms even came out. I like the styrofoam... VERY CHEEP!!! :o) I reuse ones that do not get smashed, so it isn't too bad on the environment.

-- notnow (notnow@blabla.com), January 05, 2002.

There aren't any retail nurseries, but there are two wholesale nurseries. Do you think that would be as good?

Never in a million years would I have thought of using actual eggshells to start seedlings!

I've not had great luck with the small Yoplait containers, I think because they are narrower at the top than the bottom. I'm too cheap to buy stuff too. I usually make newspaper pots for myself, (like the catalogs sell a "special" wooden form to make them with. I use a can;) and they work quite well, but it wouldn't do for selling. Thanks for the tips, folks!

-- Doreen (bisquit@here.com), January 05, 2002.



I get my greenhouse supplies from Mellinger's, Inc. 2310 W. South Range Rd. North Lima, Ohio 44452-9731. Mellingers.com 800-321-7444 I get their catalogue and have never been to their web site to know if you can order online. But, the prices seem reasonable to me. I buy by the 100. They have plastic and peat inserts for their flats. Another place that has greenhouse supplies is Pinetree Garden Seeds. Box 300, New Gloucester, ME 04260 Superseeds.com 888-52-Seeds They have a 20 row seedling flat that I am anxious to try this year as I sow many different seed varieties at one time. Hope you find these helpful. Peggy

-- Peggy (dphardy@frontiernet.net), January 07, 2002.

I would like to know how to make see starter pots from old newspapers. This I think is a great idea, since you could put them right in the ground. Do they fall apart at all while being watered and growing. Phyl

-- OPhyllis Williams (phywil@up.net), January 04, 2003.

To make your own newspaper pots: Use old newspapers to make starter pots

Or check here for other ideas:

GardenWeb.com, Newspaper Pots

-- Geri (couponqueenal@aol.com), February 25, 2003.


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