Monday 18 May 2009

How to recycle your way bigger better plants - Home made suntrap / greenhouse

Sweetcorn, Sunflowers, Strawberries and Beans growing in the Suntrap

We don't have a traditional greenhouse and our conservatory is a cold northfacing one so after our seeds have germinated we transfer them to our homemade (recycled) suntrap to give them a little bit of extra warmth to help them on their way!!

As you can see they are recycled UHT milk cartons, the shiny insides make a great reflective surface to focus the heat onto the plants. Simply wash out your cartons thoroughly the cut open and tape together to make mini suntraps.

I grew two lots of sweetcorn side by side but put a suntrap behind one. Of course there could have been several variables but the one in the suntrap grew about a third bigger so far!!!

Give it a go, you've nothing to lose!!
What clever growing tips do you have?

3 comments:

  1. fab idea mrs jones,
    I recycle tons of stuff in the garden, its amazing what you can use for sowing seeds in.
    Try sticking tea bags in the bottom of pots to retain moisture.

    really enjoying reading about your "slowing down".

    jess x

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  2. Great idea - I find that plants grown in the house always go leggy though, regardless of what I do with them. Do you have the same problem?

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  3. I've done this with my seeds too. I don't get cartons with shiny insides, so instead cut one side out of a box and lined the other three sides with tin foil and stood my plants inside. They've grown well and it really does work.

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