What if we told you that your toilet roll tubes are so much more than just toilet roll tubes?
What if we told you that you could grow fresh vegetables in them?
Yes, stay with us. It might sound bizarre at first, but it actually makes total sense. Here’s how to grow leeks in toilet rolls.
Firstly, why?
Growing leeks inside toilet roll tubes is an entertaining and easy way to explore the art of gardening. Before you rush to your nearest garden centre and spend heaps of money on intricate bits and bobs, start by growing leeks in toilet rolls.
Plus, it’s never a bad idea to recycle an item in a fun and creative way. Why throw the toilet paper tube in the bin when there’s so much more enjoyment to be had?
Once this crafty project comes to an end, you’ll have delicious, fresh leeks ready to take your soup, stew, or casserole to a whole new level. And yes, all from an eco toilet roll tube!
What you’ll need
Before you get started, you’ll need the following materials and tools:
- Toilet roll tubes
- Scissors
- Leeks seeds
- Potting mix
- Sunlight
- Watering can
- Garden fork
Toilet roll tubes are a great way to grow leeks as they provide the ideal amount of space for the roots to develop.
Because the toilet roll tube is not deep enough to support multiple plants, it’s recommended you only grow one leek per toilet roll. If you’re hoping to grow more than one, simply collect more toilet roll tubes.
Get the whole household involved!
Step one: Prepare the toilet roll
First things first: use the scissors to cut your toilet roll tubes in half lengthwise, creating two collars that will be placed around the base of the leeks.
Step two: Potting mix
Take the potting mix and fill your toilet roll tubes until they’re about half full.
Step three: Plant the seeds
Sow the leeks seeds in the potting mix, spacing them about one inch apart. You can find leeks seeds in any local garden centre or home store.
Step four: Water
Use your watering can to sprinkle some water across the leeks. Be gentle.
Step five: Place the collars around the leeks
Once the leeks have germinated and are about 2 inches tall, place the collars around the base of the plants. This will help to keep the stems white and tender.
Patience is a virtue here. Leeks typically take around one to two weeks to germinate and a further two to three weeks to reach 2 inches tall. Of course, the actual time will vary and is determined by the variety of leek, temperature, and soil conditions.
Step six: Place them in a sunny spot
Plants rely on sunlight to produce the nutrients they need to survive, and leeks are no different. Once yours have germinated, place the toilet roll tubes in a spot that’s rich in sunlight.
Step seven: Water regularly
In a similar way to sunlight, water is another essential nutrient for plants. As your leeks grow, ensure you water them regularly – especially during hot weather.
Step eight: Transplant in the garden
When your leeks reach roughly 6 inches tall, it’s time to rehome them. Find a lovely sunny spot in the garden and transplant your leeks with well-drained soil.
It’s at this point you can say goodbye to the trusty toilet paper tube. Thank it for all its hard work, and pop it to one side for the next arts and crafts activity!
Step nine: Look after them
Treat these leeks with the same care and consideration you’d give to your children. Maybe even more so.
Water the leeks regularly and fertilise them every few weeks. Oh, and don’t forget to sing to them, tell them how much you love them, and give them plenty of compliments. Trust us, they’re listening.
Step ten: Harvest them!
When your leeks are around 12 inches tall, they’re ready to harvest. Yay, all your hard work will finally pay off.
Use a garden fork to loosen the soil around the plants, gently lifting them out of the ground. Top tip: Be super careful here, as we don’t want to damage the roots.
From there, trim off the roots and the top leafy growth so that you’re left with the white part of the stem (the edible part).
Now go ahead and make the meanest, greenest, leanest soup or casserole dish there ever was! All from a toilet roll tube… who would have thought it?
Discover our environmentally friendly, quality toilet roll today.
