How to Grow Tomatoes Using Toilet Roll Tubes

A keen hobby gardener shows how an everyday bathroom leftover can become a mini tomato plantation - using the simplest kit.

Most people chuck away the cardboard tubes from toilet rolls without a second thought. One inventive grower uses them instead as tiny seed pots, and has impressed tens of thousands of people across social media. The approach costs next to nothing, cuts down on plastic, and suits a more sustainable garden - even if you are growing on a balcony.

From bathroom to bed: the basic idea

The idea is almost ridiculously straightforward: empty cardboard toilet roll tubes do not go in the bin. They go into a basic cardboard box on a windowsill. Packed closely together, filled with seed compost and seeds, they work as small, biodegradable plant pots.

"Disposable cardboard becomes practical seed-starting pots that can later be planted in the ground whole."

The method hinges on three things:

• free containers you already have at home
• no plastic - everything is compostable
• a gentler move for seedlings into the bed, with less transplant shock

In spring in particular, when people start tomatoes, peppers, courgettes or herbs indoors, plastic trays and single-use pots tend to pile up. With this simple trick, much of your vegetable garden’s early stage happens in reused cardboard on the windowsill instead.

Step by step: turning toilet roll tubes into seed-starting pots

1. Choose the right tubes

For this gardening hack, only clean, dry cardboard tubes are suitable - with no fragrances and as little printing as possible. Many brands use plain inner tubes anyway, which makes them ideal.

• let tubes dry out completely
• discard heavily printed or glossy cardboard
• do not use anything with leftover tape or plastic film

If you keep collecting them, you will soon build up a supply of little planting sleeves - free and ready to use.

2. Cut the tubes to the right height

So the seedlings stand securely later and compost does not spill out, it helps to trim the tubes with scissors. A height of roughly 6–8 cm works well.

Many gardeners simply cut each tube in half, creating two sleeves of equal height. If you like, you can firm up the base a bit:

• make four small cuts at one end of the tube
• fold the resulting flaps inwards
• press the edge gently until a temporary base forms

It is not essential, but the small pots tip over less easily and the compost stays put.

3. The ideal box for a mini nursery

To keep the tubes upright, use a simple box - for example, a sturdy cardboard carton and stand the tubes tightly side by side inside it. The closer they fit, the better they hold their shape.

A cut-out opening on one side of the box is handy. It lets you water from the front without handling every single pot. Another plus: with the side open, more light reaches the lower parts of the seedlings.

"An old delivery box is enough to turn into a small seed-starting station by the window."

Sowing: which plants are especially suitable

In principle, you can start many vegetables and ornamental plants this way. It works particularly well for types that will later move into the ground or into large containers:

• tomatoes
• peppers and chillies
• courgettes and pumpkins
• cucumbers
• herbs such as basil, parsley, dill
• annual flowers such as sunflowers or pot marigolds

Start by filling each sleeve with loose seed compost. Because it is low in nutrients, young plants are encouraged to form stronger roots. Press the compost down lightly, add one or two seeds, then cover with a thin layer of compost.

Place the box somewhere bright and fairly warm - for instance on a south-facing window or a sheltered windowsill. The cardboard helps hold moisture a little longer, but the compost still needs regular, gentle watering.

Transplanting without stress: the big advantage in the bed

Once seedlings have developed two to three true leaves, it is time for the next stage: moving them into the garden or into larger pots. This is exactly where the cardboard-tube trick offers its biggest benefit.

Instead of easing the plant out of a rigid plastic pot, you put the entire toilet roll tube pot into the soil. The cardboard breaks down gradually while the roots grow straight through it.

"There is no need to tug plants out of a pot - roots and compost are left almost completely undisturbed."

Many gardeners say plants establish better this way. The risk of damaging the root ball drops noticeably. With more delicate young plants such as tomatoes or peppers, the difference can be particularly clear.

Why this method is so sustainable

Cardboard toilet roll tubes turn up in nearly every household - often by the dozen. Normally they end up in the bin or recycling. Used as seed pots, they do an extra job first, which saves money and reduces resource use.

Aspect	Plastic pots	Cardboard tubes
Purchase cost	have to be bought	free from household waste
Disposal	often general waste, long-lasting rubbish	compostable, breaks down in soil
Handling when transplanting	root ball must be removed	whole pot can be planted

If you start lots of plants in spring, this technique can replace dozens of single-use pots. On a balcony it reduces the need for plastic trays; in a garden it makes for a near waste-free start to the season.

Gardening as a stress reliever - why the small ritual helps

The trend also ties into the psychological side of gardening. Studies indicate that regular gardening can reduce stress and improve wellbeing. Checking the little cardboard box each day, spotting the first green tips, smelling damp compost - all of this helps many people unwind.

When you water a little, keep an eye on growth, and perhaps fill a few more tubes, you create a simple routine. Especially in cities with limited green space, a small seed station by the window can provide a counterbalance to screen-heavy days.

Practical tips: how to make toilet roll tube seed-starting work better

There can still be a few pitfalls. These pointers reduce the chances of mould or weak, floppy seedlings:

• do not keep the tubes constantly soaking wet, or the cardboard will soften too quickly
• rotate the box regularly so all seedlings get even light
• avoid sowing too densely - aim for one to two plants per tube
• if mould appears on the surface, water less and improve ventilation
• move seedlings into bigger pots or the bed in good time

If your windowsills tend to be damp, slide a waterproof mat under the cardboard box. That keeps the area tidy if any water spills.

Variations and add-ons for craft lovers

As well as toilet roll tubes, kitchen roll tubes also work - just cut them into several sections. This creates taller pots for plants with stronger roots, such as sunflowers.

Creative growers also combine the idea with other upcycling: egg boxes, old cardboard fruit punnets, or retired plastic tubs can serve as drip trays or mini greenhouses. A clear cover of film over the box holds moisture for longer and can improve germination - but you must air it regularly.

If you have children, they can join in too. They can paint the tubes, label them with plant names, or stick small tags onto the box. It becomes a simple, hands-on experiment in how an unremarkable seed turns into a tomato plant.

This straightforward idea shows how much value there can be in everyday leftovers. With a few quick steps, a typical bathroom discard becomes a useful tool for the veg garden - inexpensive, practical, and surprisingly effective.