Anyone have a better alternative than using peat pots for starting plants in a ‘greenhouse’(plastic lean-to)?
Not more expensive, a little more work is OK though.
Newspaper pots work good. Instead of buying a needlessly expensive ($12-$50+) turned wooden “pot former”, you can make one out of scrap PVC & a couple of fittings.
Other people use straight-sided glasses, jars, etc.
I made mine last year, and had very good success with it. Don’t worry about the ink, as it is all soy-based now, even (most) colored inks.
Our local Ace has a bin in the rear with inexpensive odd pipe lengths in it that are left over from cutting pieces for other customers. I used a 12” length, and cut it in half to have a better handle on things; and used a regular slip-fit cap on the top to push against. Slip-fit the parts, and slide into the coupling to make sure they fit & there’s clearance before buying: the parts bins are notorious for people mixing up sizes.
This year, I may put together a larger one, though I’ll have to experiment with newspaper sizes.
Google around, and you’ll find other ideas as well, including how turn a wooden one, if you have a lathe.