After you read your Vindicator or Tribune Chronicle, it can be recycled as biodegradable seed pots to get your garden started. (Submitted photo)

Spring is the time to start garden seeds indoors to prepare for the upcoming growing season. A great project is making your own thrifty and biodegradable seedling pots by recycling your Vindicator.

These days inks are made with soybean oil, meaning the ink and paper are biodegradable and safe to use.

You can test paper by rubbing your finger across the paper, if the ink rubs off, it’s the old-fashioned petroleum ink, while soy inks won’t rub off. You also don’t want to use anything shiny such as advertising inserts as they might be made with paper and ink not safe for the garden.

It is easy to get started. Make sure your container has straight sides. The diameter of the container opening will be the diameter of your pot. Gather two pages of the Vindy, then cut into thirds lengthwise, giving you three long strips.

Lay your container on its side across your strip of paper, leaving about 1 inch hanging off the closed end of your container. Roll the container along the paper until it’s loosely wrapped all the way around the container (loose being key for easy removal).

Fold the edges of the paper down over the bottom of container, working your way around until all are folded in. It doesn’t have to be perfect and a small hole at bottom is fine; it’s just extra drainage.

Slide your seed pot from the container, set it aside and continue making enough to start your seeds.

This is one way. There are other options you can find online.

Fill the pots you’ve made with seed starting mixture. I place these filled pots onto a seed tray to give extra support. Now you can add your seeds according to planting instructions.

You’ll want to water from the bottom allowing seedlings to draw water up into your pots. The pots will discolor and possibly mold with time but if the plants look healthy, you’re fine. Mold growths are breaking down cellulose in the paper, not your plants.

When it comes time to plant, don’t forget to harden off your plants. A benefit of your recycled pot is you can transplant your seedling right into the garden and it will decompose naturally. Make sure the top of your pot isn’t above ground as this will dry out and wick water away from plant.

After reading it, I also shred my Vindy and add it to my compost pile, layer it under my tomato plants and cover with mulch to hold in place to prevent water from splashing up onto plants causing disease. So after you enjoy reading your Vindicator, recycle it to meet the needs of your garden.

For complete details on starting seeds, go to http://go.osu.edu/startseeds.

Baytos is an Ohio State University Mahoning County Extension Master Gardener Volunteer.