About this product
Full description
The traditional wooden pot maker that turns yesterday's newspaper into today's seed pots — plastic-free propagation from Burgon & Ball, Sheffield's oldest tool-making firm
The Burgon & Ball Paper Pot Maker is one of those small, quietly clever tools that solves a real problem: how to raise seedlings without accumulating a shed full of plastic modules and pots that break, crack, get lost, and eventually go to landfill. Wrap a strip of newspaper around the wooden mould, press it onto the base, and you have a small biodegradable pot ready to sow into. When the seedling is ready to plant out, the whole pot goes into the ground — no transplant shock, no plastic waste, no faff.
It's the sort of tool that reminds you gardening used to work perfectly well before plastic. And from Burgon & Ball, the Sheffield toolmaker who've been making garden tools since 1730, it's built to be used every propagation season for years to come.
Key Features
- Turns newspaper into biodegradable seed pots — uses recycled black-and-white newspaper (avoid glossy or coloured print)
- Solid wooden construction — the mould and base are made from real wood, not plastic; the tool itself is as sustainable as the pots it makes
- No tape, no glue required — the pot holds together by the folded-under base; wet compost bonds the paper naturally as you fill
- Creates approximately 5cm diameter pots — the ideal size for most vegetable seedlings, herbs, and flowers
- Pot plants straight into the ground — no need to remove; paper biodegrades within weeks in soil, releasing roots to grow through
- Zero transplant shock — roots aren't disturbed at planting-out time; particularly valuable for plants that dislike root disturbance
- Plastic-free propagation — a genuine plastic-free alternative to modules, cell trays, and pots
- Uses waste newspaper — a use for something you already have; free pots from something you'd otherwise recycle
- Great for children and educational settings — the pot-making itself is engaging craft; teaches sustainable gardening
- Made by Burgon & Ball — Sheffield's oldest tool-making firm, established 1730; nearly three centuries of continuous tool making
Best For
- Vegetable seed starting — beans, peas, courgettes, squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, brassicas — any veg that starts in pots benefits from paper pots
- Root-sensitive plants — sweet peas, morning glory, poppies, nasturtiums, and other plants that dislike transplanting go straight to pot-and-plant
- Bishy seed customers looking to raise plants sustainably — the natural companion to the seed range
- Zero-plastic gardening — anyone building a genuinely plastic-free vegetable garden or allotment
- Children's gardening and school projects — the pot-making activity is engaging; the growing results are visible; the sustainable message lands well with younger gardeners
- Allotment growers — free pots at scale for a full plot's propagation needs
- Herb and salad growers — quick-turnaround crops don't need robust plastic pots for their short pot life
- Autumn sweet pea sowing — deep root systems don't like being disturbed; paper pots let you plant out roots intact
- Gift for the sustainable gardener — a considered gift for anyone reducing plastic in their gardening
How to Use
- Prepare your newspaper strips — cut black-and-white newspaper into strips approximately 8-10cm wide and long enough to wrap around the mould with a few centimetres of overlap at the base
- Wrap the strip around the mould — hold the wooden mould upright and roll a newspaper strip around it, leaving about 3cm hanging over the base
- Fold the overhang — press the overhanging paper inwards over the base of the mould, folding it flat against the bottom
- Press onto the tamper base — place the wrapped mould onto the base and press firmly. This compresses and binds the folds
- Slide off the pot — carefully slide the newly formed pot off the mould
- Fill with compost — fill the paper pot with peat-free seed compost, firming gently. The moisture will bind the paper further
- Sow your seed — sow one or two seeds per pot at appropriate depth for the variety
- Water and grow — keep in a warm bright position; paper pots can go in a seed tray for easy watering and handling
- Plant out whole — when the seedling is ready, dig a hole and plant the paper pot directly into the ground. Firm gently. The pot degrades within weeks
What Kind of Paper Works Best?
- Best: Black-and-white newspaper — broadsheet or tabloid, standard newspaper printing ink is soy-based and safe for growing
- Also fine: Brown paper (parcel wrapping, unbleached paper bags), plain kraft paper
- Avoid: Glossy magazine paper (coating may contain unwanted chemicals), heavily coloured printed paper, waxed or laminated papers
- For colourful pots: Paper from unbleached kraft or unglazed craft paper works well and biodegrades quickly
Care and Longevity
- Keep dry between uses — the wooden mould and base can absorb moisture; wipe clean and dry after each pot-making session
- Store dry — a shed or covered storage box keeps the wood in condition
- Occasional oil — a light coat of vegetable or linseed oil once a year keeps the wood supple and prolongs the tool's life
- Long-term: With basic care, expect many years of use; Burgon & Ball tools are designed to last decades, not seasons
Product Specifications
| Manufacturer | Burgon & Ball, Sheffield (established 1730) |
| Product Type | Paper Pot Maker — sustainable propagation tool |
| Material | Solid wooden mould and base |
| Pot Diameter | Approximately 5cm |
| Pot Material | Recycled newspaper (user-supplied) |
| Plastic Content | None — genuine plastic-free |
| Assembly | No tape or glue required |
| Suitable For | All seeds usually started in pots or modules |
| Reusable | Yes — the tool lasts decades; pots are single-use biodegradable |
| Storage | Compact — small footprint in shed or potting bench |
| Origin | Sheffield, England |
Why Paper Pots Beat Plastic Modules
- Zero transplant shock — the whole pot goes in the ground; roots are never disturbed. Particularly valuable for taproot plants (sweet peas, poppies, nasturtiums) that resent transplanting
- No plastic waste — plastic modules break, warp, and eventually end up in landfill; paper pots become soil
- Free pot supply — use newspaper you'd otherwise recycle; make as many pots as you need
- Better root development — roots air-prune at the edges of paper pots, developing fibrous root systems rather than spiralling roots
- Compostable — even if you don't use every pot you make, unused pots can be composted or recycled
- Educational value — the pot-making process itself is engaging for children and teaches sustainable practice
Perfect for Sowing Bishy Seeds
Paper pots are ideal for many of the seeds we grow and sell at Salle Moor Hall Farm — especially the ones that don't like being transplanted. Sweet peas, morning glory, nasturtiums, and beans all appreciate going into the ground with roots intact. For quick-turnaround crops like microgreens and salad leaves, paper pots reduce plastic waste dramatically. Our full seed range works beautifully with pot-and-plant propagation.
Companions from the Bishy Range
- Vegetable Seeds — runner beans, French beans, courgettes, squash, cucumbers, and other pot-started crops
- Cottage Garden Seeds — sweet peas and root-sensitive cottage garden flowers
- Propagation and Growing Essentials — compost, cell trays, dibbers, and everything for a complete propagation setup
- Peat-Free Composts and Soils — the right seed compost for filling paper pots
- Herb Seeds — basil, parsley, coriander for quick-turnaround pot growing
- Pea Mangetout 'Carouby de Maussane' — the root-sensitive pea that particularly benefits from paper pot growing
- The Potting Shed collection — browse the full Burgon & Ball range and complementary tools
About Burgon & Ball
Burgon & Ball is Sheffield's oldest tool-making firm, established in 1730. Nearly three centuries of unbroken tool manufacturing in the city historically famous for the quality of its steel. Their range spans traditional garden tools, RHS-endorsed pieces, precision propagation equipment, and considered sustainable products like this paper pot maker — all built to last decades and be used seriously.
About Bishy Barnabee's Cottage Garden
We're a small Norfolk seed and garden supplies business, run from Salle Moor Hall Farm near Reepham. Alongside our own-grown seeds and dried flowers, we curate a small Potting Shed range of tools and supplies we use ourselves or would happily recommend to a fellow gardener. The Burgon & Ball Paper Pot Maker is a good example of the kind of thing we look for: a simple tool that solves a real problem, made well, from a manufacturer we trust, that reduces the plastic in the gardening year. If you'd like advice on which of our seed varieties suit paper pot propagation, get in touch.
Care and use
- Wipe clean of compost residue
- Dry thoroughly before storage
- Wooden components benefit from staying dry
STORAGE:
- Cool dry cupboard or shed
- Away from prolonged damp
- Compact - stacks with other propagation tools
MAINTENANCE:
- Light coat of vegetable or linseed oil once yearly
- Keeps wood supple and prolongs life
- No metal parts to rust
LONGEVITY:
- Expect decades of use with basic care
- Burgon & Ball tools designed to last
NEWSPAPER PREPARATION:
- Black-and-white newspaper best
- Avoid glossy or heavily coloured print
- Cut strips 8-10cm wide before starting
POT LIFESPAN:
- Plant out within 2-4 weeks of making
- Longer pots may soften/deteriorate before planting
- Pot fully biodegrades in soil within weeks