What Items Can Be Recycled as Seedling Planters?

Egg cartons work well for seed starting.

Recycling seed starting containers cuts down on planting costs and keeps your garden eco-friendly. All sorts of household items make excellent seed starting containers, and when you're through using them, recycle them or save them for the next year.

Items

Items you can use for seed planters include egg cartons, small drinking cups, metal cans used for coffee or soup, cardboard milk or juice containers and plastic food containers used for yogurt. As long as you can poke drainage holes in the bottom of the container, you can use it.

Considerations

When reusing and recycling containers from home, you need to clean them first to remove dirt, food waste and other items that could cause bacteria. Wash the items using hot soapy water, or clean them in your dishwasher. Even containers you've used before need a new wash in preparation for planting.

Tips

Seedlings can't stay in seed starting containers forever. Plan to move seedlings from shallow containers, like egg cartons, when they have one set of true leaves, or when they crowd the container and need more space.

References

• Cornell Cooperative Extension: Starting Seeds Indoors