How to Start Seeds in Egg Crates

Starting flowers, vegetables and herbs from seed doesn't have to be an expensive and complicated process... Using leftover paper egg crates, you can begin your garden indoors, recycle and lessen the traumas of transplanting when moving your plants outdoors. This is a great method for first time gardeners, budget and green gardeners or as an activity to share with children, getting them excited about learning to grow a garden!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Paper egg crate
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Good, organic potting soil
• Seeds
• Newspaper
• Small plastic cup or scoop
• Sharpie or permanent marker
• Spray bottle
• Water

1. Cut the top of your egg crate away from the bottom. Place the top aside and do not discard. You'll be using the top as a tray for your seeded egg crate once finished. Also cut away the closure flap from the bottom of the egg crate. This piece isn't necessary and can be discarded into your recycle bin to eliminate excess household garbage.

2. Using your pencil, carefully punch small holes through the bottom of each egg cup in the paper crate. The small holes are needed to allow drainage when watering your seedlings. Without drainage holes, your soil may hold too much water and your seeds will rot from being too moist before they sprout.

3. Place newspaper on a table, floor, porch or other suitable flat surface to create an easy-to-clean workspace for filling your egg crate with soil. Using a small plastic cup or scoop, carefully fill each egg cup with soil. Be sure to fill each one level with the top of the egg crate without compacting the soil into the cup sections. It's very important to have your soil loose to enable the seeds to sprout properly and grow. If your soil is too compacted, the seedlings will be unable to push through the heavy soil and will die off. An easy way to level the soil in the egg crates without tightly compacting is to gently shake them from side to side. This allows the soil to settle naturally in the cup sections. If you see that some egg cups aren't completely full, continue filling and leveling until you have filled them all properly.

4. Using your pencil again, gently create a small hole in the center of each egg cup's soil to drop the seeds in. Be sure to read the recommended depth and coverage advice given on the seed packets before planting. It's general practice to place 2-3 seeds in each egg cup as not all seeds may sprout. However, if your directions state otherwise, be certain to follow the seed packet recommendations.

5. With your fingers, lightly cover the holes of each seeded egg cup with existing soil. Again, use caution in covering the seeds and do not press down the soil and tightly compact it.

6. Remember the top we saved? Now's the time to grab it! Using your sharpie or permanent marker, write on the inside of the top what was planted in the egg crate. If you divided your egg crate into 2 or 3 sections planting more than one type of seed, be sure to notate which seeds were planted into which section.

7. Place your seeded egg crate into its top, taking care to place the bottom in the tray according to the notations made on the inside. Now you have markers to help you remember what seeds you planted and a tray that fits the egg crate exactly, catching any water drainage from your seedlings.

8. Fill your spray bottle with water and moisten each egg cup enough to saturate it fully. Five to six direct mists should be sufficient. Be certain your bottle gives a gentle mist and not a harsh, single stream of water. A single stream of water could be forceful enough to push the soil out of the egg cups and could potentially displace your newly planted seeds, too. You'll want to keep this bottle nearby as you'll need it to continue daily watering of your seedlings while they grow.

9. Place your newly seeded egg crate in a bright sunny place and monitor as it begins to sprout... You can use this method to make as few or as many seeded egg crates as you like!

Tips & Warnings

• Your seedlings will need 6-8 hours of sunlight daily to germinate properly. Placing them in a south facing windowsill or table will help ensure they get that needed sunlight each day.
• Keep the soil moist until the seedlings begin to emerge. Depending on the type of plants you are growing, sprouts should begin to appear within 7 to 21 days. For more detailed information, please check the seed packets for germination timelines specific to your seeds.
• When seedlings begin to reach 2 inches high, thin them out to a single seedling, should more than one have sprouted. While there is no guarantee as to which ones will survive over the others, try to make an educated guess of which one appears to be stronger and more viable.
• To know when your seedlings are ready for transplanting to containers or garden beds, please check the seed packets for recommended timelines specific to your seeds.
• A few weeks before transplanting seedlings to a container or garden bed, place seeded egg crates on a porch or patio for 2 to 4 hours a day to allow seedlings time to properly adjust to being outdoors. Having the breeze move them around will help strengthen the seedlings and assist in lessening the shock of planting them outdoors.
• Because you have started your seedlings in paper egg crates, there is no need to remove them from the egg crate cups before placing them in their permanent spots for the season. Using a pair of scissors simply cut the egg cups into individual mini-planters and place directly in the ground. The egg cups will naturally disintegrate in the soil, helping to recycle and lessen the ripping and tearing of tender roots that can occur when transplanting young seedlings into containers or garden beds.
• When any activity involves children, scissors and punching of holes, please be certain they are given proper guidance to ensure safety and prevent injury.

[sexychef]

on 7/1/2008 I have tried this. Great advice. *****

[Mimi67]

on 5/9/2008 So much fun ! :o) Reminds me of my old school days -I'm on my way to my balcony right now to grow basil, chives and parsley !