How to Plant Seedlings in an Egg Carton

Want to get a head start on your plants without making a mess with potting soil and pots? Grab a couple egg cartons, some Jiffy peat pellets and the seeds of your choice and we'll get started. This is a great way to reuse those old egg cartons and start a no mess seedling garden.

Things You'll Need

• Egg Cartons
• Jiffy Peat Pellets
• Packets of Seeds
• Watering can

Instructions

Plant Seedlings in an Egg Carton

1. Gather your materials. What do you want to grow? You can start pretty much any type of seeds in these little peat pellets. Tomatoes, sunflowers, squash, herbs, whatever you want.

2. Place your peat pellets in the egg cartons, hole side up. You want to get the Jiffy peat pellets that are the size of an old half dollar coin. They come in a bag of 25. They fit perfectly in a regular size egg carton.

3. Add water. Once your pellets are firmly stuck into the egg carton holes water them thoroughly. You might need to fill it twice. The pellets suck up the water and go from being flat little disks to fat round peat balls. You want them to be nice and squishy when they are done. Not overly wet but not just damp either.

4. Add your seeds. Firmly tuck seeds into the peat pellet. You want to really shove them into the dirt so they don't come out when watered.

5. Water daily. Depending on the seeds you planted you should start seeing some growth within a week or two maybe sooner.

6. Cover at night if you are in a cold area or if it is still frosting at night. If it is really cold you may want to bring your little seedlings in the house at night.

7. Plant in the ground or in a larger container. Once your plants are a couple inches tall and the threat of night time frost is over you can put your plants in the ground or in larger containers. Use good garden soil when planting and water as needed for successful plants.

Tips & Warnings

• Most plants grow well in peat moss, you can start just about any type of seeds in the pellets.

• Make sure you plant in the ground or in a larger container as soon as the plants are a couple inches tall, the pellets become too small quickly and the plant will die if not replanted.