How to Grow Seedlings in Eggshells

An eggshell is just the right size for starting new seedlings. And kids love the novelty of "hatching" their very own plants.

Things You'll Need

• Egg-topping Tools
• Spray Bottles
• Fertilizers
• Fluorescent Lights
• Panes Of Glass Or Clear Plastic
• Peat Pots
• Potting Soil
• Seed Flats Or Shallow Box
• Seed-starting Medium
• Seeds
• Eggs
• Egg Cartons

Instructions

1. 

   Read the information on the seed packet. It will tell you when to start your seeds and what they need in the way of soil and air temperature, humidity, light and any special preplanting treatment.

2. 

   Fill each shell with sterile seed-starting medium and press in one or two seeds to the depth recommended on the seed packet.

3. Water with a misting spray bottle, set the eggs (in an egg carton) inside a seed flat or a shallow box, and place a thin pane of glass or clear plastic on top. Keep the growing medium evenly moist, but don't allow it to become waterlogged.

4. Keep the box in a spot where you can provide the soil and air temperatures and the amount of light recommended on your seed packet.

5. Make up for any deficiency of sunlight by placing fluorescent lights about 6 inches above the flat. Keep the lights on around the clock until the seeds germinate.

6. Watch for signs of germination. The first thing you'll see will be a set of what appear to be small leaves. They're actually food storage cells called cotyledons. (Germination times vary greatly; again, your seed packet will tell you when to expect the first sign of life.) Continue to water so that the soil stays evenly moist.

7. Watch for the first set of true leaves. If two seedlings have appeared in your shell, gently remove the smaller one and either discard it or plant it in a container of its own.

8. 

   Begin to feed the plants once a week with a water-soluble organic fertilizer at 1/4 the directed strength.

9. 

   Transplant the seedlings to individual pots filled with potting soil when you see two or three sets of leaves. Just before transplanting, water the seedlings, then carefully squeeze the eggshells with your hand and set the seedlings into the pots (shells and all) at the depth they were growing in the shells.

10. Firm the soil gently around the roots. Water softly but well, and continue feeding until it's time to harden off the plants and move them to the garden.

Tips & Warnings

• To reduce the chance of crop failure - especially if your children are counting on seeing the results of their efforts - stick with plants that are easy and germinate quickly. Good choices for beginners include lettuce, tomatoes, basil, zinnias, snapdragons and sunflowers.

• Remember, though, that once they've sprouted, all plants need the right amounts of air, water, light and nutrients if they're going to survive in the garden.

• Peat pots make ideal homes for transplanted seedlings because at planting time you set pot and all into the soil, thus avoiding damage to delicate roots.

• You can find egg-topping tools in housewares stores and catalogs.

• Sprouting seeds in eggshells is novel and amusing. It is not an efficient way to start plants for even a small garden.