How to Use Recycled Plastic Containers for Seed Starting

Contributor

By Willi Galloway
eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating:

(10 Ratings)

Starting your own vegetable and flower seedlings from seed doesn’t mean you need to buy special plastic trays and containers or peat pots. Recycling plastic food containers into seed-starting pots—and making use of a few common kitchen supplies—works just as well—and is easier on the environment and your pocketbook. Here’s what you need to do.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Plastic containers in various sizes
Large nail and hammer
Plastic produce bags
Chopsticks
Rimmed baking sheets

Step 1

Gather a variety of opaque plastic food containers in different sizes. Small individual yogurt cups are ideal for starting single plants, especially peppers, tomatoes and eggplants. Short, squat sour cream and tofu containers work well for starting rows of seedlings. Make sure to have gallon milk or juice jugs and 32-oz. yogurt containers available for up-potting seedlings as they grow.
Step 2

Discard the container lids and any plastic film stretched over the tops. Poke three or four holes in the bottom of each one by hammering a large nail through the bottom. Or use an electric drill fitted with a ¼-inch bit to drill the holes. Create a large container with a wide, open mouth by using a handsaw to cut off the top 1/3 of milk or juice jugs.
Step 3

Sterilize the plastic containers prior to use; this is important. Start by placing them in the top shelf of your dishwasher. Set your dishwasher to run using a high-temperature wash, a high-temperature rinse and a heat dry.
Step 4

Fill each clean container with a weak bleach solution (1 part bleach to 10 parts water). Allow the containers to soak for 30 minutes. Then rinse them in cool clean water and allow them to air dry. The containers are now ready for planting!
Step 5

Some commercial seed-starting kits come with a plastic dome that fits over the plastic flat. The dome helps maintain high humidity around the germinating seeds. You can build your own “dome” with two chopsticks and a plastic bag. Start by placing the chopsticks opposite each other near the edge of the container. Then fit a plastic bag over the chopsticks and around the container. I like to use the lightweight produce bags from grocery stores.
Step 6

Place the containers onto rimmed baking sheets to prevent them from leaking water onto your table.

Comments

amazedanew said

Flag This Comment

on 3/22/2009 Great ideas - thanks! I've been having problems with humidity with mine - I'll add the bags! 5*

jseven said

on 1/29/2009 Great idea! 5*RCRR

lynsuz12 said

on 1/18/2009 I've made the newspaper pots. Easy to do. But remove the bottom before planting, so roots have a place to go. The paper does bio-degrade, but slowly. Going to use your idea of plastic throw aways. Chopsticks..much better idea than the coat hanger one I've heard of.
Thanks 5*