There are many ways to start seeds, some more sustainable than others. If you can reuse store-bought paper cartons that you were just going to throw out, then it's a great step towards lowering your gardening footprint. Starting seeds in egg cartons is a fun, inexpensive way to repurpose them. Since you’re going to buy eggs anyway, simply remember to set aside and save the sturdy cartons.
These DIY seed starter pots work just as well as expensive, professional seed-starting trays – if you use them the right way. They're perfect for starting seeds indoors , and the individual egg cups are just the right size for many flower and vegetable seedlings. Once you have finished with them, egg cartons can be added to the compost bin, where they will break down and further enrich your garden.
So, how do you begin growing seeds in egg cartons?
Why Start Seeds in Egg Cartons?
There are a few great reasons to start using egg cartons for planting seeds, especially if you are a beginner gardener starting plants from seeds for the first time. Here’s why:
- An egg carton seed tray is so cheap it’s free. Gardening can be expensive at times, so any way you can trim some costs helps.
- Reusing materials is good for the environment. You were only going to throw it away, so why not find a new use for your egg cartons?
- Egg cartons are small, already compartmentalized, and easy to handle and use.
- The shape of an egg carton makes it easy to situate on a sunny windowsill.
- Egg cartons are flexible seed-starting containers. You can use the whole thing or easily cut it apart for smaller containers.
- Depending on the type of carton, you may be able to put it right in the ground with the seedling and let it decompose in the soil.
- You can write directly on the egg carton to keep your seeds organized.
Treat budding gardeners and seasoned pros to the finest growing kits and accessories, or inspire them with hand-picked seed varieties.
How to Start Seeds in Egg Cartons
Starting seeds in egg cartons couldn’t be simpler. All you need to be successful is paper-based or cardboard egg cartons. Save them up throughout the winter and ask friends and family to save them too.
Besides egg cartons, you will need, of course, seeds and a good seed-starting mix. While you can use a regular potting mix, the best egg carton seed starter is a soilless mix as it won't compact, allowing more aeration and water penetration. Soilless mixes also retain moisture better than other potting mediums and are sterile, which means seeds are less likely to contract disease.
Once you’ve obtained your cartons, seeds, and soil medium, it’s time to start planting! Simply cut the lid off the carton and poke some drainage holes into the bottom of the egg cups. You can put the container lid under the bottom of the carton, and any moisture will drain out and into the lid underneath.
Fill the egg cups with a moist seed-starting mix and plant seeds to the appropriate depth. How many seeds to plant per module depends on the type of seed.
Place the carton on a tray or in a shallow pan to catch any draining water, and position it in a warm spot
How to Look After Seeds in Egg Cartons
The key fundamentals of germinating seeds are to keep them warm and moist. It helps to put the carton in a plastic vegetable bag from the grocery store – another good way to reuse materials. This will create a more humid environment for the seeds. Once they sprout, you can remove the plastic and set your container in a sunny, warm spot until they are ready to be planted outside. A warming mat can hasten germination but isn’t absolutely necessary as long as your room is warm.
Check the soil every day to ensure it hasn't dried out. Keep the soilless mix consistently moist, never drenched. A little water mister is a handy way to keep the soil moist without damaging the newly emerging shoots. How often to water seedlings depends on a variety of factors, so it's better to check the soil for dryness every day rather than watering to schedule.
Once the seeds have sprouted, the seedlings will need plenty of light. Either position the egg carton in a sunny windowsill or use a grow light. While seedling light requirements differ depending on the plant, most need at least 12 hours a day.
Best Seed to Start in Egg Cartons
Pretty much any type of seed will grow in egg cartons but the ones that will truly benefit from this method of germination are those that do not do well being transplanted. That means root crops, peas, beans, and small leafy greens can all be propagated in egg cartons, provided they are the biodegradable paper variety.
All you need to do to transplant them when the time comes is cut between the individual cups and plant the seedling inside its egg-shaped vessel directly into the ground. This alleviates potential shock the plant will go through if you disrupt its root structure while transplanting.
