Seed Starting Ideas

Egg carton compartments make good containers. Be sure to poke holes in the sides near the bottom of the containers you use.

A Citrus Peel Starter Pot For Seedlings - Half a lemon can provide a perfect first home for any seedling. Robust yet decomposable, there is no need to even take the seedling out when re-planting outside.

Egg Shell Pots – Instead of throwing old egg shells into the compost, rescue them by giving them another job – start seeds in them.

K-Cup Recycling – If you are fan of those little K-Cup coffees then you will probably realize that they are perfect for starting little seeds off in.

Newspaper Pots – Are you not a fan of transporting matured seedlings into a planter or your garden? Then this is the ideal solution for you! These are biodegradable and require no transferring!

Plastic Bottle Pots – Another brilliant way to use old items and recycle them with another use. These can be used time and time again!

Toilet Paper Rolls – Who knew that these were so versatile? This particular way of starting seeds is a great one for kids on the weekend – simple and effective!

Milk Jug Seed Starters - If you want your seeds to have a little more room then use this idea. Old milk jugs create a perfect greenhouse effect to keep your seeds moist.

Ice Cube Tray Seed Starter - If your ice cube tray breaks or develops a crack – don’t throw it out, turn it into a mini-seed starter tray instead! Poke small holes in each bottom.

MORE TIPS

Label your containers. There’s nothing more frustrating than forgetting what you planted.

Share - a packet often yields much more than you will need.

Fill clean containers with seedling mix. Use soilless peat moss and mix in equal parts vermiculite and perlite to hold enough water and allow oxygen to flow. Don’t use potting soil.

When planting seeds, plant the largest seeds in the package to get the best germination rate.

Cover containers with plastic. Prick holes with a toothpick for ventilation. Water as directed.

Water newly started seedlings carefully. A pitcher may let the water out too forcefully. A mist sprayer is gentle but can take a long time. Try using a meat-basting syringe, which will dispense the water effectively without causing too much soil disruption.

Find a place in the kitchen where there is natural bottom heat—on top of the refrigerator or near the oven. (Move the tray if the oven is on, as it may become too hot.)

Seeds sprout best at temperatures of 65 to 75°F (18 to 24°C).

When seedlings appear, remove the plastic and move containers into bright light.

When the seedlings get their second pair of leaves, prepare individual pots filled with a potting mix with plenty of compost. Move the seedlings carefully to the new pots and water well. Keep pots out of direct sun for a few days.