Seed Starter Tray's DIY
I promised I would show you the Seed Starter trays I put together. I'm really liking how easy to water they are too. I've got tomato's started in some of these and I have to say they are really easy to care for. Much easier to water and keep the soil moist(ish)
First you need a styrofoam egg carton. You'll cut the lid of the carton off and set it aside for now. It's going to become your watering tray.
Next you will need make a little hole in the bottom of each of the egg spots. I used a nail that I had heated up and sort of "melted" the holes. Be careful not to get them too big.
Now you want to cut one or two of those "bumps" in the middle of the egg carton. This is where you will be watering your seedlings. I've been using a funnel to water mine and it works great.
Many of my egg cartons are made differently. This one just has that one "high ridge" in the middle. Some of the other ones had a bump on each side. It really doesn't matter though. As long as you get the holes cut.
Set the piece on top of the lid you have put aside. I wrapped the whole thing in tinfoil to help it all stay together. That way if I accidentally overwater it doesn't leak so bad. And there you have it. Add some dirt and your favorite seeds. I like this because it waters the plants from the bottom and therefore its not watered unevenly.
Once you get your seeds planted you might want to cover it with some saran wrap. It will help create a good atmosphere for them.
So there it is. My new seed starter trays. Now I just need to find some more egg cartons!
I promised I would show you the Seed Starter trays I put together. I'm really liking how easy to water they are too. I've got tomato's started in some of these and I have to say they are really easy to care for. Much easier to water and keep the soil moist(ish)
Great idea! I have a lot of egg cartons. I'll give this a try!
ReplyDeleteI think you'll like it. It makes watering so much easier too. Things don't dry out as fast and you don't drown the plants either.
DeleteGreat idea-stealing it.
ReplyDeleteOH!! Fantastic idea!! I have a stack of cartons I keep forgetting to take back to the egg lady....she's not getting them now! Thank you I'll be setting these up this weekend!
ReplyDeleteI need to find some more egg cartons, since I've used all the ones I have on this project.
DeleteGreat idea, except mine are all paper. Raising my own eggs, I'd have to try Craigslist, but I may do that! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteNancy po, I've got tons of the paper ones too. I may give Craigslist a try as well. Thanks for the idea!
DeleteHuh. Thank you. :o)
ReplyDeletelol LindaG!!! Things that make you go.... hmmmmm....
DeleteOff the subject, but check Rural Revolutions posting yesterday. You are on a list in some pretty good company. And good idea on the seed starting trays. Jeff
ReplyDeleteThanks Jeff!
DeleteHave you tried using the egg shell itself as a seedling holder? What you do is crack open the egg as close to the pointy end as possible. Fill the empty egg shell with sand and the seed, and place in the egg carton, and keep damp until you see plant growth. When your seedling has 2 X 2 leaves gently crack open the base of the egg and plant the whole thing, shell and all. That way you're adding calcium to the seedling, and the soil, whilst you're growing your seedlings :)
ReplyDeleteIf you'd like I link, I did a blog posting on it.
That's a cool idea Dani, I've seen others do it and I've actually tried it once with a dozen eggs. It just seemed like too much work for me. heheheheee.... I'd love to read your post though!
DeleteIt can be found here :) http://ecofootprintsa.blogspot.com/2011/12/loo-rolls-vs-egg-shells.html
DeleteNah - it's easy peasy - simply ensure that you crack the egg as close to the pointy end as you can.
I used to use the compressed cardboard type of egg holder for seedlings; the advantage was that the holder could be shredded for compost when you were through, or could be planted directly in the soil with the seedling in it, and it would fall apart after a while.
ReplyDeleteI've used the cardboard egg cartons many many times. The only thing that I don't like about them is that if you accidentally over-water they've been known to come right apart. Now of course I don't PERSONALLY know this but I'm just sayin'...
Delete