Seed Starting Containers from Repurposed Household Items

by Kath
(London)

There are a dozen items around the home, which can be repurposed into seed starting containers, from egg shells to yogurt pots. If you have a green thumb and you are looking for inexpensive ways to start your own seeds, you can go with the items you find at home. Go through your pantry, closet and other storage areas to see what you can use as seed starting containers. Also, check out this post. Who knows, you might get inspired.

Yogurt Cups

Rather than getting rid of empty yogurt plastic cups, why not repurpose them into seed starting containers? The more cups you have, the more seedlings you can start. Many people around the world decide to give yogurt containers a second life. Reuse is a great way to reduce environment pollution and prevent our natural resources from draining. So, instead of buying pots for seedlings, you can make ones yourself.

Reasons to choose yogurt cups: they don't take up much space and are easy to carry around the house. You can use them again and again. Just clean the cups after you plant the seedlings and store them away until next year.

Egg Cartons

Another clever idea is to reuse your biodegradable cartons. You can plant a dozen seeds in a carton and when they are ready to transplant, cut the carton in sections and plant in the soil.Egg cartons are very easy to carry around and you can also place them by a window.

Toilet Paper or Paper Towel Tubes

After you use the last paper towel and you have nothing left but the tube, don't throw it away,it can be used as a seedling pot for your favorite plants, the same goes for a toilet paper roll. One way to do this is to stick several small tubes to a tray, fill them with soil and put your seeds inside. The other way is to cut toilet paper tubes in half (watch your fingers), cut slits about one inch long up the tube (you need no more than four slits) and fold the roll. This is going to be the bottom of your pot. The next thing you want to do is secure the bottom using adhesive tape. When you are ready, just fill the pot with soil and place your seeds.

Reasons to use toilet paper or paper towel tubes:

Once your seedlings are ready to be transplanted in the garden, you can simply stick the tubes into the soil.

To-go Containers

If you have plenty of to-go containers and you don't know how to make good use of them, just turn them into seed starting containers. It's very easy to make one. Make a few small holes into the bottom of the container, add soil and place the seeds.

You can even use the lid before the plant emerges. Note: it has to be a clear lid so that the seed can get enough sunlight.

Reasons to stick with to-go containers: they are easy to carry around the house and can make wonderful mini greenhouses.

Paper Coffee Cups

This is our last suggestion. If you occasionally get coffee on the go, don't get rid of the paper cups. They can be made into seed pots. You just need to punch a few holes here and there to allow for water to drain. Add soil, plant your seeds and wait for them to emerge. When the time has come, take the cups to the garden and transplant the seeds. Just pull off the bottom and place the cup in the soil. It will break down with time.

Reasons to use paper coffee cups: you don't need to remove the cup when transplanting.

More information about growing and maintaining you garden can be found at GardnersMates SW19.

We hope you like our suggestions. Do you think any other household item will work for your seed starting containers?