Getting ready to plant seeds for your garden? It is so easy to make your own eco-friendly seed starting pots by repurposing materials that you already have at home. Eggshells are my top choice for seed starting because they are biodegradable, can be planted directly into the soil and are of no extra cost if your family already consumes eggs. Eggshells are also made of calcium carbonate, so as they decompose they will add this important nutrient into the soil. I recommend using a high quality seed starting mix, compost or a mix of both to plant your seeds. Sometimes if I do not have seed starting mix on hand I will use an organic potting soil. These can be used for any type of seeds, but make sure that the seeds you are planting do well being transplanted— some seeds prefer to be sown directly into the ground or started in larger containers (such as squash). We plant vegetable, herb and flower seeds in these starter pots every season. We have even grown seedlings in them to give away as gifts! These starters are also really fun to make, so they can be a great way to involve children in the garden. Elliot enjoys collecting the eggshells and looks forward to planting his seeds every season.

Materials:

– eggshells
– flower or vegetable seeds
– seed starting mix (ideal) or organic potting soil
– spray bottle

How to Make Eggshell Seed Starters:

Step 1: How to prepare the egg shells.

Crack your eggs open by tapping a spoon on one end and removing only the top portion of the shell. Empty the shell out completely and rinse well with hot water. I saved our egg shells over a period of time until we had enough of them. Boil eggshells for 5 minutes first to kill off any possible bacteria and make sure your egg shells dry completely before you begin. Add a drainage hole to the bottom of each shell. I find that the simplest way to do this is by using the tip of a small screwdriver to create a hole.

Step 2: How to plant your seeds

Carefully fill the inside your egg shell with potting soil or seed starting mix. Use the tip of your finger to make a small hole in each. Add 2-3 seeds to each hole and re-cover lightly with soil.

Step 3: How to take care of your seedlings

Gently mist the soil with a spray bottle every couple of days as needed, taking care not to overwater. You’ll want to keep the soil moist at all times, but not wet. I like to use recycled plastic egg containers as a greenhouse to help them germinate. Once your seeds sprout and develop their second or third set of true leaves, transplant them into your garden. To do so, dig a hole in the soil and crack the shell a bit before burying it completely. The shell will break open and decompose as the roots expand.