Can You Use Egg Cartons for Seedlings?

Benefits

• Egg cartons can be a good choice for seedlings because they are readily available and free if you save yours for a few months before planting season. In addition, cardboard egg cartons can be cut apart and planted in the garden because they are biodegradable.

Drawbacks

• For some plants, the space in an egg carton will not be enough to properly grow. Some seeds are planted so deep that they would be at the bottom of the egg carton, leaving little room for roots.

Drainage

• Seedlings must be kept moist but not soggy. To prevent them from being too wet in egg cartons, you need to poke small holes in the bottom for drainage.

Planting

• When using egg cartons for seedlings, fill each compartment with potting soil to the top. Then plant the seeds at the proper depth according to the instructions on the packet.

Care

• Until they sprout, seedlings should be kept out of direct sunlight. After they appear above the soil, they should have light from above or be rotated frequently to promote straight growth. They should be lightly misted with water or fed from below until they are strong enough to withstand watering from above.