How to Make Biodegradable Planters for Seedlings

Fill several peat pots about 2/3 full with potting mix. If your seeds are very fine, there is no need to cover them completely. Otherwise, you may gently submerge them slightly into the soil. These little pots are made of pressed and dried peat moss. Once the plants have grown two or three true leaves, you can place both the pot and plant together directly into the garden without damaging the root system once the seedlings have been “hardened off” (see Tips below).

Place your seeds into a few of the recently designed soil blocks. In recent years, soil blocks have made starting seeds much easier than before. Seedlings grown in soil blocks can also be planted directly into the ground, avoiding any shock to the roots. Soil blocks combine peat moss with compost and are pressed into a 2-inch square cube. Some soil blocks come prepackaged as flat pellets that will expand when you add water.

Plant seeds in empty eggshells. If you usually eat eggs for breakfast, start saving the shells. If you don’t normally eat eggs, but would still like to try this method, one source advises that you poke a small hole in the bottom of the shell to drain the contents of each egg. Remove the top half of each eggshell. Next, fill the eggshells with potting soil or seed starting mix. Finally, sow a seed in each shell. Place the shell “pots” in the bottom of an egg carton and remove/discard the top of the carton. When it’s time to transplant the seedlings outdoors, you lightly crack the shell and then plant the seedling, shell and all. The tiny roots will not be disturbed and eventually the shell will break down into compost to help add nutrients to the growing plant.

Make newspaper containers. Save money by making your own biodegradable containers using recycled newspapers. Most newspapers today have switched to soy-based inks so they are safe for your garden. The containers are simple and easy to make (see Resources below).