How to Build a Plant Starter

Cut cardboard egg cartons in half to remove the lids. Use the bottom sectioned part as the individual plant pots for your seeds. The cardboard will get soft with the damp soil, but not fall apart before you need to transplant the seedlings.

Fill each section with a mixture of equal parts damp peat moss and vermiculite. Place the egg cartons in a larger moisture-proof tray to contain the damp cardboard.

Place a couple of seeds in each section. Bury the seeds about four times the width of the seed. For the seeds that need light to germinate, lightly sprinkle a thin layer of the soil mixture over them just so they have some contact with the soil but the light can still reach them.

Cover the whole tray with a large clear plastic bag so the moisture stays enclosed but light can still get through the plastic.

Supply light and warmth for your seed starter and you will have provided the seeds with everything they need to get started. Usually 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit will start germination in seeds.

Set the trays in a sunny window where they will get at least 6 hours of sunlight a day once they have sprouted. Remove the plastic after the sprouts are about 1 inch tall.

Transplant the seedlings outside to your cold frame or after the danger of frost has passed to your garden. Cut the cardboard egg carton into individual sections and bury each section along with the seedlings. The cardboard will deteriorate quickly and you will not disrupt the roots, reducing the shock of transplanting.