Melinda’s Garden Moments is heard Mon.-Fri. at 7:45 and 10:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. on WHAV.
Give egg shells and empty egg cartons a second life in your garden. Use them for starting plants from seeds.
Simply fill the individual sections of the egg cartons or the cleaned eggshells with a sterile well-drained potting or seed starting mix. Plant the seeds, moisten the soil and place the containers in a warm sunny location or grow them under artificial lights.
Separate the paper egg carton cups and slice through the sides and bottom just before planting them into larger containers or your outdoor garden. Crack the eggshells just prior to transplanting seedlings. This will make it easier for the roots to expand into the surrounding soil.
Plant the seedlings in the garden when the weather is right for the plants you have grown and after the transplants have been hardened off. Using bio-degradable containers reduces transplant shock. Plus, the paper carton and eggshells will disintegrate adding organic matter and nutrients to the soil.
A bit more information: Put other discards to work when starting plants from seeds. Many fast food containers provide a great vessel for starting seeds and a clear plastic top that can be used to create a mini greenhouse. Just vent the covering when condensation forms or as the seedlings begin to grow. Newspaper can be folded or rolled into pots. Purchase a Potmaker or make your own from a 2” diameter wooden rod. Roll strips of newspaper into a cylinder and fold under the bottom. Fill with soil and set in a flat or container for added support.
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