Biodegradable Seed Starting Containers

It might seem a little early for thinking about summer gardening, but with January already nearly halfway through, the time for seeding and planting is sneaking up! Where I live, you really ought to have it started by the beginning of March, so you can bet I’ve been thinking on what I’m going to plant this year and whether I want to do a container garden or something that takes a bit more work!

I have both started my seeds early and planted them straight in the ground once it gets warm, aand believe me, starting early is a lot better! Personally, I prefer to use biodegradable containers as they mean less storage for the other 9 – 10 months of the year, they’re good for the plant and don’t harm your garden! So, if you’re looking for some good, cheap biodegradable ideas for seed starting, here are my favorites:

Eggshell Starters

I love eating eggs for breakfast (and sometimes dinner), and so egg shells are never something that is in short supply at my place. Why not put those shells to work protecting your seeds? Dump a little bit of soil in a half of an egg shell an plant your seeds there. Then, when they’re ready, you can put the shell and all in the ground and reduce the shock to your plant!

Egg Carton Starters

This is probably one of the more common seeding solutions if you don’t have one of those seeding trays specifically for gardening or if you’re like me and you prefer something biodegradable. I think egg cartons work extremely well, as it gives your plants plenty of room to spread their roots before you’re ready to put them in the ground and I feel like it’s a bit better for the plant. Of course, that could just be me.

Newspaper Rolls

Use a glass or jar and create rolls out of newspaper to keep your seedlings separate while they’re in the early growth stage. Newspaper disintegrates pretty quickly, so it’ll be easy for nature to take its course once you get them in the ground. Also, you can make the rolls whatever size you want, which is pretty convenient.

Toilet Paper Rolls

Everyone uses toilet paper, and they all come with those annoying rolls, so why not put them to use? Save your toilet paper rolls and cut them in half, fold in the bottom and use them as containers for your seeds! As a bonus, they’ll probably hold up a bit better than newspaper rolls if you end up having a longer winter than normal (which has been happening more often where I live).

Which method is your favorite? Do you have any other tips for starting your garden early? Let us know in the comments, or join us in the forums for more gardening discussion!