Ready to jumpstart your garden with the beginning of spring? Planting seeds in eggshells is an eco-friendly way to grow your garden. When the seedlings are big enough, you can plant the shells directly into the soil!
- Empty eggshells, rinsed and dried
- Recycled egg carton
- Seed-starting mix
- Seeds (small seeds such as herbs and flowers work best)
- Ice pick, awl or sewing needle – anything that can poke a hole in a shell without cracking it
Break the eggs open and clear out the contents; gently wash and dry the shells. To ensure all traces of egg are gone, you can boil the shells in water for a few minutes.
Pierce the bottom of your clean eggshells with a sewing needle to create a draining hole for excess water.
Next, arrange your eggshells in the carton and then use a spoon to fill each shell with pre-moistened seed-starting soil.
Place a few seeds in each shell according to directions and depth. We used basil because it’s great to cook with. After your seeds are planted, find a sunny window and place your eggshell garden there to start the growth process.
Lightly mist the soil with a spray bottle as often as needed, but be careful not to overwater! Depending on the type of seeds you use, you should begin to see growth in your seedlings in approximately 10 to 14 days.
Once your seedlings grow to about 2 inches, move the entire carton into an outdoor garden spot. When they are large enough to transfer, plant the seedlings directly into the ground or a pot – in this case, our colorful floral watering can – after gently cracking the eggshell around them. The shell will continue to provide nourishment for the plant and soil and will eventually biodegrade.
Not only is using eggshells a great idea to keep more things out of the garbage can, but it’s the perfect example of finding new uses for old things–for more of these kinds of projects that help save the environment, you can see our list of upcycling ideas for inspiration!
We want to hear your comments! Have you tried a project like this before or did you try this one? How did it turn out? Let us know in the comment section or share with us on Facebook, Google+ or Twitter.