Great Seed Starting Idea

[Randy]

I had lots of good tomatoes, but like most years, it took a long time for our soil to warm sufficiently for the plants to take off.

[Jade]

Originally Posted by RonsGarden

Last year was a really bad year for growing tomatoes and other crops!
We had way too much rain which basicly rotted the tomatoes in the field!
This year looks to be a good year, now that we are under the influence of El Nino, rather then a La Nina!

This is good news. Last year I put in a cuke, a squash, eggplants and peppers too. The only thing that was happy were the beans. I felt like such a failure and a disgrace to my profession.

[Rose White]

Originally Posted by Crabbergirl

I like this because it is
1.) Organic and
2.) inexpensive

Use egg shells to plant new starts in. I use only cage free orgainc eegs in compostable containers. When I crack my eggs I try to crack on end leaving a large bowl. I then place the empty shell back in the carton and fill it with a couple tablespoons of soil and add my seed. When the seedling is ready to be planted outside I simply lift the egg shell out of the carton and plant the whole egg shell and seedling in the ground. Saves buying peat pots and such and helps build your soil.

How do you do your starts?

Using egg shells to start seeds in is ingenious. Thanks for the idea.

I save all the flats and individual pots when I purchase flowers and use them for seedlings. Sometimes I plant seeds directly into my windowboxes or garden but they grow more randomly. I like the idea of planting the seedlings best.

Rose White, author of
"Easy Gardens A to Z"

[Crabbergirl]

You are welcome Rose. I really like doing that as it saves buying or re-using nasty plastic. Don't get me wrong I still use plastic pots I have recycled but at least I am not buying them anymore You and also use the hard shell from a spaghetti squash too. I also use the cardboard egg cartons.

[levi murphy]

I can't believe it..I never thought of this idea before.I'll definitely be trying this soonest. Thanks for the info

[Crabbergirl]

Levi,
You are so welcome. I take it you are organic as well?? Pumpkin shells work too. Anything that leaves a shell behind can be used. I have even been known to use cardboard boxes from all types of items. I never use those that contain anything harmful and I am always looking at things before I throw them out to make sure I have "used" them up first

[levi murphy]

Crabbegirl, cardboard too, you are one great inventor,
Thanks

[Crabbergirl]

LOL! Not sure inventor would be the correct classifcation, but I do like to try to use anything that will compost down later. Great thing about the cardboard is that you can plant the whole thing when you are ready just like a peat pot.
Thinking of other things I do that you might like. I do so many things out of habit that I really have to think about it. I'll post as they come to mind