The main reason for starting egg-carton-seedlings in the early Spring is to protect them. If I immediately planted them in the soil outdoors, they are susceptible to frosty cold mornings before the weather permenatly warms up. Heavy April showers can also wash the seeds away from the soil before they have roots. Creating a safe environment for these seedlings ensures them to take root and become strong.
^^ I saved a couple weeks worth of paper egg cartons to begin the process. It's important to use paper cartons, not styrofoam/plastic ones! Because they are biodegradable, these cups can be cut individually from the pack, and planted directly into the dirt when the seedlings are ready!
Start off by separating the top of the carton from the bottom using scissors. Using the scissors or a knife, poke small holes into the bottom of each cup to allow water drainage.
^^Then, place the top of the carton directly underneath the cups. This will act as a tray to soak up excess water.
Select the right seeds for your garden and read each packet before planting! The instructions will tell you exactly how many seeds to plant per cup, along with needed row spacing and sunlight (so save the instructions for backyard planting time).
^^ Create identification markers for each row of seeds. I recycled used popsicle sticks!
^^ Soil is a vital part of the seedling and growing process. The health and success of your fruits and veggies depend on the nutrients it receives through the soil. Bags of soil are all specific to the needs and stages of your produce. Try to find a "seed starter" blend specific for this first stage. I found my seeds and soil at Whole Foods.
Next, comes the fun part, planting! Let your kiddos get their hands dirty and again, follow the instructions on your seed packets... Although W's busy fingers may have put a watermelon seed in the basil cups.
^^ Cover your seeds with more soil, mark them accordingly, and immediately water them!
^^ Place them in a window sill that receives plenty of sunshine. Water (but don't drown) them each morning, and again in the evening if they seem dry. Germination may take weeks, so be patient and continue caring for your seeds. On nicer days, I placed them on my back deck to soak up some sun.
After 3 and a half weeks I was becoming discouraged, but went to the windowsill with Walter to water our seeds. You would have thought I found a hundred dollars... I seriously squealed. My tomatoes and basil popped up over night! The next few days each seedling decided to poke through the soil to say hello!
^^ Basil
^^ Tomato
^^ Squash
^^ Zucchini
Keep on watering and sunning your seedlings until they have two additional leaves (separate from their original ones). Mine are still growing, so we (and by we, I mean Matt) will begin the raised garden construction this weekend! I will be posting an update on how build a garden and transplant your seedlings!
Keep in mind you do not need a "green thumb" to create a garden... I honestly don't believe in such a thing! If you don't have a backyard, box gardens can be made for balconies or patios. Link here. Place your seedling cartons in a window that you frequently pass in the morning so you remember to water them! Like anything in life, it is so rewarding to see the results of your patience and consistent sowing. I'm excited to "reap" what we "sowed" this summer!
Happy Gardening!
xo- Monica
