It’s that gardening time of year again, and nearly everyone I know is sowing seeds. Gardeners big and small are prepping for the growing season and dreaming of the harvest to come. In our neck of the woods, we needed to start seedlings indoors. The kids were excited to pitch in and help put together an easy indoor egg carton greenhouse.
Gather Supplies
For our greenhouses, we needed cardboard egg cartons, plastic wrap, garden soil, seeds, and clothes pins which were used as garden markers. You can get more creative with your markers if you like.
Keep in mind that you do not need to have a garden space to be a seed sower. This mini greenhouse is a great way to start herbs for the patio, balcony or kitchen window.
Here is a seed kit for creating the perfect herb garden.
Step One: Prep the Carton
Like any planter, the egg carton greenhouse needs drainage. While my two year old made sure the soil was well mixed, (slow breath in and then exhale) we used a skewer to poke holes in the bottom of each space in the egg carton.
The lid of the egg carton will be used as the drainage tray. Waterproof it by wrapping it with one solid piece of plastic wrap. We used a little bit of tape to make sure the plastic stayed in place. I don’t think this step necessary if your gardening methods are more graceful than a two year old’s.
Step Two : Make a Big Mess
Choose a good garden soil to give your seedlings the best possible start in life. Oh wow, this is dangerously close to becoming a lesson on parenting.
Regardless, use a spoon, shovel or your chubby little fist to fill the egg carton with soil. Our seeds were planted in a mix of one part compost and one part potting soil.
Step Three: Plant Your Seeds
Before planting our seeds, we created tiny holes in our soil with our skewer. You don’t really need a skewer, a finger will work just fine.
Sow your seeds according to the directions provided as far as depth of planting goes. The directions are usually found on the back of the seed pack.
Step Four: Water
Keeping your seeds wet as they germinate is your top priority as a gardener. We used a spray bottle to wet our soil so we didn’t accidentally flood our seeds. Spray the soil, spray your brother and repeat.
Step Five: From Egg Carton to Greenhouse
Once your seeds are sown and watered, cover your entire egg carton with another piece of plastic wrap. We labeled our clips and used them to help hold the plastic in place. You can easily un-clip and lift the plastic to mist the soil each day.
Find a happy plant place to put your egg carton greenhouses. I keep mine in the kitchen window where they get plenty of sunshine and I see them on a daily bases. Out of sight, out of mind tends to be my curse, so right in my face at the kitchen sink it is.
Step Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Blah, Blah…
When you are ready to transplant your seedlings into the garden or planter pots, simply tear away the section of egg carton holding the sprout and stick it right into the soil. Since the cartons are biodegradable, they will break down quickly once planted.
The tear-ability of the egg carton is great since you wont have to disrupt the roots of the seedlings and further stress them when moving them to their forever home. Another added bonus is the moisture retention that the cardboard will provide in the soil. And the list goes on and on.
Remove the plastic wrap cover when your seedlings are an inch or two tall. When the indoor seedlings are outgrowing their little egg carton greenhouse, move them outdoors or into their pots.
We moved our little melon plants to the big garden when they were about three inches tall, and the threat of frost had moved on for the season.
Good luck with your gardens and your kids! Enjoy!
Find more kid friendly Spring/Summer DIY’s here.
