Finally! I feel like I’ve been waiting for spring for ages, and the last couple of weeks have given me hope that we’re past the snow, ice, and freezing cold temperatures. And of course, when the weather starts to warm up, all I can think about is what I’m going to plant in my garden this year.
Since I’m re-organizing the beds this year, and trying to tame some of the ill-placed raspberries and blackberries, my growing space is limited. I’m planning for a lot of potted veggies, and we’ll eventually transition to some growing beds as I get them re-designed and filled with dirt.
This year I’m also doing a few new things, mainly trying to start some of the plants I’ll grow from seed, seeds that I saved from last year’s plants. I’m also trying out some different ways to start seeds. Firstly, I’m re-purposing some paper rolls to make planters, and secondly, I’m using eggshells as planters. Both are holding up quite well, and are considered biodegradable, so they’ll go straight into the garden soil when the plants are ready to be set out.
Recycle paper rolls into planters to start seeds for the garden.
If you’ve never used paper rolls to make planters, there are a lot of tutorials on the net, but it’s a fairly simple process. Fold one side of the roll down so that it touches the opposite side Then fold the still erect section down in half, then fold down again. Doing this in three folds helps to stabilize the bottom, and makes it able to stand up on it’s own without toppling over. Label the outside, and fill it up with dirt, and you’re ready to start some seeds!
Eggshells make great planters for starting seeds.
The eggshells are even easier to use, you just have to take it easy when you crack them open. Keep as much of the shell intact as possible, rinse them and let them dry. You can also bake them on a very low temperature in the oven to dry them out. Just like the paper planters, you can use a non-toxic marker to label them, fill them up with dirt and plant away. As the eggshells break down in the soil, they’ll continue to provide nutrients to your transplant.
As an added bonus, the Eggland’s Best crate is made of plastic. I’m saving them now so that they can double as mini-greenhouses for the egg starters.
Shells provide nutrients to the new plants as they continue to grow.
