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In this instructable, I will offer instructions for making, and discuss the pros and cons of, 5 cheap methods of starting seeds indoors:
(1) Egg cartons
(2) Toilet paper tubes
(3) Milk cartons
(4) Yogurt cups
(5) Peat pots and coco fiber pots
The seeds that I start using these methods include peas (climbers, like other legumes), tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants (nightshades), corn, basil, thyme, parsley, and marigolds. Since I live in an area where we can get snow into mid-May, it's important for me to have healthy, well-started seedlings by the time we're frost free so that my plants have enough time to mature and produce veggies.
(1) Egg cartons
(2) Toilet paper tubes
(3) Milk cartons
(4) Yogurt cups
(5) Peat pots and coco fiber pots
The seeds that I start using these methods include peas (climbers, like other legumes), tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants (nightshades), corn, basil, thyme, parsley, and marigolds. Since I live in an area where we can get snow into mid-May, it's important for me to have healthy, well-started seedlings by the time we're frost free so that my plants have enough time to mature and produce veggies.
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Signing UpStep 1What You Need
Take a look at the various starters I've used and decide which ones best suit your needs. In addition, you will need:
- seed starter mix: it's not that expensive, and superior to potting soil because it's fine and uniform.
- water: I never use plain tap water, because it's chlorinated. At the very least, I run it through my Brita. If you have distilled water, that's the best for watering plants.
- something to mix your dirt and water in (I used the bottom half of a gallon jug)
- a latex glove: optional, but dirt dries your skin out and I don't like that, so I wear a glove on my dirt hand.
- seeds. I like heirloom seeds and buy them from Tomato Bob's website, where they have varieties on sale for twenty-five cents at times. But the local hardware store or gardening store sells seeds too, and there ain't no shame in that.
That's it. Do this outside on a mild day, or be prepared to clean up dirt inside.
- seed starter mix: it's not that expensive, and superior to potting soil because it's fine and uniform.
- water: I never use plain tap water, because it's chlorinated. At the very least, I run it through my Brita. If you have distilled water, that's the best for watering plants.
- something to mix your dirt and water in (I used the bottom half of a gallon jug)
- a latex glove: optional, but dirt dries your skin out and I don't like that, so I wear a glove on my dirt hand.
- seeds. I like heirloom seeds and buy them from Tomato Bob's website, where they have varieties on sale for twenty-five cents at times. But the local hardware store or gardening store sells seeds too, and there ain't no shame in that.
That's it. Do this outside on a mild day, or be prepared to clean up dirt inside.
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Pros: cheap compared to most alternatives, customizable size, and you bury the pots in the ground!
Cons: They are fairly flimsy when wet. If you're careful when handling, they shouldn't fall apart on you. Although, they will not stand up to being dropped and or eaten by the dog...
Alternatively, I am trying paper beer bags (from a gas station) They seem to hold up better than the newspaper and are not so much of a pain to put together. Plus they are fairly cheap. The brown ones would have low die levels by my guess, and would be pretty safe for this use.
Now I just need to find someone who eats a lot of yogurt. :D
I always lose my notes about which seeds I planted, what dates, how long they took to germinate etc. so I now use a free online garden tracking site which I'm now addicted to, I can see when everything was planted, how many days it took to germinate/sprout/flower/harvest etc. and you can make journal notes for each plant which is great when you are doing comparisons or being a bit experimental. They also have tons of additional features for supporters which has been totally worth it for me. I'm growing more seeds this year than ever before. If you are intersted here's a link: http://www.myfolia.com/gardener/CDfolia/invite
It's not perfect, but it is cheap.
On the commercial end, I have some folding air pruning things. Flimsy, only lasted a few years, but they work very well.