A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Landscape trials and triumphs The Frugal Gardening Forum Egg Cartons

I finally figured out a way around the drying out problem with these. I filled the center ones with soil and seeds and then the ones on the outside I keep full of water. So that the carton doesn't take the water from the soil. And it worked. So I'll have lots of celosia to plop and drop this summer. I'm so excited because I just love these plants.

Excellent thinking!!

Thankyou NuSkewl

Hmm....that IS a good idea...I may have to try seeds again....

1. Holy Moley am I going back in time w/this thread, huh?

2. What kind of egg cartons were you using? I'm guessing the paper ones.

3. Do you have tips using the Styrofoam kind of egg cartons?

if you use the styrofgoam kind I would suggest putting a hole in the bottom of each compartment so the water can flow out and you don't drown your seeds. Either that or use a spray bottle on mist for watering and plan on doing several times a day to keep them moist.

while we're on the egg carton discussion again, I have a question. Has anyone a good way to cut the compartments apart when it comes time to put them outside? I tried scissors and it wasn't pretty. I'm thinking exacto knife this year. What do you think?

Since that comment about using egg cartons to plant seeds was written some time ago, I am wondering: how did the project work out? Did the plants transplant well? Did you just plant them in the cartons?

I have been thinking about trying that for awhile. Would be very interested in you long term results.

Thanks, joyful

The plants did transplant well. And yes I did transplant them with the carton still attached.

The trick is to use a plant that really puts out some good roots otherwise they can't brake through the egg carton and get rootbound.

To help it break thru, wet the carton really well when you plant it.

That's a great idea with the egg cartons.

I save those coffee trays from places like Country Style, etc. Four holes, exactly the right size for coffee cups AND for small planting pots. Makes it easier moving them around.

Oh, but you're talking about planting right in the egg cartons, then sinking them into the ground. I dunno' if I could do that with the coffee trays - maybe I could.

if they are paper as some of the egg cartons are, I would think they would break down well.

anyone???

They should, depending on how thick they are..they might take a long while to break down though. I know the trays from Tim Hortons are tough as nails..

Be for planting the tray you could help them a long by making a few slices in the try with out going to deep as no to damage the roots. This might let the roots break out easier.

I've finally given up on the egg cartons. I'm happily eating yogurt and using the cups for any early starts I do. The celosia I plant directly into the garden rather than starting it early. I just have to remember not to preen that area.