With the season’s egg dyeing and deviled-egg eating, chances are you’re starting to collect a few extra egg cartons around the house. Don’t throw them away!
With a little help from ScrapKins opens in a new tab and Whole Kids Foundation® opens in a new tab, you can easily turn those cardboard pods into seed starters for your spring garden.
Download the Scrapkins Seed Starter instructions (PDF opens in a new tab)
My son loves gardening, and pairing the importance of recycling with learning how seeds grow makes for a perfect afternoon project. Just make sure to supervise smaller kids during the cutting steps!
If you’re creating seed starters for gifts, grab the PDF for instructions and printable labels opens in a new tab.
What You’ll Need
Cardboard egg carton
1-2 seed packets
Potting soil
Scissors
Got everything? Let’s go!
Step 1
Cut egg carton in half, then cut off the lid.
Step 2
Place a little potting soil in each cup.
Step 3
Sprinkle 2-3 seeds from your seed packet into each of the cups.
Step 4
Water your seeds every other day. For easy watering, place the carton in a shallow pan and pour the water directly into the pan. The water will soak up through the carton!
Step 5
When your seeds have sprouted with 2-3 leaves, they’re ready to plant! Plant the entire carton outside (if it’s not too cold) or cut apart the pods to plant them separately.
Now sit back and watch your garden grow!
Once you're done planting your seeds, make yourself a harvest basket opens in a new tab or build a milk carton bird feeder opens in a new tab. Or simply have fun with any of the other hands-on recycled art projects opens in a new tab from ScrapKins and Whole Kids Foundation.
Do you reuse everyday materials to help out in the garden? I’d love to hear about your favorite Earth-friendly DIY projects!
