Use Eggshells As Seedling Pots To Save On Gardening.

All green hands know that germinating your own seeds is much more economical than buying plants in a garden center.

You save almost 90% on the gardening budget!

But how do you germinate peas, squash and tomatoes when it's still too cold outside?

Easy as pie, dear readers ;-)

The answer can be found on your breakfast table, at the market, or in your compost pile.

What is it about ? I named: the eggs! Egg-orisant, is not it?

how to make seedlings in eggshell

Yes, to save even more during the planting season, use the eggshells as a container to make your seedling pots biodegradable.

Your wallet will thank you!

8 good reasons to germinate your seeds in an eggshell

1. The entire seedling pot is biodegradable.

2. The cost of an eggshell is 0 €. Just collect the shells if you eat eggs.

3. The shells contain mineral salts, such as calcium, and other useful nutrients.

4. The shells are untreated and therefore safe for animals and children.

5. Planting seedlings indoors gives you a huge head start for your garden. Even if it's still freezing outside, you'll be ready for the first sunny days.

6. Seeds sprouted in an eggshell are beefier and leatherier than when planted in the ground.

7. Indoor germination allows you to eliminate weaker seedlings and monitor them every day.

8. It is a very fun project for children.

Pots of seedlings using eggshells

what do you need for making seedlings in eggshells

You'll need a few good eggs and a few gardening tools to achieve this.

But don't worry, most of them are probably already stored in your kitchen or somewhere in your house.

What you need

- seeds (try using old varieties)

- eggshells

- boxes of eggs

- soil

- 1 spoon

- 1 awl or a needle

- 1 knife

- 1 pot and 1 frying pan

- felt

- 1 spray bottle

How to do

1. Make a small hole in the shell

poke a hole in the eggshell

Use a needle or an awl to make a small drainage hole at the bottom of each shell.

Make the hole large enough so that it is not clogged with soil or roots.

2. Cut off the top of the shell

cut the shell of the egg

Cut the shell 1/3 the height of the egg. Use a small knife to gently remove the shell. Take care not to damage the bottom of the egg.

Trick : to make the hole in the egg easily, use a sharp or serrated knife and take it easy.

3. Empty the egg and cook

how to empty an egg without breaking it

Empty the raw egg from the shell into a bowl. Make an omelet or scrambled eggs for dinner. Delicious and zero waste!

4. Wash and boil

boil eggshells

Wash the eggshells under running water, then boil them in a saucepan for 3 min to kill any bacteria.

5. Let dry

dry empty eggshells

Check the inside of the shells for small bits, and allow them to air dry.

6. Protect the shells

put soil in the eggshell

Place each shell in a cardboard egg carton so that it does not break.

Japanese garden with an eggshell

The more creative among you can imagine miniature clay pots or fancy decorative planters.

7. Put soil in the shells

Fill each shell up to 2/3 full with potting soil.

8. Plant the seeds

plant a seed in each empty egg

Add a seed to each shell. Respect the sowing depth recommended on your seed packet, and watch the average germination time.

9. Place in a sunny place and water

Put the shells in the sun and warm

Place the germinating shells in a warm, sunny location.

The seeds start to grow in the eggshells

Keep the soil moist (but not soaked) by watering regularly. Your best bet is to spray water regularly with a spray bottle. Watch how it grows!

10. Name your seedlings

name your seedlings to recognize them once grown

Using a felt tip pen, gently write the name of each plant sown on the shell. If you plant a lot of different varieties you will end up forgetting which is which!

Your children can also decorate the shells as they wish. But be careful not to break them ;-)

11. Plant the shells in the earth

replant the shell the seedling pot

Once your shoots are hardy enough and the season is right, plant your germinating shells in freshly tilled soil.

When planting, lightly crush the bottom of each shell so that the roots can easily find fresh soil.

Warning : do not be in too much of a hurry to transplant in the ground (if you have no shelter). Wait until at least April for the south of France and temperate regions and the end of May for cold and mountainous regions. It would be a shame if the frost wastes your efforts ;-)

Your turn...

Did you manage to grow the seeds in the shells? Let us know in the comments if it worked for you. We can't wait to hear from you!

Do you like this trick ? Share it with your friends on Facebook.

Also to discover:

A Free and Easy to Make Vegetable Garden!

13 Tips For Growing More, Bigger, and Tastier Tomatoes.


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