Egg Carton Seed Planting

Spring is the time to think ahead. Even though we can't put away all our winter clothes, we can start to think about spending more time outside, and what a great way to do that - starting a seed garden inside with your children.

This activity will get your children engaged on many levels. It will give them responsibility for planting and taking care of their own plants, and it will teach them about where their food comes from.

How to build your garden:

• Step 1: Cut off the top of the egg carton and side aside (you will need it).
• Step 2: Use a sharpened pencil to poke a hole in the bottom of each egg cell. This will be required to create the drainage.
• Step 3: Prepare the potting mixture. Four cups of of mix in a large bucket with one cup of water. The mixture should be moist, but not liquid mud. You may need to adjust your measurements according to the size of your egg cartons. It is important that the mix is wet.
• Step 4: Fill each egg cell 3.4 full with the potting mixture.
• Step 5: Plant seeds according to the seed packet instructions. Do not plant more than three seeds into each cell.
• Step 6: Place Egg carton on top of the lid which you cut off earlier. this will act as the drainage tray for your process.
• Step 7: Cover your egg carton with saran wrap and place in a warm area (like the top of your fridge). The plastic will keep soil moist. The soil needs moisture so when it looks like it is getting dry, use a spray bottle and spray the area.
• Step 8: Seedlings will start to pop up, make sure you have only one seedling per cell. Cut off the weaker seedlings in each cell. You don't have to remove the roots. Just cut them off where their stem meets the soil.
• Step 9: Move the egg carton to a sunny spot like a window sill, and when you see the first true leaves, the seedlings will then need replanting into larger containers.

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