We are crazy egg people and I'm pretty sure that's well known by now. You can see our love for eggs in our logo (a chicken laying an egg), or in the title of our favorite book Eat The Yolks, and of course, our favorite way to start seeds is in egg shells! Egg shells are cost-free containers that are loaded with nutrients to give your seeds a boost in the beginning of life. Not only do your seeds get a nutritional boost, you can directly plant the shell in your garden when they are ready to be transplanted outdoors. This adds calcium to your soil and protects your plants from harmful critters such as beetles. Read more about the benefits of using egg shells in your garden here.
Here's what you need
- Egg shells, emptied
- Potting soil + a small spoon for scooping
- Seeds
- Egg crate
Method
- Crack your eggs in half and use the contents for a delicious breakfast
- Poke a small hole in the bottom of the egg shell for drainage
- Place the egg shells back in the crate(s)
- Use a small spoon to fill the egg shells 3/4th the way full with soil
- Push a few seeds into the soil in each egg shell. Make sure the soil loosely covers the seeds
- Add just enough water to make the soil damp.
- Place the crates in a sunny spot and water as needed
Notes
- Don't forget to label your starters somehow otherwise you won't know what you're watering/planting. As you can see in the first picture at the top of this post, I used a permanent marker and wrote the letter next to the egg shells. For example, "S" is by all the squash, "carrots" was spelled out because I used "C" for the cucumbers, and "Z" was for zucchini. You can also write directly on the egg shell, but you risk the chance that it gets washed off if you accidentally over water.
- When your seeds have sprouted and they are mature enough to plant outdoors, make sure you crack the eggshell open. If you plant the eggshells directly in the ground without cracking them open it will restrict growth and your plants will likely die.
Here's what your starters will look like when they are ready to brave the outdoors. Look at those healthy roots! :)
Which Seeds To Plant In March
- Beans, peas
- Cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts
- Beetroot
- Eggplant, Zucchini
- Peppers, onions, leeks
- Kale, lettuce, swiss chard, spinach
- Celery
- Carrots
- Cucumbers
- Radishes
- Chicory
Follow the directions on the seed packet for transplanting outdoors. Most of these can be transferred outdoors in May depending on where you live and the climate.
