Tea box outside
We make a lot of iced tea at our house and I just emptied a Salada tea box this week. When I took a look at the box I thought “Hmm, this would make a great seed starting box.”
The box is square and has 4 dividers. My mind says to fill it up with dirt, divide the sections and use it to start larger seeds that are easy to place. Or perhaps tomato seeds or peppers. The box will degrade and the inks are most likely not safe to use in the garden so it would be a temporary home only, but it still would give me another place to plant seeds this spring and judging from how we didn’t stick to our plan to not order seeds, space it going to be at a premium.
Tea box inside
If you are looking for seed starting space, look to your trash before you go and buy trays and pots. Here are some of the things we use as seed starting locations:
- egg cartons (the two part plastic ones like Egglands Best Cage Free make great mini greenhouses, I’ll post on that later)
- yogurt containers – wash well and put holes in the bottom or cut up for plant markers
- cans - watch for sharp edges and put holes in the bottom
- large and small plastic bottles – cut tops off to make mini greenhouses, plant in the round bottom section
- milk jugs – clear ones work best for greenhouses, but white ones can be cut off to use the bottom as a planter. The top (with the lid off) makes a good funnel. With the lid on it makes a good scoop for birdseed or other dry goods. Also can be cut up for plant markers.
- formula containers – the plastic ones, put holes in the bottom
- salad containers – great mini greenhouses
- aluminum trays – great to put under plants when watering. I’ve also used them as flats to sow seeds in a pinch.
- old cookie sheets, baking trays, etc – again great for watering trays or planting
- large plastic containers of any type – wash well, fill with 1 inch of vermiculite in the bottom with seed starting mix on top, don’t overwater. Cover with plastic wrap for greenhouse.
- popsicle sticks – use as plant markers though ours have all rotted and molded up quickly, even with good washing
- jars, bottles etc – use for vases for flowers or for rooting cuttings, jars are good for saving seeds