Don't Toss Old Egg Cartons — Make A Tidy Windowsill Seed-Starting Station

Getting a head start on your garden may be simpler and cheaper than you realize. Lots of people buy trays to germinate seeds indoors before moving them to the garden, but there's a convenient alternative to plastic seed-starting trays. Egg cartons have the perfect design to create several tiny, connected pots for planting seeds. Plus, the slim box for a dozen eggs should fit nicely on a windowsill, making it easy to start seeds with natural light indoors. Whether you tend to have cardboard, styrofoam, or plastic egg cartons, you'll be able to make a DIY seed-starting station in no time.

Though any type of egg carton will work, cardboard egg cartons are the best option. Cardboard is biodegradable, making it an easier and more environmentally-friendly container for growing seeds. Rather than having to remove the seedling and ball of soil it like traditional starter trays, the entire cardboard egg cup can be planted in your garden.

No matter how many seeds you need to start, egg cartons can be modified to make the perfect tray. Cut the carton apart to make smaller trays with fewer compartments. Alternatively, use a larger carton made for more than a dozen eggs to create a bigger station for more seeds. If you're starting different types of seeds in the same DIY tray, be sure to label them by writing the variety on the side of the carton. This smart way to use egg cartons is perfect to start herb, vegetable, or flower seeds.

First, cut off the egg carton lid. You'll use it to create a basic, rectangular tray. To ensure your seedlings don't become waterlogged, add drainage holes in the bottom of each egg cup. Use a pen to  poke through cardboard or styrofoam. You might need a knife to make holes in a plastic carton.

Consider dampening the soil first to avoid soaking the carton with your initial watering. Fill each egg cup about halfway with a potting or growing mix. Depending on what kind of seed you're planting, you may want your soil to be a little deeper. Make a small divot in the middle of each cup, drop a seed into it, and cover it with soil. Set your egg carton on a dish to prevent your station from leaking, and place it in a windowsill that gets lots of light. Mist your seeds with a spray bottle of water every day, so that the soil doesn't get too dry. If you used a plastic egg carton, consider saving the lid and placing it over the carton to hold more humidity, or cover your station with plastic wrap if necessary. A plastic lid can also double as a tray to catch drips.

Once your seedlings are ready to be moved into your garden, cut apart the cardboard egg carton. Cardboard pots can be placed directly in the ground; the cardboard will disintegrate naturally over time. If you used plastic or styrofoam egg cartons, remove your seedlings to transplant them into the garden. Leftover egg cartons can also be used to create a DIY plant propagation station, another way to save money in the garden.