Awhile back there was a "share" on Facebook about using emptied egg shells to start seedlings. I began saving a few egg shells to try it out ... ended up with 9. Last week I filled them with dirt and added 4 Swiss Chard seeds to each shell, figured at 4 to a shell I might get at least one start.
I saved an egg carton to use to hold the egg shells, since I had 3 empty spots left in the carton I added dirt and seeds to those spots as well. I also had some discs on hand from previous attempts at starts so I put 4 of them into water to swell up and then added a bean seed to each of them. Want to see which method works best.
I was wishing I had a mini-indoor green house and then I had an "Ah-Ha!" moment! Wonder if my glass cake dome would work like a glass garden bell? So I pulled out the glass cake platter and dome, placed all my newly planted and watered seeds on the platter and covered all with the cake dome.
I did this about last Thursday and today when I checked on them, lo and behold I beheld little baby swiss chard starts popping out in 3 shells and one egg carton spot! My Cake Dome Green House seems to be working! Yay!
I saved an egg carton to use to hold the egg shells, since I had 3 empty spots left in the carton I added dirt and seeds to those spots as well. I also had some discs on hand from previous attempts at starts so I put 4 of them into water to swell up and then added a bean seed to each of them. Want to see which method works best.
I was wishing I had a mini-indoor green house and then I had an "Ah-Ha!" moment! Wonder if my glass cake dome would work like a glass garden bell? So I pulled out the glass cake platter and dome, placed all my newly planted and watered seeds on the platter and covered all with the cake dome.
I did this about last Thursday and today when I checked on them, lo and behold I beheld little baby swiss chard starts popping out in 3 shells and one egg carton spot! My Cake Dome Green House seems to be working! Yay!
Egg Shell Seed Containers
Cake Dome Mini-indoor Green House
Nice humidity provided inside the cake dome green house!
Once they are bursting out of their shells ... I will pop them into my raised veggie garden ... Yes!
Happy day to all!
Karen Anne
♥ This! Watching and waiting for sprouts to appear is fun and rewarding. This is a great way to start up seeds. Good idea to use the cake dome.
ReplyDeleteFor years I had terrariums and kept the miniature plants going; they reminded me of secret little worlds in gardens and fairy tales.
I know! This is the first time I have EVER done so well! Keeping my fingers crossed that I don't muff it up!
DeleteOh ... I loved those terrarium mini gardens! Only I managed to muff those up too 8( ... hoping maybe things will come together and I don't mess this one up ... one can always hope!
The cake stand was a brilliant idea! I'm guessing the eggshells provide some instant natural fertilizer, too?! I have a few gourd plants growing well, but I am on my second set of cucumber seeds as the first lot just flopped over, LOL!
ReplyDeleteThe article said something about crushing the shell when you plant outdoors and the shells supply nutrients to the dirt, guess you are right!
DeleteTry the egg shells and a large clear glass bowl (turned upside down) as an indoor green house. Checked my eggs shells this morn and each shell now has at least 1 start and some even have 4 starts ... this is fun!
I keeping my fingers crossed too. And if it works, I'm stealing *cough, cough* borrowing the idea!
ReplyDeleteWell, I'll be doggoned! Just checked the Dome Greenhouse and I swear each seed I planted is popping out! Even have one bean sprout peeking our from one of the starter disks ...
DeleteI'm gonna leave them in their little hot house until they look good and hearty, I have a feeling I will be sharing swiss chard starts with neighbors, friends and family! LOL!
Soon as they get a bit more mature, I'll post another photo ...
If this idea works ... you are more than welcome to "steal" it Magaly!
Karen Anne, you are brilliant!!! This is an excellent idea! Your mind never stops ;o) We save our egg shells, never throw them away. I have bags of them. When it's summer time, I crush them in in the bag very finally, with my feet, stomping on them. then sprinkle them around the plants in the garden or flower bed. It keeps bugs away that like to eat the plants. I guess the shell cuts them? If you are in an area with deer, deer hate the smell of egg shells, so they won't come around. I hope you have a great weekend ;o) Sorry, I am late coming around! Trying to catch up ;o) Hugs ;o)
ReplyDeleteI've never heard that before .... guess I am going to be saving all of my egg shells from here on out and do the "Egg Shell Stomp" for my gardens. Thanks a bunch for the great tip Stacy!
DeleteI hope this works out for you. Connie did this in the kitchen one year and they smelt so bad, that I made her take them out . . . so she put them in my workshop, LOL
ReplyDeleteHappy gardening.
Steve
It is working out great! They don't smell at all ... I rinsed and dried the shells really well before using as starter containers ... maybe that is why they don't smell?
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