EGG CARTON TRAYS ARE EXCELLENT PLACES TO GROW SEEDLINGS
IT’S NO SECRET: many gardeners love using egg carton trays for growing seeds to seedlings. This home gardening idea is good for growing vegetables with tiny seeds like monggo and kangkong.
Karen Pascua, a financial advisor and urban gardener, germinates her seeds in a cardboard egg tray in their front yard. They started planting vegetables when the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) was announced as a measure to halt the spread of COVID-19. They were later able to plant the seedlings in the vacant lot beside their house with the permission of the owner.
Using egg trays as seed germination containers is not just economical, but is also a good way to recycle them and to lessen trash, Pascua said.
The challenge in this technique is that some cardboard egg trays disintegrate easily. To prevent this, Pascua ensures that she does not overwater the seedlings and puts extra cardboard underneath the egg tray for support.
You must be careful when watering the seedlings. Apply enough water to moisten the soil but not too much that soaks through the tray. You do not want to break the egg trays before the seeds planted inside germinate, or before transplanting the seedlings.
MAKE A SEEDLING PLANTER OUT OF AN EGG TRAY
Materials
You’ll need the cardboard egg trays, seeds, potting soil, and water.
Instructions
First, poke small holes in the spaces in the egg carton using a pencil or anything with a sharp tip for drainage.
Fill each hole with potting soil. For potting soil, use a combination of vermicast or fine compost, carbonized rice hull, and coco peat. Pure vermicast is also a good alternative.
Place the seed on top, cover with a thin layer of potting soil, then water thoroughly. When the seed grows and there’s already a presence of at least two leaves, that’s when you can transplant it.
In transplanting, cut the cardboard tray, separating the germinated seeds. There is no need to remove the seedlings from the trays as the cardboard will break down in the soil when transplanted. This will be advantageous for beginner gardeners because they will not have a hard time getting the seedlings out, plus this will also keep the roots undisturbed during the planting process.
If you are planning to use plastic egg trays, you can take out the seedling and reuse the tray to grow another batch of seeds.
When planting seeds like monggo, kangkong, and sili, you can sow one seed per egg tray hole. For smaller seeds like pechay and mustasa, you can sow three seeds in one hole, Pascua said.
PLANT MAINTENANCE
She waters leafy vegetables in the morning and afternoon during the summer and in other seasons, she waters once a day. For pest control, she uses homemade natural concoctions.
In whatever container you use as a pot or planter, remember to make enough holes for excess water to drain out. If you are a beginner, use seeds from kitchen scraps like tomatoes. Kitchen scraps can also be added to your compost. Compost will serve as nourishment for the plants.
When it comes to sunlight, only partial sunlight is necessary. This means that seeds must be exposed to the sun for less than six hours per day. Egg tray planting is better for the outdoors, but summer heat can easily dry up the potting soil so proper watering is crucial. Eggshells can also be used as fertilizer as they are a good source of calcium. Eggshells can be collected, washed, sun-dried, pulverized, and added to compost. (Photo from Karen Pascua)
Knowing the basics of seed sowing will help you understand what a plant needs to thrive and be more reactive to its needs later on. Here are some tips, tricks, and practical advice on seed sowing to guide beginners on what to watch out for.
WHAT TO PLANT?
Start with a plant you like or naturally gravitate towards. It helps when you are invested in what the seeds will turn out to be whether it’s for cooking, aesthetics or even home remedies. Going for one type of plant first is a good idea as opposed to sowing several kinds at once that have different water and light requirements. Stick with one plant or plant family when starting and move on to the something else when you’ve gotten to know your plant better.
Just like choosing pets, it would be wise to choose plants that fit into your lifestyle and the amount of time you can devote to them. Don’t forget to check the seed package or do some research on what the estimated time is from sowing to plant maturity or fruiting stage, so you can manage your expectations instead of doubting your skills.
Furthermore, always sow multiples. This way, you end up with other seedlings and won’t have wasted time in case of faulty germination or a mishap like the wind or animals knocking over your pots.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
Picking a good location for growing makes it more forgiving if you skip a few things along the way. For example, picking a nice sunny and well ventilated area makes it less likely for a seed to “drown” or spoil if you happen to mistakenly be overwatering, as heat, light, and proper air circulation affects mold or bacterial growth. Conversely, a partially shaded area cuts you some slack if you forget to water for an afternoon or so.
In commercial farming, choosing an area for seedlings is crucial because this affects the effectivity and pace of production as a whole. Plant nurseries are usually properly oriented in relation to the sunrise and sunset and duly protected against pests like mice, birds and insects. Once your seeds have germinated, the better the location the less baby-sitting you will have to worry about. If you feel unsure, partial shade is safest. And be wary of birds, not just bugs. A single bird can eat up or destroy all your seedlings in moments.
CHOOSING SEEDS
Picking out seeds to match skill level is one thing that is usually overlooked. Remember that the larger seeds are easier to germinate. The more visible they are, the easier to track the progress. Smaller seeds tend to be more sensitive to the denseness of the soil or medium and the amount of water you put in. They’re simply more fragile.
To germinate, a seed needs water, the proper temperature, darkness and oxygen. Yes, oxygen. Plant leaves may use up carbon dioxide but the roots need proper soil aeration because that part does not perform photosynthesis and instead performs respiration.
Since seeds are also temperature sensitive, make sure to go for seed varieties that are suitable to your geography i.e. lowland or upland. Simply put, the right amount and combination of things will trigger a seed’s stored energy.
However, know that, sometimes using cuttings over starting from seed is better. For example, the minute seeds of herbs might be too challenging for a beginner and can take up to 2 or 3 weeks to sprout depending on the conditions. If you are trying to grow herbs, you’d be better off taking cuttings from a healthy plant and propagating.
Do not worry about seed jargon just yet. Open pollinated variety (OPV) versus hybrid variety (labeled as F1) will only come into play if (a) you plant several varieties of the same plant together and are seed saving for certain characteristics or (b) if you are growing commercially where some size specifications are required.
The most important rule when it comes to selecting seeds, wherever you are planting, is the newer or fresher the seeds are, the better. Check for production dates on the packet or dry your own from store-bought vegetables, fruits, or some flowers in a yard.
WHAT TYPE OF SOIL OR MEDIUM TO USE
As a general rule, go for loose well-draining soil or seed starting mix (not potting medium) when germinating seeds. You want it to be able to hold moisture without getting water-logged since too much water can cause the seeds to rot. It also helps if the soil or medium is able to hold its shape without being too compact or dense. Seeds don’t need too fertile of a medium to germinate but aim for them to be able to comfortably break through to the surface while being sheltered enough from harsh conditions when still in the early stages of development.