From the page: One plank, a thousand lives
Idea 2
Seedling trays and markers
Before plastic trays existed, gardeners started seeds in wooden boxes, egg cartons and even folded newspaper pots, transplanting the whole thing into the soil. It works because a young seedling only needs a few centimeters of loose, moist substrate — and biodegradable containers let you transplant without touching the fragile roots at all.
What you need
- Cardboard egg cartons, toilet paper rolls or old plastic fruit trays with holes poked in the bottom
- For markers: popsicle sticks, cut-up plastic lids, wooden clothespins or flat stones
- Permanent marker, pencil or paint
- Seed-starting mix (fine, light soil) and seeds
- A shallow tray or old baking dish to catch drainage water
How to make it
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1
Poke drainage holes in the bottom of each cell or cup if there aren't any; without drainage, water pools and seeds rot before they sprout.
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2
Fill the cells with damp (not soaked) seed-starting mix, leaving half a centimeter at the top so water doesn't overflow.
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3
Sow one or two seeds per cell at roughly twice the seed's own depth, then cover lightly — tiny seeds need only a dusting of soil over them.
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4
Mist gently with a spray bottle instead of pouring, because a jet of water buries or washes away small seeds.
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5
Write each plant's name on a marker and stick it in its cell the same day; seedlings look nearly identical at first, and labels are the cheapest insurance against mix-ups.
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6
Place the tray somewhere bright and warm, and cover loosely with clear plastic until sprouting to hold humidity — then remove it right away so fungus doesn't settle in.
Finishing touches
When seedlings have two true leaves, plant cardboard cells straight into the garden — the material rots away as roots grow through. Clothespin markers clip neatly onto pot rims and can be reused season after season.
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