what containers work best?
Okay, here’s the reality…you can grow seeds in pretty much anything. I mean anything…even an old shoe. Your choice for a container to start your seeds in can be as budget-friendly as using egg shells, yogurt containers, soda bottles, heck, I even use those plastic containers with lids that you get those supermarket rotisserie chickens in…they work great by the way. If you go this route, just make sure to throughly clean the container and poke some drainage holes.
Other economical options are making your own soil blocks, or making pots out of newspaper (there’s a handy dandy tool to help you with this). There are also grow pellets that you just add water to and it’s good to go…when I use these, I just keep them hoarded together on a cookie sheet.
I’ve used plastic 6- and 9-pack trays with some good success, and I disinfect and reuse these containers year after year. But, what I have found works best for me are the all-natural fiber pots. I did an experiment last spring where I sowed the same seeds in the same soil, but one in a plastic pack and the other in a fiber pack. The seedlings in the fiber pack had better overall germination, and grew bigger and happier than their plastic siblings. What I am super excited to try that I just ordered are fabric seed starting pouches. I have loved replacing the pots on my deck with fiber bags, so I’m hoping these mini ones will provide happy homes for my seedlings.
The biggest item of note when it comes to choosing the best container for your seed starting is whether your plant likes to be transplanted or not. Crops like squash, pumpkins, cucumbers, root veggies, corn, peas and beans do not like having their roots disturbed. Best bets for these crops are to direct sow, but if you’re in a colder climate (or antsy to get growing), sow these seeds in fiber or coir pots that can be transplanted into the ground with the seedling.
Up next in SEED STARTING 101, Thinning Your Seedlings for Starting Seeds.