Reuse for Seed Sprouting

I decided to start some seeds this year, despite a very shady yard. Casey and I have been finding a some new varieties of vegetables on the market and we wanted the chance to produce them ourselves to save some money. I staked my claim for the garden plot and went shopping for seed starter trays.

Wouldn't you know it: so few people are starting their own seeds these days that the local nurseries didn't provide segmented plastic trays, and Lowe's has stopped carrying peat-pots completely. Home Depot still sells stacks of square pots and a starter tray, but they don't carry a clear lid. I decided to try to make do with some household plastic wrap. Boy, was that a big mistake!

As you can see, the peat-pots are exactly as tall as the tray, which means that my plastic wrap lays too close to allow my seedlings to grow strong. I needed more head space.

While on a return trip to Home Depot, the answer occurred to me. Lately, I have been intentionally failing to put my recycling bin at the curb so it can completely fill up, preventing the city from using extra gass to stop for a half-full bin. In my recycling bin was all manner of plastic trays that delivered berries, grapes, tomatoes, and salad greens into my home. I decided to make use of these as my new seed-starter trays.

Not just any tray would do, however. Berry trays wouldn't work because they had drainage holes in their bottoms, preventing me from watering my peat-pots from below - an important ability when your seeds are smaller than a grain of sand. The trays for salad and tomatoes seemed to be better.

I broke out my scissors and began the puzzle of fitting as many peat-pots into my trays as possible. My first tray was a salad greens tray and it sealed completely. A paper punch helped to add tiny vents in the corners so the air wouldn't become stagnant. It provided plenty of head room for the seedlings to get started.

The other tray had the opposite problem. Because it had holes in the lid and the lid didn't seal completely, too much air flow would make me lose too much moisture. Packing tape helped to close up the holes on top allowing the space along the edge of the lid to give just enough ventilation.

So there you have it! Two seed-starter trays made from reused plastic produce boxes. The cost was minimal and my seedlings will have the head space they need to grow before they get moved to the ground! Now I just have to get my garden plot ready.