• slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide

Use Eggshells and Egg Cartons for Starting Seeds

Give eggshells and empty egg cartons a second life in your garden. Use them as containers to start plants from seeds.

Fill the individual sections of egg cartons or the cleaned eggshells with a sterile well-drained potting or seed starting mix. Plant the seeds, moisten the soil and place the containers in a warm sunny location or under artificial lights.

Separate the paper egg carton cups and slice through the sides and bottom just before planting them into larger containers or outside in your garden. Crack the eggshells just prior to transplanting to make it easier for the roots to expand into the surrounding soil.

Move hardened off plants into the garden when the weather conditions are right for the plants you have grown.  Using bio-degradable containers like these reduces transplant shock and adds organic matter and nutrients to the soil as they decompose.

A bit more information:  Put other discards to work when starting plants from seeds.  Many fast food containers provide a great vessel for starting seeds and a clear plastic top that can be used to create a mini greenhouse. 

Upcoming
Events & Webinars

April 18, 2026
3rd Annual Spring Rally
Oshkosh, WI
Register here

April 19, 2026
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI

April 23, 2026
Iowa State University
More information

April 25, 2026
Pasquesi Home & Gardens
Lake Bluff, IL

April 26, 2026
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI

May 2, 2026
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI

May 6, 2026
FREE WEBINAR: 
Adding Native Plants
to Any Size Gardening Space

Register here

May 7, 2026
Wauwatosa Public Library
Wauwatosa, WI
Register (opens 4/16, 9am)

May 9, 2026
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI

May 10, 2026
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI

May 13, 2026
Roots & Branches
West Bend, WI
Register here

May 16, 2026
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI

May 17, 2026
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI

May 20, 2026
Herb Container Workshop
Pewaukee, WI
Register here

May 21, 2026
FREE WEBINAR: 
Planting & Care of Your Rain Garden
Register here

June 3, 2026
FREE WEBINAR: 
Managing Your Landscape
with Pollinators in Mind

Register here

June 10, 2026
Enjoy Life Active Aging Symposium
Brookfield, WI
More information

July 9, 2026
Ebert's 50th Anniversary Celebration
Ixonia, WI

August 6-16, 2026
Wisconsin State Fair
We Energies Energy Park, West Allis, WI

Sept. 3, 2026
FREE WEBINAR: 
Tree Planting and Care
Register here

Sept. 12, 2026
Knowledge in Bloom Conference
Milwaukee, WI
Register here

Sept. 17, 2026
FREE WEBINAR:
Fall Landscape Care and Planting

Register here

WATCH ON-DEMAND WEBINARS

MORE UPCOMING EVENT DETAILS 

Book an Appearance

Learn More

Sign up for Melinda's free  e-newsletter for a chance to win a Birds & Blooms' Ultimate Gardening Guide!

ENTER NOW