Organic Gardening Tips for Milk Carton Seed Starts

A few creative organic gardening tips for milk carton seed starts will help you get a jump on the growing season in your garden this year. Starting seeds early for planting out in spring is a fun and rewarding way to begin an herb, vegetable or flower garden inexpensively. It will also help teach children about the natural world of plants.

Organic Gardening Tips for Milk Carton Seed Starts - A Primer

Starting Seeds Indoors

Choose seeds that will benefit from an early indoor start in life. Plants that sprout and grow quickly, like lettuce, alyssum and sunflowers can be started directly in the garden after the threat of frost has passed in spring:

Choose a container that will be easy to transport outside later. Milk cartons are ideal, but they aren't the only good choice. You can also use peat pots, makeshift pots made from newspaper, and even eggshells to get your plants going. The one characteristic that all these containers share is that they'll break down naturally and become part of the soil once they're planted in the landscape. This means less transplanting work for you and little or no risk to the root systems of your delicate seedlings.
Make sure you choose an indoor location for your seed pots that gets six to eight hours of light a day and isn't close to heating vents or exterior doors. Your young plants will also fare best if you can maintain an indoor temperature between 65 to 75 degrees F.
Be prepared to water your seedlings often, and keep a pump spray bottle nearby to help increase the humidity around the seeds and plants.
Read seed packets carefully to learn the best growing medium and planting depth for the varieties you've selected. Where some seeds can remain very close to the surface of the soil, others should be covered with growing medium to a specific depth, like 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch.
Make a label for each of your pots identifying the seeds inside as well as their planting date. For vegetables that can be harvested quickly, like lettuce, you may want to start successive seed plantings every few weeks to keep a constant supply throughout the spring and summer.
Turn plants regularly so that they will develop evenly on all sides.

When recycling milk cartons, be sure to cut them about four inches high, and don't forget to add about five holes to the bottom about the diameter of a pencil for good drainage.

Using Organic Seeds and Soil

When choosing organic seeds, always check the sell-by date to get the most current season's batch. Look for the "Certified Organic" insignia on seed packaging. Seeds that have organic certification have been grown and harvested in accordance with strict USDA guidelines. Organic produce begins with these wholesome seeds, which are typically grown in small batches without chemical fertilizers or insecticides. Organic seeds are selected from hardy genetic stock with natural resistance to insects and disease.

Choose a quality organic soil or a soil-less medium to start your seeds. Hydroponics is also an option. Using a hydroponic setup will allow you to grow your plants in a controlled environment where you provide all of the nutrients the plant needs via a liquid medium. Once seedlings are established, you can transfer them to milk cartons or plant them directly in the garden.

Look for organic fertilizers, like Terra Cycle or Humic Plus from Echo Chem, that don't use chemicals.

Some Organic Gardening Tips for Milk Carton Seed Starts Transferred to the Garden

Accustom seedlings to the outdoors by moving them gradually over the course of a week or more. Try leaving them out a little longer each time, and watch that they aren't getting too much sun.
Bury milk cartons in your prepared bed until the base of the plant is level with the top of the soil. The carton will deteriorate over time.
Pay careful attention to the distance recommendations that came with your seeds. Providing enough room for plants to grow helps protect plants from stress and maintains good air flow that discourages fungal and bacterial growth.
Keep an eye out for insects. Some insects, like Japanese beetles, can be removed by hand, eliminating the need for insecticides. If you do need to employ bug spray, look for organic products using natural ingredients, or consider making your own from plant parts, dish soap, and water or using other homemade recipes.
Try companion plantings to keep pests away too. Strongly scented plants, like garlic and sage, are naturally bug repellent and discourage insects and even rodents and deer from eating your plants.
Remove any dead or dying plants immediately. Decaying vegetable matter, even lawn clippings and tree leaves, can attract insects that will stay around to feast on your plants.