15 Creative Seed Starting Ideas

Frugal Seed Starting Container Hacks.

Are you ready to start some gardening despite whatever weather you’re experiencing? It’s seed starting time believe it or not! You don’t have to buy those little plastic pots or peat pots to start your seeds if you don’t want to. Save some money and use these ideas for great alternative seed starting containers. Check out these Creative Seed Starting Ideas.

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I had to go to Home Depot today and they are putting out the spring bushes and trees here in Atlanta. I can’t wait to spend some time outside in the sun and warmth.  I haven’t decided if I’m going to start any seeds inside this year or just buy seedlings since I have a lot of home reno projects I want to work on. But if I do start any seeds, I’ll definitely be using some of these creative seed starting ideas! It seems silly to buy commercial seed starting cups when I know about all these great DIY seed starting containers I can make!

• Start a garden on a budget. Starting seeds is an inexpensive way to have a plentiful garden in the future with your only expense being the seeds.
• Containers most consider trash. Are you aware of the many items that can be used to start seeds? I am here to tell you most paper cartons, plastic bottles and jugs, newspapers, and even some citrus peals can be used with ease.
• DIY Domes. Clear plastic muffin or cookie boxes make the perfect domes to create a moist growing environment.

15 Creative Seed Starting Ideas

1. Upcycle K-Cups

Fresh Eggs Daily explains how to re-use your old K-cups to start seeds.

2. Upcycled Milk Carton Seed Starter

You could use milk or juice cartons to start your seeds. Basil & Amaranth has a great explanation of how to start your seeds in these types of upcycled containers.

3. Plastic Milk Jug Seed Container

Learn To Grow Gardens offers a how to video tutorial on using a Plastic Milk Jug Seed Container to create a winter seed garden.  This is an easy way to start your cold hardy plants for gardening season.

4. Repurposed Bottle Self-Watering Seed Pots

Desperate Gardener show you how to repurpose old plastic bottles into these self-watering seed starting containers

5. Upcycled Toilet Paper Roll Seed Starter Pots

Lady Lee’s Home shows you how to repurpose toilet paper rolls into seed starting pots.

6. Eggshell Seed Starting Pots

Don’t throw out your eggshells! Instead, read about how to plant seeds in eggshells on Apartment Therapy.

7. DIY Paper Pulp Seed Cups

365 Days of DIY shows you how to make these DIY paper pulp seed cups.

8. Coffee Filter DIY Seed Tray

Here’s a coffee filter seed tray from Instructables that you could try for starting seeds.

9. Egg Carton Seed Starting Pots

You could use an egg carton to start your seeds. See how at The Kitchen Garten.

10. Ice Cube Tray Seed Starting Tray

Mr. Brown Thumb shows you how to repurpose an ice cub tray for starting seeds.

11. Time to Start Seeds

Hometalk features an idea I use in my own home. Use plastic containers like salad boxes as a mini greenhouse when starting seeds inside.

12. Best Container Ideas For Starting Seeds

Hot drink container is the perfect bio-degradable item to use when reusing cups to starts seeds on a budget as, you could simply plant the whole container. This idea can be found at Hometalk.

13. Ice Cream Cone Planter

Practically Functional has a treat for any children who are helping plant seeds. Their eyes will sparkle when you use an Ice Cream Cone Planter.

14. Containers For Seed Starting

I love the idea of the turning the coffee creamer box sideways and using it as a Container For Seed Starting to start several plants. You can find this great idea and more at Country Living In Cariboo Valley.

15. Citrus Rinds

Orange rinds are something that is never in shortage at our home. However, The Gardening Cooks, explains we could also use lemon or grapefruit as well.

Aren’t these some wonderfully creative seed starting ideas? You can basically use any container as long as it has some drainage.  Yogurt containers, Styrofoam cups, cans, margarine tubs, Dixie cups, muffin tins, avocado shells, just to name a few. Whatever you use be sure it has been sanitized and use sterile potting soil. You can make your own sterile potting soil if you don’t want to buy any. If you’re starting seeds of something you want to eat, I’d recommend using organic potting soil.

Beat those winter blahs by starting some seeds!

How do you usually start your seeds?

You might also be interested in: 15 Resources For The Beginning Gardener