Is it okay to start seeds from an egg carton?

bate181 · April 16, 2008

i have some seeds starting in an empty egg carton

. the cardboard type carton.

another thing, how essential is it to use a heating pad to keep the seeds warm?

another thing, how moist should the potting mix be during germination?

amideutch · April 16, 2008

Shouldn't be a problem with the egg cartons. Just don't know how long the cardboard will last until it breaks down. I don't use a heating pad. As long as they are in a place thats reasonably warm and no drafts and no direct sunlight you shouldn't have any problems. If you put the cartons in an enclosure, mini plastic greenhouse or a big ziplock bag you shouldn't have to water them till after they germinate and you have removed them and put them under grow lights or a sunny windowsill. Ami
BTW, welcome to TVille and our band of tomato growers.

**coronabarb** · April 16, 2008

bate, I would only use egg cartons if I didn't have anything else, as I prefer a little more room for root growth. Once they are up, get them into some 6 pack or yogurt size containers. If you can put the cartons in a sunny window, that should be enough warmth to get them sprouted. Don't let the mix dry out completely.

Where in So Cal are you? It's getting too late here to start seeds.

bate181 · April 16, 2008

good info.

in in LA county. la verne. i think its zone 10

what makes it too late to start seeds?

**coronabarb** · April 16, 2008

"what makes it too late to start seeds?"

The weather. The tomato plant needs to mature and set fruit before the torrid summer temps. We were 98 degrees just a few days ago (an anomoly) but it can get very hot in May and June. Once it starts hitting 95, the pollen can go sterile and fruit won't set.

I'm going to have extra tomato plants in a week or so, if you'd like some.

bate181 · April 16, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by coronabarb

"what makes it too late to start seeds?"

The weather. The tomato plant needs to mature and set fruit before the torrid summer temps. We were 98 degrees just a few days ago (an anomoly) but it can get very hot in May and June. Once it starts hitting 95, the pollen can go sterile and fruit won't set.

I'm going to have extra tomato plants in a week or so, if you'd like some.

what city are you in?

**coronabarb** · April 17, 2008

"coronabarb"

robin303 · April 16, 2008

I started my carrots that way this year but the big problem is not enough soil and they dry out pretty quick. But it worked out fine and I let it dry just a tad bit and used a plastic spoon to get them out.

April 16, 2008	#1
bate181 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Southern California Posts: 74	Is it okay to start seeds from an egg carton? i have some seeds starting in an empty egg carton. the cardboard type carton. another thing, how essential is it to use a heating pad to keep the seeds warm? another thing, how moist should the potting mix be during germination?

April 16, 2008	#2
amideutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Germany 49°26"N 07°36"E Posts: 5,041	Shouldn't be a problem with the egg cartons. Just don't know how long the cardboard will last until it breaks down. I don't use a heating pad. As long as they are in a place thats reasonably warm and no drafts and no direct sunlight you shouldn't have any problems. If you put the cartons in an enclosure, mini plastic greenhouse or a big ziplock bag you shouldn't have to water them till after they germinate and you have removed them and put them under grow lights or a sunny windowsill. Ami BTW, welcome to TVille and our band of tomato growers. __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘...Holy Crap .....What a ride!'

April 16, 2008	#3
coronabarb Tomatoville® Recipe Keeper Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Roseburg, Oregon - zone 7 Posts: 2,821	bate, I would only use egg cartons if I didn't have anything else, as I prefer a little more room for root growth. Once they are up, get them into some 6 pack or yogurt size containers. If you can put the cartons in a sunny window, that should be enough warmth to get them sprouted. Don't let the mix dry out completely. Where in So Cal are you? It's getting too late here to start seeds. __________________ Corona~Barb Now an Oregon gal

April 16, 2008	#5
coronabarb Tomatoville® Recipe Keeper Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Roseburg, Oregon - zone 7 Posts: 2,821	"what makes it too late to start seeds?" The weather. The tomato plant needs to mature and set fruit before the torrid summer temps. We were 98 degrees just a few days ago (an anomoly) but it can get very hot in May and June. Once it starts hitting 95, the pollen can go sterile and fruit won't set. I'm going to have extra tomato plants in a week or so, if you'd like some. __________________ Corona~Barb Now an Oregon gal

April 17, 2008	#7
coronabarb Tomatoville® Recipe Keeper Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Roseburg, Oregon - zone 7 Posts: 2,821	"coronabarb" __________________ Corona~Barb Now an Oregon gal

April 16, 2008	#8
robin303 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Austin, TX Zone 8b Posts: 531	I started my carrots that way this year but the big problem is not enough soil and they dry out pretty quick. But it worked out fine and I let it dry just a tad bit and used a plastic spoon to get them out.