by Lindsay del Carlo, Trial Garden Manager

You don’t need to have a fancy set up to successfully grow your garden seedlings. Many people have that one cabinet or drawer full of plastic containers that have lost their lids, a stack of yogurt cups that have long been forgotten or the clear plastic “clamshell” containers that you’ve kept around, and maybe an empty plastic milk jug or two.

Disposable containers can receive new life by using them to start seeds. Food and yogurt containers or milk jugs with their bottoms cut off will need to have drainage holes. Use a drill with a 1/4 inch bit to put holes in the bottom of the containers every few inches. Clamshell containers of store bought produce often already have holes in them, so this makes them very convenient for sowing seeds. These also have a lid that can be closed to hold in moisture when weather is warm.