Take the seeds and place them in a container of water. Let the seeds sit for 15 minutes. If the seeds sink, they are still viable; if they float, discard, because they probably will not sprout.

A new study finds that large animals eat not only large seeds but small ones too – helping with seed dispersal. If they become extinct, this could have an impact on overall biodiversity in an ecosystem. Scientists have long thought that small animals eat small seeds and large animals eat large seeds.

Violets, poisonous squirting cucumbers, and touch-me-nots or Impatiens capensis (not to be confused with these touch-me-nots) have an effective way of dispersing their seeds: They burst!

It is recommended that you only soak most seeds for 12 to 24 hours and no more than 48 hours. After soaking your seeds, they can be planted as directed. The benefit of soaking seeds before planting is that your germination time will be reduced, which means you can have happy, growing plants faster.

You can use egg cartons as a seed-starting tray! Depending on the type of carton you have, you can even cut apart the individual sections and plant them, as the carton will biodegrade. Be sure to poke small holes for drainage, and put the cartons on a tray or in a shallow pan to catch any residual water.

Moisten the newly planted seeds with a mister or a small watering can. To speed germination, cover the pots with plastic wrap or a plastic dome that fits over the seed-starting tray. This helps keep the seeds moist before they germinate. When you see the first signs of green, remove the cover.

An easy solution is to cut off the container lid and put it under the bottom of the carton. Poke holes in the bottom of each egg cup and any moisture will drain out and into the lid underneath. Fill each egg cup with potting soil and place seeds in to the appropriate depth.

also have seeds that should be nicked and soaked to encourage faster germination. Other common garden seeds that appreciate a soak are those of basil, beets, chard, corn, and squashes. Some folks also presoak tomato and pepper seeds. Presoaking can also be educational.

three seeds

Big seeds such as beans, corn, squash, cucumbers, and sunflowers are easy to handle and germinate rapidly. Half gallon-size milk and juice cartons – Great as holders for smaller cartons or cups. Lay the container on its side for a ready-made lettuce growing tray.

2-4 weeks

Plants like tomatoes, peppers and eggplants in particular will benefit from shell fertilizer, Savio said. The extra calcium will help prevent blossom-end rot. Broccoli, cauliflower, Swiss chard, spinach and amaranth are also calcium-packed and could use extra from eggshells.

Planting seeds in eggshells is an eco-friendly way to grow your garden. When the seedlings are big enough, you can plant the shells directly into the soil! Break the eggs open and clear out the contents; gently wash and dry the shells.

Eggshells contain a high amount of calcium, which plants love. Let your hard-boiled-egg water cool, and use it to water your plants. You’re not going to get as much calcium from the water, itself, of course, but grinding up the egg shells and adding them to the soil will make the soil more calcium-rich as well.

Basic Recipe for Seed-Starting Mix

1. 4 parts compost.
2. 1 part perlite.
3. 1 part vermiculite.
4. 2 parts peat moss.