I enjoyed the roundup the New York Times just did on kits for container gardens. It provided the perfect inspiration for instant gardens, like this Garden-in-a-Bag from Potting Shed Creations, which the Times dubbed “the instant cake mix of herb growing.” In crafts and gardening, there’s no word I like more than instant!
Photo: T.C. Worley for The New York Times
The following project from our craft book Easter Eggs by Matthew Mead teaches you how to sprout your own little seedlings in eggshells. Make a frittata for Easter brunch this Sunday, then put those shells to good use!
Photo: Matthew Mead for Chronicle Books
Seedling Sprouter
Excerpted from Easter Eggs by Matthew Mead
Herbs, flowers, and even vegetables will get a good start in this little eggshell planter. For a gift or a children’s project, arrange a small garden of these in an egg carton.
Gather
Small needle-nose pliers
Blown eggs (see instructions at bottom of post), one for each seedling, clean and dry
Acrylic paint: chartreuse and yellow
Small flat paintbrush
Potting soil
Spoon
1 or 2 seeds for each egg
Salt well, egg cup, or other small dish
Create
1. Using the pliers and your fingertips, gently chip away the top third of the eggshell to form a cup as shown in the photo.
2. Paint the outside of the egg chartreuse, then paint the inside yellow; let dry.
3. Spoon a little potting soil into the shell, leaving the top quarter empty.
4. Plant one or two seeds, covering with soil according to the seed packet directions.
5. Set the egg planter in the salt well. Add water to moisten the soil. Place on your windowsill and wait for the seedling to appear.
Tip
If the sprouter doesn’t sit upright in your dish, put some sand in the dish first to support the egg. When it’s time to plant the seedling in your garden, plant it right in the eggshell. Compost!
For more fantastic Easter projects, pick up a copy of Easter Eggs.
The Easy Way to Blow an Egg
Here’s a great way to blow eggs that is efficient, sanitary, and creates no mess.
To begin, gather the following:
Eggs in an egg carton
Straight pin or tapestry needle
Teaspoon (from your silverware, not for measuring)
Wooden skewer
Drinking glass
Drinking straws
Leave the eggs in the carton while you pierce them. Place the pin point-down against the top of the egg and lightly tap the pin head with the back of the spoon until it pierces the egg. Insert the wooden skewer into the egg and gently press it down until it pierces the bottom of the egg.
Remove the egg from the carton, hold it over the glass, and push the skewer up and down through the contents several times to break the yolk. Remove the skewer and place a straw over the hole. Blow through the straw until the contents of the egg are emptied into the glass. Rinse blown eggs in warm water and dry with a paper towel or let them dry in a clean egg carton.
Clean and Dry the Eggs Before Coloring
Gently wash the inside and outside of the empty eggshells with dishwashing detergent and rinse them. If water remains inside an egg, use a straw to blow it out. Let the eggs dry thoroughly on a rack or in their carton.
Check out more Chronicle Craft posts.
Kate Woodrow
Craft Editor
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I wouldn’t worry so much about the “sanitary” aspect of it. The inside of an egg is a sterile enviornment. Washing your hands will go alot further.