Biodegradable Pots for Seed Starting

Yes, biodegradable pots can be a better option for seed starting and transplanting seedlings because your seedlings will never become root bound and CowPots are designed to be planted directly into the ground, reducing transplant shock all while eliminating single use plastic pots.

The leading advantage to growing in CowPots over plastic pots is the root penetration through the pot walls. This allows for air pruning and healthy root development which in turn encourages healthier plant development.

We recommend you use sterile, pre-moistened potting soil in CowPots. Fill the soil flush to the top edge of the CowPot. Follow seed packet directions to determine seed depth and spacing as well as timing for when to start your seeds. 

Fill the CowPot with sterile, pre-moistened potting soil flush with the top edge of the pot. In our own greenhouse operation, we use wooden chopsticks to form a hole in the potting soil and delicately place the fragile roots of the seedling in the carved out space using the chopstick as a guide and gently push soil over the hole to stabilize the seedling. Monitor plant to ensure adequate light and moisture.

We recommend a growing shelf life of 12 weeks for the #3 and #4 style greenhouse pots. Once planted in the ground, the pots begin to break down quickly. Variables that affect decomposition are moisture level, soil type and bioactivity. A study conducted by MAFES found that planted CowPots were 88% decomposed after 3 months in the ground. Read more about that study.

Biodegradable container size is often based on how long you anticipate needing to keep the seedling indoors before transplanting it outside. In our greenhouse operation we like to use the #3 six cell for leafy greens, cucurbits and cold season crops. The #4 square is well suited for peppers, eggplant and herbs. The #4 Square Tall is our preferred size for tomatoes. The deeper pot provides more soil volume and adequate space for 3 months of growing before going outside.