Sowing Natural Dye Seeds in Recycled Containers
5 min reading time
Starting natural dye plants from seed doesn’t require special equipment. In this post, I share simple ways to sow natural dye seeds using everyday recycled containers like toilet rolls, fruit punnets, and egg cartons. It’s an easy, low-waste way to begin your dye garden and grow plants that will eventually create beautiful natural colour for yarn and textiles. 🌱
A simple, low-waste way to start your dye garden
As the days slowly begin to get lighter and longer, it’s the perfect time to start planning and sowing seeds for the natural dye garden. Growing dye plants from seed is one of the most rewarding parts of the natural dye process — watching a tiny seed turn into a plant that will eventually create beautiful colour for yarn and textiles.
You don’t need special seed trays or expensive equipment to get started. Many everyday items that would normally be thrown away can easily be reused as seed containers. Using recycled materials is not only practical, but it also keeps the process simple, affordable, and in line with the slow, thoughtful ethos of natural dyeing.
Below are a few easy ways to start your seeds using things you likely already have at home.
Cardboard toilet rolls:
Cardboard toilet roll tubes make excellent biodegradable seed starters. They’re particularly useful for plants that prefer minimal root disturbance when transplanted.
How to use them:
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Place the tube upright in a tray or shallow container.
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Fill with seed compost, leaving about 1 cm at the top.
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Sow your seeds according to the recommended depth.
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Water gently.
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Once seedlings are ready to plant outside, the whole tube can go directly into the soil where it will naturally break down.
These work well for larger seeds or plants that develop stronger roots, such as dyer’s coreopsis, woad, or hollyhock.
Fruit & Vegetable Plastic Containers:
Clear plastic containers from berries, tomatoes, or salad greens are perfect for starting seeds. Many even come with built-in ventilation holes and lids, which can act as a mini greenhouse.
How to use them:
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Add a few drainage holes to the bottom if needed.
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Fill with seed compost.
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Scatter or sow seeds according to their requirements.
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Lightly water and place the lid loosely on top to help retain humidity.
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Place on a bright windowsill.
This method works particularly well for smaller seeds like weld, chamomile, or dyer’s chamomile, which benefit from warm and humid conditions during germination.
Egg Cartons
Cardboard egg cartons are another simple and effective way to start seeds. Each section acts like a small individual pot.
How to use them:
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Fill each egg cup with seed compost.
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Sow one or two seeds per section.
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Water gently.
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Once the seedlings are large enough, cut apart the sections and plant them directly into the soil.
The cardboard will gradually break down, reducing transplant shock and helping protect delicate roots.
A Few Tips for Success
Use good seed compost
Seed compost is lighter and finer than regular potting soil, making it easier for delicate seedlings to establish.
Don’t overwater
Keep the soil moist but not soggy. A spray bottle works well for gentle watering.
Give seedlings plenty of light
A bright windowsill is usually perfect in early spring. If seedlings become long and leggy, they may need more light.
Label your seeds
Once several plants begin to grow, it can be surprisingly difficult to remember what you planted where!
Growing Colour from Seed
Starting dye plants from seed is a small but meaningful step in creating colour from the ground up. From the golden yellows of coreopsis and weld to the soft pinks and earthy tones from madder, the process begins with just a handful of seeds and a little patience.
Reusing everyday containers keeps the process simple and accessible while reducing waste — proving that growing your own dye garden doesn’t require much more than curiosity, care, and a bit of creativity.
And before long, those tiny seedlings will be the plants that bring natural colour to your yarn and textiles.
