Using Coconut Shells as a Planter

by Mike Lieberman · 14 comments

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After you are done with your coconut, hollow it out out and use it to plant vegetables with shallow roots in them such as lettuces and other greens.

Much like the toilet paper roll seed starter pots, these are the great price of free.

    What you’ll need to get your coconut shell container made:

  • Coconut shell
  • Potting mix
  • Seeds
  • Spray bottle filled with water
  • Drill with 1/4″ bit
    How to make a coconut shell container:

  • Drill 2-3holes in the bottom of the shell. Drill from the inside of the shell.
  • Fill up with potting mix.
  • Dig a small 1/4″ deep hole in the middle of the soil and drop in your seeds.
  • Spray with some water and cover up with soil.
  • Spray down again and place in the sunlight.


  • http://wyo-helpmeet.blogspot.com/ Michaela

    Egg shells ;-)

  • Mike Lieberman

    Nice. Gotta be pretty delicate with that one, huh?

  • Sketchkat06

    Good ideas all of them.

    I have used some paper roll tubes, they are alright. I had a problem with them unwinding when wet :/ and a mysterious and freaky orange growth on one O.O When I have enough to do that again I think I shall try sterilizing them in the over first.
    Mostly I use Starbucks cups – I think they are food grade and they are super sturdy for plastic cups so they last several uses. There are a few I think I've already re-used 3 or 4 times and still going strong.
    Also yogurt cups are working great, the brands from Trader Joe's. They are the right shape and just big enough. I can't use the Yoplait ones as the opening is narrower than the base :(
    And of course I have re-used the nursery cells. Last year when I was starting out I got several different things from the local nurseries to test out. I just wash and sterilize the leftover cells and they work really good although a couple are starting to crack.

  • Mike Lieberman

    Can the yogurt cups be transplanted with the seedlings? I would think the coffee cup could be.

  • Sketchkat06

    No the yogurt cups I use, or the plastic Starbucks cups, they are plastic so they don't decompose (at least not in my lifetime). The paper coffee cups seem to fine although I remove the bottom just to make sure the roots get into the soil good.
    It is very easy for me to remove the seedlings and soild from the plastic yogurt and coffee cups though. And easy to poke drain holes into them with an awl.

  • Mike Lieberman

    Gotcha. That make more sense.

  • liz

    The strawberry container is called a clam shell, Ive just started trying outthe toilet paper roll pots, seems to be working ok for me! I also have a bunch of various clam shell containers (tomatoes, strawberries, cookies) and Ive started lettuce in them. They're supposed to have a greenhouse effect i think, the lettuce seems to like them lol.Ive also used water bottles (gallon size), but they dont seem to do well.. coul just be my brown thumb lol

  • Mike Lieberman

    Clamshell huh? Who would've known? Thanks. Sounds like you got things goin on pretty well on your end.

  • panyvinito

    This is a great idea! Love it Mike! Keep it coming!

  • Mike Lieberman

    Thanks Lina. You have plenty of coconuts in FL, no?

  • http://twitter.com/GreenSoil Manure Tea Gardening

    great reuse tips Mike : )

  • http://www.UrbanOrganicGardener.com Mike Lieberman

    Thanks. Would’ve loved to lined the stairs with the coconut shells.

  • http://twitter.com/SaulArtPhoto Jennifer Saul

    I’ve been using plastic fruit containers to start off all my seedlings.. its great as they’re free! Also tried using bean tins with holes drilled in the bottom, and old jam jars (downside being they dont drain!). everything seems to grow very well ! :)

  • http://www.UrbanOrganicGardener.com Mike Lieberman

    Nice.