[Cue: Pro-Wrestling Announcer Voice]

It’s a slapdown in the Seed Arena (okay, on the dining room table…). Two teams enter, but only ONE will be crowned Ultimate Number One Seedling Growth Pod!

For this challenge, I’ve planted two groups of seed starts–one group in biodegradable pots, and the other in eggshells. Each team will compete over the next 14 days to see which group starts get off to the best…start.

Planting Date: March 13.

I’m using Miracle Gro Seedling Starter in both groups, and “Cascade Glaze” Collards seeds from Uprising Seeds (no affiliation, I just like their seeds).

Biodegradable, plantable Jiffy Pots with Miracle Gro Seedling Mix
In This Corner! Biodegradable, plantable Jiffy Pots with Miracle Gro Seedling Mix
Collard seeds in seedling mix, planted in eggshells.
And in This Corner! Same collard seeds, same seedling mix. Only, in eggshells.

Which team will win the race to be put in the ground and, ultimately, the GRAND PRIZE of eventually being eaten with some black-eyed peas and cornbread.

UPDATE: March 16; 3 days after planting

Both groups, sitting on the dining room table, have already started to sprout!

To recap, one group is in a plastic take-out container (I mean, “temporary reusable, repurposed greenhouse”). The other are in eggshells in an egg carton.

In this corner, we have TEAM EGGSHELL!

collard seeds growing in eggshells
Team Eggshell, 3 days after planting
Collard seedlings growing in eggshells
Team Eggshell, Group Photo: Day 3 after planting

And, in this corner, we have TEAM PEAT PODS!

collard seedlings growing in Jiffy peat pods
Team Peat Pot, Same Day (Day 3)
collard seedlings growing in Jiffy peat pods
Team Jiffy Pods, group photo 3/16 (Day 3 post-planting)

It’s still early in the game, and both teams are making a good showing in the early rounds!

So far, the peat pots plants have an early lead. Will Team Eggshell pull ahead in the coming days? Stay tuned to find out!

UPDATE: March 20 — 7 days after seeds planted.

So far, both teams continue to do their thing. Based on the arbitrary metric of size (it’s not the size of the broccoli, but what sauce you put on it…) Team Jiffy Peat Pods is measuring about 7.5cm for the tallest seedling, while Team Eggshell is still a very respectable 6cm, seven days into the contest.

Team Eggshell, 7 Days Post-Planting
Team Eggshell seedlings, ~6cm as of 3/20
Team Jiffy Peat Pod, measuring in at ~7.5cm on 3/20
Group photo, Team Jiffy, 3/20

Collard Seedling Update: March 25, 12 days after planting

Team Eggshell seems to be pulling ahead! The largest seeding is currently 8.5cm, just about a centimeter behind the tallest member of Team Peat Pod.

As with many things, size doesn’t matter nearly as much as longevity and taste, which still remain to be seen.

Collard seedlings in eggshells, 8.5cm
Collard seedlings in eggshells, March 25
collard seedlings in peat pods
Collard seedlings, tallest being about 9.5cm as of March 25

Tune in next time as we go into the Hardening Off Round! Which team will go the distance and become the least-favorite vegetable of the late George H.W. Bush, Sr.?