Propagator box and seedling containers

Step one
Remove the handles from the drawers and then measure, mark and cut the bottoms out of both drawers, ensuring the cuts are perfectly parallel along each side.

Step two
The bottom back edge of the deeper drawer needs to be recessed approximately 5mm in from the other edges, as pictured. Many old wooden drawers come with this recess but if yours doesn’t it will need to be cut – this will provide a slot at the base through which to fit the propagating heat pad.

Step three
Fill handle holes and any other imperfections with Resene EzyFill Quick ready mixed filler. Once dry, sand smooth and wipe off any sanding residue with a clean cloth.

Step four
Measure, mark and cut a piece of 7mm plywood and a piece of clear acrylic the same size as the base of the drawers (use a pencil to mark the ply and a marker pen to mark the clear acrylic). Smooth any rough edges with sandpaper.

Step five
Attach the plywood to the base of the deeper drawer, as shown, fixing with 20mm screws. (The 5mm gap for the propagating pad should remain accessible.) Drill pilot holes first to prevent ply and wood from splitting.

Step six
Apply one coat of Resene Quick Dry to both drawer units and allow to dry.

Step seven
Apply two coats of Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel tinted to Resene Seaweed to both drawer units, allowing two hours for each coat to dry.

Step eight
Attach the clear acrylic to the top of the second drawer, as shown, fixing with 20mm screws. Drill pilot holes first to prevent the clear acrylic and wood from splitting.

Step nine
Attach the two drawers together at the back with the two 50mm hinges and then fix the support chain in place with 20mm screws. Slide the propagating heat pad into the bottom of the unit through the accessible gap along one side of the base.

Step one
Cut the toilet roll tubes in half and then cut the corrugated cardboard into rectangular pieces measuring 20cm x 9cm, with the corrugations running along the shortest length (you might need a grown-up to help you with this bit).

Step two
Cut the lid off the egg carton leaving a small flap of cardboard running along one edge, as shown (again, you might need a grown-up to help you here).

Step three
Roll each of the pieces of corrugated cardboard into a tube and fix securely with a piece of wool, as shown.

Step four
Tie the pieces of cut toilet roll tube in the same way. This will prevent the tubes from falling apart when they get damp.

Step five
Cut a few ice block sticks in half with the scissors (again, you might need a grown-up to assist with this). Paint carrots on the long ice blocks sticks using testpots of Resene Hyperactive and Resene Green House, pea pods on the half ice block sticks with testpots of Resene Green House and Resene Green Leaf, and broccoli/cauliflowers on the egg carton with testpots of Resene Parsley and Resene Rice Cake. Allow the paint to dry.

Step six
Place all the seedling containers onto the plastic tray and then carefully fill each one with seed-raising mix using a small spoon (remember to wear gloves when working with seed-raising mix). Insert the painted markers into the sides of the tube containers, as shown. Sow the carrot seeds into the taller cardboard tubes, the pea seeds into the toilet roll tubes, and the broccoli and cauliflower seeds into the egg carton – your grown-up assistant will need to help with this bit.