Having a successful farm or garden starts with proper planning and preparation, and that includes choosing the right tools and supplies. One of the most important tools for starting plants is the seed tray.
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There are several types of seed trays available, and each one has its own benefits and uses. In this article, we will explore the different types of seed trays and how to use each of them effectively.
Starting seeds in cell trays, especially in the larger ones, gives the grower the advantage of being able to start more seedlings in their growing space. This is especially handy for row crops where the grower may want to plant 100 or more of each variety.
Growing this many seedling starts in larger seed pots would take up way too much space. The other advantage is that you will waste less growing media starting out your seeds and then up-potting the successfully germinated starts into new pots.
There are two basic parts to a seed tray, one of which is optional:
Tray – this is the top part that holds soil, individual containers (pots), or a cell flat. When used with a cell flat, the tray is used for watering from below.
Cell flat (plug flat) – this is the optional lower part. This is the part that holds the water to keep you from watering the seedlings very frequently.
Seedling trays come in different forms, including mesh seed trays, solid seed trays with drainage holes, and solid seed trays without drainage holes (leak-proof seed trays).
A mesh seed tray is a type of seed tray that allows air, water, and light to pass through it while also providing support and protection to seedlings as they grow. It typically consists of a frame made of durable plastic or wire mesh, with a tray or pot placed inside it to hold the soil and seeds.
Mesh seed trays are specifically designed for seed starting, and they are often used in commercial and home gardens to start seedlings before transplanting them into larger containers or into the ground. They are also commonly used for microgreen production, which is the practice of growing germinated seeds into small, edible plants that are harvested a few weeks after germination.
By allowing air, water, and light to pass through, mesh seed trays help to reduce the risk of damping off, a disease that can kill young seedlings. They also allow for better drainage, reducing the risk of root rot and other diseases associated with overwatering.
Where to buy:
Amazon
Shopee
Lazada
A cell seed tray is composed of small, individual cells, each of which is typically about 5 to 10 millimeters wide, long, and deep. The cells are arranged in a grid-like pattern, with rows and columns, and they're separated from each other by small walls. Cell seed trays are often used for growing seedlings, particularly when growing crops in a commercial setting.
Cell seed trays are beneficial because they allow for efficient and convenient seedling production.
The small cells allow for even distribution of water and nutrients to the sprouts, and they provide a secure and stable base for the seedlings to grow and mature. This makes it easier to transplant them into larger containers or directly into the ground, and it decreases the risk of damage to the seedlings.
Overall, cell seed trays are a versatile and efficient tool for growing seedlings and they're a popular choice for commercial growers or those who want to start their own miniature farm.
Where to buy:
Amazon
Shopee
Lazada
Solid seed trays with drainage holes allow for adequate drainage, making them suitable for planting multiple seeds together in one place.
The drainage holes prevent the soil from becoming saturated with water and promote healthy root growth. However, the lack of individual cells makes it impossible to move seedlings to separate containers once they grow larger.
Where to buy:
Amazon
Shopee
Lazada
Solid seed trays without drainage holes (leak-proof seed trays) do not allow for any drainage at all. They are best used for holding cell flats and allowing for bottom watering. By holding water, the tray can be used to catch excess water from watering seeds, or to water seeds from below.
WHERE TO BUY:
Amazon
Shopee
Lazada
A seed tray with a humidity dome is a growing system that provides an ideal environment for seed germination and early plant growth. It consists of a seed tray, which is a tray with small, individual cells or pots, and a humidity dome, which is a clear plastic cover that fits over the tray.
The humidity dome creates a warm, moist environment that is essential for seed germination and early plant growth. The cover traps moisture and moisture-laden air around the seedlings, providing them with a consistent supply of water. This can be particularly beneficial during dry periods or when the air is particularly dry.
Seed trays with humidity domes are particularly useful for growing plants that require a warm and humid environment, such as tomatoes, peppers, and other vegetables. They are also popular for growing herbs, flowers, and other outdoor plants.
WHERE TO BUY:
Amazon
Shopee
Lazada
Biodegradable seed trays are the environmentally friendly solution to traditional, plastic seed trays.
Instead of being made from synthetic materials that can take hundreds of years to decompose, biodegradable seed trays are made from natural materials such as recycled paper, biodegradable plastic, or plant-based materials.
These innovative trays provide all the benefits of traditional seed trays, including protection for seedlings and support for roots, but with the added bonus of being gentle on the environment. Biodegradable materials are non-toxic and they won't pollute the soil or water systems when they're discarded.
Biodegradable seed trays are a great choice for gardeners who want to reduce their environmental impact while still nurturing their plants. They're also an excellent choice for commercial growers who need to minimize their waste output and meet sustainability goals.
WHERE TO BUY:
For more Leak-Proof Seedling Traysinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.
Amazon
Shopee
Lazada
An ergonomic pop-out seed tray is a growing tray designed for the comfort and productivity of gardeners.
Soft food-grade silicone cells cradle seedlings and gently flex to pop out when it’s time to transplant into your outdoor garden! This system is specially designed to reduce stress on your seedlings, so you don't damage their roots. After transplanting, trays are easy to clean and reuse or simply store for next growing season. Top shelf dishwasher safe.
The tray is made from lightweight, durable materials that are easy to clean. These trays are a popular choice among commercial growers and home gardeners who want to maximize their seedling production while minimizing their physical strain.
Where to buy:
Amazon
Are you growing a large number of one variety of plants for transplanting row crops?
Are you planting smaller numbers of a wide variety of plants?
Will you be planting your crops all at once, or will you be using the succession planting method?
What type of seeds will you be planting? Peppers, tomatoes, lettuce, watermelon, etc.?
How large are the seeds?
How long will your seedlings need to stay in the cell trays?
Will you be potting up your plant starts or planting out directly from the plug trays?
How much protected growing space do you have to start seeds in?
Will you use a heat mat or a dome or rely on ambient temperatures and humidity for germination?
Plastic Seed Trays Plastic seed trays are one of the most popular types of trays for starting plants. They are lightweight, durable, and easy to clean. They come in a variety of sizes and shapes, and are a budget-friendly option.
Yes. It is possible to overwater seedlings growing in cell trays. A common mistake growers make though is to leave water in the bottom of a plug tray at all times. This will eliminate your seedling’s ability to get oxygen.
Bottom-watering can be properly done by adding just enough water to allow the cell tray to evenly absorb it during the watering and no more. You want to discard the excess water as it will become stagnant and invite anaerobic bacteria to wreak havoc on your newly established seedlings.
Molded plastic seedling trays are known as trays because their dimensions are approximately 10 inches by 20 inches.
Cell flats (also known as plug flats) fit inside the seedling trays, leak-proof trays, or lightweight mesh trays, and are available in multiple sizes, identified by the number of cells in each flat.
The most common cell-flat sizes for veggie transplants are 50's, 72's, 128's and 200's. The cells in these flats are square and very closely spaced, to maximize the number of plants you can fit in your greenhouse.
For larger crops, there are cell flats with 38 or 24 cells per flat. The cells are larger, allowing for larger root balls, and the cells are round and spaced farther apart to allow for greater canopy development of the plants.
Another option is the 20-row seed flat, in which seeds are sown in channels to germinate, then "bumped up" or "potted up" into cell flats when their first true leaves appear. Seed flats are advantageous because they conserve seedling heat mat or germination chamber space.
Trays, Domes & FlatsMany growers consider this to be the most efficient way to start large numbers of seedlings at once.
Advantages. Trays and cell flats are the seed-starting method of choice on most large vegetable farms for several reasons:
Disadvantages. Plastic trays and flats do have some drawbacks.
For sanitizing trays and as a means of disease prevention in your seed-starting program, we recommend a peroxide-based bleach substitute like OxiDate, which is an OMRI-listed disinfectant approved for use in certified-organic agriculture.
Whether or not plastic items such as trays, flats, and domes are recyclable nowadays is essentially dependent upon their composition, which will determine your local recycling center's policies, capabilities, and partnerships. If you use plastic seed-starting and plant containers, we encourage you to check with your local recycling center for more information on their recyclability.
Because of the scale of our operation, we do primarily use trays for greenhouse propagation and seed-starting. Here are the basic, crop-specific seed-starting practices with cell flats used here at Johnny's:
This is the 3rd time I ordered these seedling trays. I start my tomatoes and peppers about 6-8 weeks before they go outdoors. It's mid Feb. and my 8b zone ranges from 22-70 degrees until I plant outside early to mid April. I use a lightweight planting mix and these trays hold the mix in my 10/20 trays. I bottom water and the slots in the trays allow proper watering.
I have reused some of these trays 3 times so far and have had no problems doing so. They are thin. They hold soil. They are slightly tapered and release my plants when I invert the tray supporting the plants with my fingers. If you are looking for trays that are strong, heavy duty, can be hosed out at the end of the season...these aren't them. Everything seems to cost more than it should but I'm not running a commercial operation and I don't drop or throw these around. I'm satisfied with the price/value/point and they serve my needs. I'm glad they can be shipped to my door and I don't have to search and settle for what I can find or use paper cups or used food containers as my only source of containers ( I do transplant some into large yoghurt containers tho...lol.
Cell propagation trays
Start your seedlings in cell trays for space-saving advantages. Cell plug trays are the perfect tool for market gardeners that want to start more market crops at once. Another advantage is that you will waste less growing media starting out your seeds and then up-potting the successfully germinated starts into new pots.
What Size Cell Tray Should I Use?
Our propagation trays are available in several configurations and are made of extra-strong, BPA-free, food-safe plastic backed by a 1-year warranty. Discover which size cell tray will work for your greenhouse or garden plants. The cell tray guide below will help you in making the decisions about which tray is best for your operation. Or take our Garden Seed Tray Style Quiz.
Whether you are a homesteader growing food for your family or a large-scale production farm looking to streamline your transplanting process with trays that will last season after season. If you need more help making a decision please check out our article on Selecting the Right Cell Tray for Seed Starting.
Our newly redesigned 6 cell trays have large 5/8 inch drainage holes on the bottom making it easy to remove your plant starts. They also make use of air pruning technology with long vertical slits on all 4 sides to prevent root circling in your seedlings. For easy color coding and tracking or your starts we are super excited to also offer our 6-cell trays in 5 cheerful colors. These are great for gardeners who will be starting a small amount of lots of different varieties as you can remove each type as it is ready without disturbing all the other starts that are sharing its heavy-duty deep tray bottom watering tray. 12 fit in each tray.
The 32 cell plug propagation tray inserts are the largest seed starting cell tray size, measuring 2" x 2". The added space allows plants to develop their canopy and allows them to stay in the cells of the tray longer than they would in a tray with less volume of potting soil. When used in conjunction with our seed starter insert pots, these are typically the best trays for seed starting for the home gardener.
These 50 cell propagation trays give ample room for seedlings to develop while allowing for a larger number of seeds to be planted in the 10”x 20” space. Plants grown in these plug trays will be less likely to become root-bound if unsettled Spring weather delays your planting schedule. This size also allows for larger canopy development in the seedling.
The 72 Cell trays are the most popular choice amongst market gardeners. They are a good balance between space for growing and the number of seedlings per cell in the tray. Each of the individual cells is 1.5" square and 2.25" deep. This sizing is perfect for starting many different plants including vine crops. These 72 plug trays are compatible with the heavy-duty deep tray for bottom watering.
Get the air pruning benefits of soil blocking without the mess! These farm trays allow for airflow above and below the soil, so newly established seedlings get optimal growing conditions for a strong start. Our newest 72 cell air pruning tray can be used to grow everything you would use a traditional 72 cell tray for but can also keep plants growing for longer without root circling becoming an issue. These also fit nicely in our heavy-duty deep tray .
These 128 Cell Trays are a great choice for seed starting trays if you wish to start row crops or many baby greens. This configuration is ideal for starting many seeds but is not meant for crops that need to be grown in protection for more than a few weeks. Each of the cells is 1" square and 2.25" deep. You will be able to plant 78% more seedlings with one tray than the more common 72 Cell starter tray.
These 128 plug trays are compatible with the heavy-duty deep tray for bottom watering. You will want to up-pot your seedlings from this size into larger pots or grow bags if you do not plan to transplant outdoors for an extended period of time to prevent seedlings from becoming root-bound.
These 200 Cell Trays are excellent seed starting trays if you want to be economical about growing cole crops, lettuces, and other small-seeded crops. You will be able to start ~2.8 times as many seedlings with one tray as you would with a 72 cell tray. Each of the cells is 0.75" square and 2.25" deep.
Interested in learning more about seed starting? Be sure to check out our Seed Starting Blogs.
Want more information on cheap seed starting trays? Feel free to contact us.