Seed Starting Buying Guide
I've been gardening and writing about gardening for more than 20 years, yet I find I'm always learning new things about the plants, insects and other critters that call my backyard home. That's the great thing about gardening &#; it's never boring! I've worked as a landscaper, on an organic farm, as a research technician in a plant pathology lab and ran a small cut-flower business, all of which inform my garden writing. Someone once asked me when I'll be finished with my gardens, to which I replied, "Never!" For me, gardening is a process, not a goal.
With competitive price and timely delivery, MARSHINE sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.
Whether you're new to starting seeds or looking for fresh ways to grow your healthiest plants, we have supplies and systems that ensure success. With so many choices, how do you decide which is right for you? We're here to help.
Factors to Consider
Although you can start seeds in just about any container as long as it has holes for drainage, as with any task you're more likely to have better success using equipment designed specially for that purpose. And if you're new to seed-starting or introducing a friend to growing from seed, why not start with the systems that ensure success? Here are some considerations to help you choose.
- Reusable pots and trays are made from durable materials that can be washed, sanitized, and reused year after year.
- Plantable pots are made from biodegradable materials so the seedlings can be set in the garden pot and all, eliminating root disturbance. Cleanup is easy, and there are no bulky pots to store.
- DIY pots includes those made from recycled materials, such as newspapers, as well as pot-free soil blocks.
- Deep-root pots encourage more extensive and robust root systems that help plants make an easy transition to the garden.
- Self-watering systems deliver water to seedlings as they need it, reducing the risk of over- or under-watering.
- High volume systems allow you to grow a garden's worth of seedlings in a compact space.
Gardener's Best® XL Seed Starting Kit: Deep-Cell Kit Grows Extra-Large Seedlings
This innovative self-watering seed starting system is 30% deeper than our Deep Root, growing full-size, garden-ready seedlings that are hardier and healthier. Optional add-ons, sold separately, include: additional Seed Starting Trays and Humidity Domes for fast germination.
- Self-watering system extends time between waterings
- Durable, reusable & dishwasher-safe
- Large pop-out hole in each cell makes transplanting easier
Perfect for:
peppers, zinnias, and other seedlings that would benefit from a BIG starting space; no need to transplant up in a larger pot!
Gardener&#;s Best® ECO XL Seed Starting Kit: Deep-Cell Kit Made with 25% Less Plastic
All the benefits of our original XL Seed Starting Kit, but made with hemp fiber and 25% less plastic! Grow extra-large seedlings with an extra-green self-watering seed starting system. Additional Seed Starting Trays and Humidity Domes for fast germination, sold separately.
This heavy-duty, recycled-plastic seed starter includes an efficient and effective self-watering system that solves the challenges of over- or under-watering. Simply fill the reservoir and plants get the water they need, when they need it.
- Capilary mat delivers water from reservoir to soil
- Dishwasher-safe for easy sterilization between uses
- Clear cover holds in heat and moisture to maximize seed germination
Perfect for:
the brand new gardener. The included humidity dome helps seeds germinate and a bottom-up watering design will support veggies, herbs, and flowers
Paper Pots Seed Starter Set: Earth-Friendly Paper Cells
Expandable paper honeycomb creates a whopping 50 cells. When you're ready to transplant into the garden, pots tear apart so you can plant them, paper liner and all.
Paper Pot Maker: Make an Endless Supply of Plantable Pots
The ultimate in upcycling! In seconds you can transform strips of newspaper into seed-starting pots, ready to nestle into a waterproof tray and fill with soil mix. Easy, fun, and economical for high-volume growing.
- Biodegradable pots minimize transplant shock
- Make as few or as many as you need
- Eliminates the clutter and storage hassles of plastic pots
Perfect for:
radishes and other quick-growing seeds that don't need to spend weeks in a seedling-sized pot
Biodegradable Pots and Tray: Plantable Pots Minimize Transplant Shock
These fully biodegradable pots ease transplanting woes and work, allowing you to plant directly into the garden &#; pot and all. The wood fibers immediately begin to biodegrade, ensuring adequate moisture and aeration as well as restriction-free root growth.
- Plantable pots transplant directly into the soil
- Heavy-duty plastic tray is reusable year after year
- Suitable for organic gardening! No binders or glue in the pots.
- Additional biodegradable seed trays sold separately
Perfect for:
cucumbers, nasturtium, squash, and other seedlings that grow quickly and do not appreciate having their roots disturbed
Cowpots: Plastic-Free Pots with Fertilizer Built In
An ingenious farmer makes these transplanting pots from odor-free, 100% composted cow manure. As your seedlings grow, the pots gradually degrade, releasing organic nutrients. Plant pot and all in the garden for healthy root growth without transplant shock.
- Biodegradable pots transplant directly into garden
- Roots grow through and take natural fertilizer with them
- Eliminates transplant shock
Perfect for:
heavy feeders&#; like tomatoes, squash, and broccoli will appreciate the slow release of nutrients as this manure-based pot degrades.
Soil Blocker: Make Perfectly Sized "Pots" with No Waste
Never run out of starter pots again! This clever device presses moistened soil into compact blocks with a small divot in the top, ready for dropping in a seed. Roots grow freely, get oxygenated, and grow more robustly as a result.
- Make blocks as you need them &#; no need to store plastic pots
- An easy, no-waste, DIY solution that's perfect for high-volume growing
- Minimizes transplant shock.
Perfect for:
peppers, tomatoes, and other seeds that would benefit from a BIG starting space; no need to plant up in a larger pot!
Galvanized Seed Starter: Stylish Design and Smart Features
An attractive seed starter worthy of display on a tabletop or under lights. The leakproof tray holds 24 individual, tapered cells, so you can bring the ready-to-transplant seedlings to the garden without disturbing the other plants.
- Longlasting and resuable, year after year
- Chic galvanized metal complements home decor
- Seedlings remove easily with little root disturbance
Perfect for:
starting a variety of seed types; separate pots make it easy to transplant individual plants one at a time
Deep Root Seed Starter: Grow Bigger, Healthier Plants
This self-watering system features deep growing cells that result in more root mass &#; the secret to vigorous seedlings that thrive when transplanted. The smart design is inspired by the systems used in European horticulture laboratories.
- Heavy-duty system can be reused for many years
- Self-watering system ensures proper hydration
Perfect for:
peppers, tomatoes, zinnias, and other seeds that would benefit from a BIG starting space with plenty of root space
Pop-Out Pots: Seedlings Grow 40% Larger with No Transplant Shock
Pop-Out Pots are the secret to seedlings that are primed for robust growth in the garden. Transplant young seedlings from seed starting trays into these self-watering pots. When it&#;s time to set plants in the garden, simply lift the fabric strips to &#;pop out&#; plants without disturbing roots.
- Self-watering system ensures perfect hydration
- Easy-lift line minimizes root disturbance
- Compact design fits on a windowsill
Perfect for:
cucumbers, squash, sunflowers, and other seedlings that don&#;t like being handled due to transplant shock
Self-Watering Galvanized Seed Starting Tray: Galvanized Individual-Cell Seed Tray Has Self-Watering Convenience
We designed this system for season after season of successful seed-starting. The leak proof tray holds 24 individual cells, so you can bring the ready-to-transplant seedlings to the garden without disturbing seedlings that aren't quite big enough.
- Enjoy seed-starting success year after year
- Tapered pots let you easily remove seedlings
- Wire grid with moisture-retaining mat keeps seedlings hydrated
Perfect for:
starting a variety of seed types; separate pots make it easy to transplant individual plants one at a time
Sili Seedlings Seedling Tray, 6-Cell: Eco-Friendly, Silicone Seed-Starting System is Reusable
These sustainable silicone seed-starting trays are durable, reusable, and easy on tender young roots. Because they're so flexible, you can pop seedlings out with ease &#; no tugging or tearing required.
- Pop seedlings out quickly and easily
- BPA-free, food-grade silicone
- Dishwasher safe
Perfect for:
starting seeds with kids (crush-proof!) or gardening in colder climates (frost-proof!)
Sili Seedlings Seedling Tray, 10-Cell: Silicone Seed-Starting Trays Are Dishwasher Safe
These silicone trays make seed-starting so much more fun! Like other systems they have base drainage so that soil doesn't stay soggy and rot your seeds. Unlike plastic trays, they won't snap, crack, or break from use. Plus, they're flexible and twistable &#; so when seedlings are big enough to go out to the garden, it's super easy to pop them out. Use 5 to a base tray and you have 50 plants in a 10" x 20" space!
Want more information on Leak-Proof Seedling Trays? Feel free to contact us.
- Durable and flexible
- Reduces risk of transplant shock
- 5 trays fit perfectly in our Heavy Duty planting tray
Perfect for:
starting A LOT of seeds with kids (crush-proof!) or gardening in colder climates (frost-proof!)
Coco Coir Seed Starting Discs and Tray: No-Mess Seed-Starting System with 50 Plantable Coir Discs
You'll love this reusable, no-mess seed-starting system. Just hydrate the 50 individual coir discs in their cells, add your seeds, and wait for the little shoots to appear! Water as needed until they're ready to transplant into the garden, coir and all! Replacement coir discs available separately.
Whether you&#;re a seed starting beginner or a long-time grower experiencing new challenges, you&#;re not alone! We&#;ve collected some of the most common questions we get asked about seed starting with helpful answers and troubleshooting advice.
Finding the right seed starting system is only half the battle! Explore our deep dive on seed-starting to learn the ins and outs of growing flowers and veggies from seed, so you can graduate from novice sower to master grower!
Seedling Trays: Everything You Need To Know About ...
A seedling tray is a container used to sow multiple seeds at once. After seed germination, seedlings grow in the seed tray until they are large enough for transplant. A single seed tray can hold anywhere from 6 seeds to over seeds.
Parts Of A Seed Tray
There are two basic parts to a seed tray, one of which is optional:
- Tray
&#; this is the outer 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 inner part. You can put a cell flat inside of a tray to separate seeds from one another.
Seedling trays can come in different forms;
- Mesh seed tray
&#; a mesh seed tray allows water to drain out easily. A mesh seed tray is best for holding multiple individual containers (pots). A drawback is that the holes in a mesh seed tray are too large to hold soil without it falling through or washing away when watered.
- Solid seed tray with drainage holes
&#; a solid seed tray with drainage holes allows for adequate drainage, but allows soil to stay moist enough for seed germination. A solid seed tray with drainage holes is best for planting multiple seeds together in one place. A drawback is that the seedlings do not have individual cells, so their roots can get tangled together as they grow.
- Solid seed tray without drainage holes (leak proof seed tray)
&#; a solid seed tray without drainage holes does not allow for any drainage. A solid seed tray without drainage holes is best for holding a cell flat. Since it holds water, it can be used to catch excess water from watering seeds, or it can be used to water from below.
A cell flat (or plug flat) is a container that is divided into multiple cells. Some common cell counts for seed trays are:
50 cell seed tray
72 cell seed tray
128 cell seed tray
200 cell seed tray
288 cell seed tray
&#;&#;50 cell seed tray
These trays are a happy medium of saving you space in your seed starting area while still being able to plant a large number of seedlings like lettuce that will be directly transplanted. Because the 50 cell tray has a much larger soil volume than the 72 cell plug trays or 128 cell trays, you will have a bit more wiggle room when you need to transplant for optimal root growth. Plants grown in these trays will be less likely to become root-bound if unsettled weather delays your planting. This size also allows for canopy development of the seedling.
72 cell seed tray
The 72 cell seed tray are the most popular choice amongst market gardeners. They are a good balance between space for growing and seedlings per tray. Each cell is 1.5&#; square and 2.25&#; deep, making them an excellent option for a large variety of plants. These plastic trays are also a good choice for vine plants. However, you will want to transplant the vine plants earlier than you would with the 32 Cell trays to prevent root bound seedlings.
128 cell seed tray
These 128 Cell Trays are a great choice 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 more than a few weeks. Each cell 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 seed starter trays. These 128 seed trays are compatible with the heavy-duty deep tray for bottom watering. You will want to up-pot your seedlings from this size seed tray into a larger pot or grow bag if you do not plan to transplant outdoors for an extended period to prevent seedlings from becoming root-bound.
200 cell seed tray
These 200 Cell Trays are excellent trays if you want to be economical about growing cole crops, lettuces, and other small-seeded crops. You will be able to grow 2.8 times as many plants with one tray as you would with a 72 cell tray. Each cell is 0.75&#; square and 2.25&#; deep.
If you are using 200 cell plastic trays to start seeds, you will need to transplant your seedlings at an earlier stage. Typically once they have one, at most two sets of true leaves. This plastic tray size is most frequently used by larger-scale farmers and those who intend to pot up their seedlings multiple times before moving outside.
Factors to consider before using seedling trays
- Specification of seedling tray
The common seedling tray size is 540mm x 280mm with different cells. The less the number, the larger the cell. The numbers of cells are 50, 72, 105, 128, 200, etc. The selection of plug tray specifications should not only consider the size and shape of the seeds, but also the size of the young plant. Only by selecting the proper size can the seedlings achieve optimal growth.
- Hole shape of seedling tray
There are two shapes of holes in seedling trays: round and square. The round hole has a smooth inner wall, without corners of the square hole, which is conductive to the winding of the root of the plant on the inner wall. The square hole is good for guiding the roots to extend downward, and the substrate capacity is about 30% more than the round one. The water is distributed evenly and the roots can grow better.
- Thickness of seedling tray
The thickness of the common seed trays on the market is 0.6 to 1.2 mm. 0.6-0.8 thickness plug trays are mostly used for manual sowing or one-time use, for example, if selling the young plants with seed trays, the seedling company can choose 0.6-0.8mm thickness trays. 1.0~1.2 mm thickness trays are suitable for machine sewing and reuse after disinfection.
The depth of the seed tray on the market is 3-5 cm, the deeper the tray depth, the larger substrate quantity and the greater the substrate water retention, then the more conductive to roof growth. There are also special-purpose seedling trays with a depth up to 9-11 cm.
- Suitable trays for vegetable and fruit seedlings
Generally, a 50 cell tray is fixed for fruit plant seedlings, such as cucumbers, melon, watermelons, pumpkins, etc. The 72 cells one seedling tray is mostly for vegetable propagation, such as eggplant, tomatoes, etc.
105 cells and 128 cells are mostly for leafy vegetable propagation, such as lettuce, cabbage, kale, spinach, cabbage, broccoli, etc.
- Material of seedling tray
At present, the seed trays used for seedling cultivation mainly include plastic seed trays and polystyrene foam trays. The main materials of the plastic plug are polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polypropylene (PP). The polystyrene is resistant to high temperature, not easy to deform in summer, has good toughness, and does not break easily in harsh climates.
Benefits of using seedling trays
There are many advantages to using a nursery tray as opposed to other solutions, like growing in larger containers. It is incredibly simple to handle, sow, and plant seeds, and it also makes transplanting easier as seedlings grow. If you want to improve your chances of growing healthy plants and make sure they have enough room to grow and thrive as they should be anticipated to do when they become fully grown plants in only a few months or years from now, it&#;s crucial to utilize nursery trays. The benefit of employing a nursery tray is that seeds can be sown indoors under the safety and supervision of a grower. Here are some of its benefits:
Grow a variety of plants
Improve Germination success rate
Fertilize easily
Excellent water drainage
Effectively manage the temperature
Transferring plants to larger containers is simple.
Boosts productivity
Saving money
Mazero Agrifood ltd has a variety of quality seedling trays that are of high quality and cost effective. Contact us today on + to order.
The company is the world’s best cheap seed starting trays supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.
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