The best seed starting trays, according to experts

Regardless of your age or enjoy degree, there’s by no means a improper time to check out house gardening. Whether you’re fascinated with gardening as a pastime, an aspect hustle or just need stunning blooms to your house, you’ll want to be informed the fundamentals. In addition to sturdy gardening shears, raised lawn beds and different gardening provides, an easy-to-use seed starting tray is a good way to jumpstart your adventure. 

SKIP AHEAD What is a seed starting tray? | How we picked the best seed starting trays | The best seed starting trays | How to store for seed starting trays

To allow you to select the best seed starting trays, we consulted gardening experts for buying groceries recommendation and compiled an inventory in their suggestions — bestselling manufacturers like Gardener’s Supply and Burpee are integrated.

What is a seed starting tray?

Seed starting trays are shallow trays with a couple of small plots (referred to as cells) arranged in a grid, which assist to germinate seeds for gardeners of all ability ranges. Trays are most often made out of plastic, biodegradable or compostable subject material, the latter of which may also be planted immediately into the bottom.  “[A seed starting tray] differs from planters or pots in that the space for the seed and eventual plant to grow is much smaller,” says Carmen DeVito, a qualified lawn fashion designer and the founding father of Garden Cult.

Some other people use seed starting trays as a starting level for sprouting seedlings — “They are essentially temporary homes for your seedlings to grow until they are ready to go out into the garden or into their permanent homes in containers,” says DeVito. Seed starting trays even have drainage holes to save you overwatering.

How we picked the best seed starting trays

We spoke with DeVito and horticulturalist Nathan Heinrich, either one of whom emphasised the next elements when recommending the best seed starting trays:

Material: Seed starting trays are to be had in both plastic or some form of composted material, equivalent to peat, picket pulp and coir (coconut fibers). Seed trays made out of peat, as an example, are advisable as a result of you’ll be able to plant them immediately into local soil as soon as the seeds have germinated and sprouted. That stated, trays made out of composted subject material are once in a while no longer as sturdy as plastic choices. Plastic seed trays are prized as a result of they hang up neatly towards root enlargement and other components that can disturb the plant. If you do use plastic trays to develop fit for human consumption vegetation, search for ones which are BPA unfastened.

Soil kind: Soil is foundational to plant enlargement, and differing kinds could also be higher fitted to sure sorts of vegetation. You should purchase a seed starting mix that’s premade or you’ll be able to make your personal the usage of a mixture of soil and fertilizer.

Light publicity: Plants sown in seed starting trays will have to be positioned anywhere they may be able to get enough gentle publicity. If the usage of synthetic gentle, on the other hand, be sure the ones vegetation are smooth to develop beneath such prerequisites, according to DeVito. “I recommend using [seed starting trays] to start plants like tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, zucchini and some flowering perennials that do best when they are started indoors under lights,” she says. “This gives them a head start for the season to flower or produce fruit  and other edible parts quicker.” You too can purchase seed starting trays with grow light attachments in case your get admission to to herbal gentle is restricted.

Watering: Seedlings additionally want enough water to develop. In addition to watering cans, you’ll be able to frequently purchase watering trays, also known as a reservoir, backside tray or propagation tray, which fits beneath the cells of the seed starting tray. Depending on what you’re planting, you’ll be able to water seedlings in seed trays via both watering them from above or via including water to the tray underneath. Since seed starting trays have small holes at the backside, it permits the vegetation to soak up water from underneath. Ensuring you’ve gotten the gap, provides and time to do that frequently is necessary if you happen to plan on the usage of a seed starting tray.

The best seed starting trays in 2024

Below, we rounded up seed starting trays really useful via our experts and ones that experience a minimum of a 4-star reasonable score from a minimum of 500 evaluations on Amazon. All of them are both manufactured from plastic, silicone or biodegradable subject material.

Gardener’s Supply Company Seed Starting Tray (Two 24-cell trays)

What we love

• Self-watering gadget
• Comes with dome duvet

Something to observe

• Plastic may well be sturdier

This plastic seed starting tray from Gardener’s Supply Company comes really useful via DeVito, who says it’s a really perfect possibility for novices. The seed-starting package has two 24-cell seed starting trays with a propagation tray for watering, two germination dome covers which control temperature, a six-quart bag of seed starting soil combine, a capillary mat and picket seedling marking sticks. While the seed starting tray is acceptable for each indoor and out of doors gardening, it’s best if used for rising indoor or greenhouse seedlings, according to the emblem. The propagation tray beneath the seed tray is helping care for water through the years, so your vegetation obtain steady self-watering, according to the emblem.

Gardener’s Supply Company Square Biodegradable Pots & Tray Set (18 pots)

What we love

• Biodegradable subject material
• Can plant immediately in soil

Something to observe

• Be cautious with inclement climate

This biodegradable seed starting tray, additionally from Gardener’s Supply Company, comes really useful via DeVito, who says it’s excellent for gardeners who need an eco-friendly possibility. As is commonplace with biodegradable seed starting trays, you’ll be able to plant those pots immediately into the bottom due to the natural subject material. The picket fiber cells are each sturdy sufficient to assist advertise plant enlargement for seedlings however they’re additionally smooth to paintings with when transplanting them into your lawn mattress.

Burpee SuperSeed Seed Starting Tray (8 XL cells)

What we love

• Flexible silicone subject material
• Good for small areas
• Modern shopping

This colourful, modern-looking silicone seed starting tray from Burpee is an ideal possibility for gardeners with restricted house, like a windowsill, according to DeVito. The tray has the similar options of a standard plastic or biodegradable tray, equivalent to small holes beneath for absorbing and draining water. The most original side, on the other hand, is the pliable silicone bottoms that permit you to simply press the seedlings out of the cells and transplant into local soil or a big pot when able.

Mixc Seed Starter Tray with Humidity Dome (12-cell 10-pack)

What we love

• Adjustable vents
• Compatible with heating mats
• Transparent cells

This Mixc seed starting tray has the whole lot growers need to sow a couple of sorts of seeds. The plastic tray package features a mobile tray and a propagation tray, either one of which are compatible in combination beneath a plastic humidity dome, additionally integrated. The dome duvet additionally has adjustable vents at the most sensible that you’ll be able to exchange via hand, relying at the climate or local weather you need to divulge your vegetation to. The tray may be protected to use with a warmth mat, according to the emblem. That manner you’ll be able to have much more keep an eye on over the temperature round your vegetation, which is necessary if you happen to reside in a specifically chilly atmosphere. The style has a 4.4-star reasonable score from over 8,000 evaluations on Amazon.

Gardzen Seed Starting Trays with Dome and Base (40-cell 5-pack)

What we love

• Double vents
• Humidity dome
• Sturdy plastic

Something to observe

• Not biodegradable
• Best for rising in bulk

The Gardzen seed starting tray has all the fundamentals required for putting in place your seedlings. The style has the standard multi-cell seed tray, draining holes at the bottoms and a plastic humidity dome for temperature law. Since the emblem provides huge capability mobile trays, with each 40-cell and 70-cell choices, each and every of the tray kits have domes with a couple of adjustable vents at the most sensible for optimum temperature law. It additionally has a 4.6-star reasonable score from over 6,000 evaluations on Amazon.

Growneer Peat Pots Seed Starter Trays (10-cell 12-pack)

Something to observe

• Not as sturdy as plastic

The Growneer seed trays are made out of peat, a biodegradable subject material manufactured from composted natural subject material, which makes them perfect for planting the seedlings immediately into the bottom when they sprout. The logo sells 10-cell and six-cell trays, either one of which include T-shaped plant labels that you’ll be able to stick into each and every mobile with soil. A advantage of peat seed starting trays like this one, is that you’ll be able to reduce and separate each and every mobile on the other hand you need.

Yaungel Seed Starter Tray with Grow Light (12-cell 4-pack)

What we love

• Has a develop gentle
• Remote managed

If you propose on the usage of your seed starting tray indoors, believe buying one with a develop gentle. While many vegetation and seedlings thrive whilst rising indoors, a develop gentle can assist in making the germination procedure smoother and sooner. A develop gentle additionally makes it more straightforward to supply your vegetation with gentle, without reference to the place in your house they’re, particularly an area with restricted herbal gentle. The gentle in this tray has adjustable settings that may be managed with a far off. Plus, it has a 4.3-star reasonable score from over 3,000 evaluations on Amazon.

How to store for seed starting trays

If it’s your first time purchasing for seed starting trays, it’s necessary to stay sure options in thoughts, equivalent to the fabric of the tray, the dimensions and choice of cells, and the place you propose on transplanting the seedlings. It’s additionally the most important to be sure to have the correct house to switch them to, equivalent to a big flower pot or lawn mattress.

Types of seed starting trays

The form of seed starting tray you select additionally issues. Seed starting trays are both made out of plastic or composted subject material equivalent to peat or picket fibers. Both paintings tremendous for rising seedlings, however there are advantages and downsides to the usage of each and every kind, which we give an explanation for underneath.

Plastic seed starting trays

Plastic trays are a well-liked selection for rising seedlings as a result of they’re sturdy sufficient to use a couple of occasions. “The plastic [seed starting trays] are theoretically reusable and usually cheaper,” says DeVito. “[And] depending on the type of plastic, possibly recyclable.” That stated, plastic seed starting trays are much less environmentally pleasant when compared to peat trays since you’ve gotten to take away the seedlings via hand to transplant them into lawn beds or local soil.

Biodegradable seed starting trays

Biodegradable trays also are often used for starting seeds as a result of they don’t require worrying the plant roots whilst transplanting. Since they’re made out of natural subject material, they’re protected to plant immediately within the floor. That stated, if you happen to’re an skilled gardener and plant seedlings frequently, remember the fact that the usage of peat trays calls for purchasing new ones once a year, which may also be pricey for some.

Meet our experts

At NBC Select, we paintings with experts who’ve specialised wisdom and authority in line with related coaching and/or enjoy. We additionally take steps to make sure all knowledgeable recommendation and proposals are made independently and with out undisclosed monetary conflicts of passion.

• Carmen DeVito is a qualified lawn fashion designer, qualified New York state panorama skilled and the founding father of lawn consulting corporate Garden Cult. 
• Nathan Heinrich is a gardening fashion designer and horticulturalist.

Why accept as true with NBC Select?

Cory Fernandez is a trade editor at NBC Select, the place he covers meals, cooking, cleansing, way of life and wellness. He spoke with skilled gardeners and horticulturalists for his or her perception, suggestions and steering.