Square-pot carrying trays that works with red SOLO party cups? - Page 2

tam91 · January 24, 2015

I've tried - the shallow carrying trays, all the cups tip. There is a deeper variety, they work great. But I have never figured out where to purchase them - I scrounged mine from the local nursery.

zeuspaul · January 24, 2015

I use stainless steel full size chaffing dish water pans. The sides are 4.5 inches tall. I also have a few of the inserts which are 2.5 inches tall and slightly smaller. You can get perforated inserts if you want to dip the insert in the water pan for bottom watering. I carry the pans inside at night and prefer the non perforated pans because it is easier to keep the underside clean.

To water I add water to the pan and then drain it with a siphon a few hours later. I use square pots because they are more space efficient but I would guess round would work too.

Initial cost is more than plastic but they last a lifetime. There are no fears of leaks for inside use.

January 24, 2015

I quit using the round-bottomed cups because they tipped over way too much. I use the square-bottomed Solo cups [when I use Solo cups]. Now I use 5 and 6 inch square pots and the trays made for them. I got tired of them tipping over and messing with drainage. It was just too much of a hassle for me so getting the right pots [for you, for your situation] might be a little more expensive but it is worth it in the long run.

nickbolk · January 28, 2015

Last year i started about 2200 seedlings in Costco branded "Kirkland" red beer cups, almost identical to the red solo cups I used (from Costco) the year before. The kirkland cups are square bottom, which I think solo cups are or can be now as well. Both styles fall over quite easily in 1020 flats if you dont stagger the cups- they are too large to do 3 wide in straight rows without tipping. I used a mixture of trays for 4" round and 3.5" square carrying trays and both work excellent!! the square carrying trays were 3x7 and I could fit 20 cups in usually, again because they are a litle bit too big

dfollett · January 28, 2015

I use a tray that I found online here:

http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/c...ord=CN-GAR-154

It holds 5 rows of 4 and one row of three that offsets slightly. If you try to squeeze that fourth cup in the one row and don't offset them, they are all tippy. With 23 of the red cups, they fill it such that they stay put. If the plants get too tall, they'll obviously tip over, but they are quite steady otherwise. If it isn't full, they are very tippy - like anywhere else.

Hunt-Grow-Cook · January 28, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by dfollett

I use a tray that I found online here:

http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/c...ord=CN-GAR-154

It holds 5 rows of 4 and one row of three that offsets slightly. If you try to squeeze that fourth cup in the one row and don't offset them, they are all tippy. With 23 of the red cups, they fill it such that they stay put. If the plants get too tall, they'll obviously tip over, but they are quite steady otherwise. If it isn't full, they are very tippy - like anywhere else.

This. And I use the square bottom cups.

luigiwu · January 28, 2015

dfollett, are those red party cups the kirkland ones from Costco? they don't seem to have a square bottom that Nick had mentioned before.

I like those trays! My restaurant shelving (also from costco) is 16" x 45-3/8" clear of the corner poles, two of these seem like they just might fit per shelf?

dfollett · January 28, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by luigiwu

dfollett, are those red party cups the kirkland ones from Costco? they don't seem to have a square bottom that Nick had mentioned before.

I like those trays! My restaurant shelving (also from costco) is 16" x 45-3/8" clear of the corner poles, two of these seem like they just might fit per shelf?

Yes, they are the Kirkland cups from Costco. They are the 18 oz size. I have seen some with the square bottom, but didn't look for it or even think about it when I picked these up. Perhaps the square bottom is on the 16 oz size (a more common cup size) or maybe it just depends on what shipment you happen to buy from. I'll pay attention next time I purchase some.

Two of those trays fit perfectly on a 48" wide shelf.

luigiwu · January 31, 2015

dfollett, are those trays strong enough to be able to pick it up wth all those cups/soil/plants on it?

dfollett · January 31, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by luigiwu

dfollett, are those trays strong enough to be able to pick it up wth all those cups/soil/plants on it?

Yes, they are much stronger than a standard flat. No problem at all, even when full of plants ready to set out.

Old chef · January 31, 2015

how about useing the wax paper containers that chineese food comes in?
they are square bottom and come in bigger sizes than solo cups. Even have a handle on them that can be used while plants are still small

Old Chef

brokenbar · January 31, 2015

Sterilite "under the bed" 41 qt. Holds 30 large red Walmart plastic cups. They are about 6" deep. All I use now and wish I had thought of it years earlier.

brokenbar · January 31, 2015

They have lasted me 10 years and are just now starting to get a little brittle

luigiwu · February 1, 2015

That's a great "tray" too, brokenbar - thank you!

I was at Costco today. Their Kirkland 18oz red cups had an instant rebate so for 240 cups, it came out to be around $8.50ish. Woot!

Cole_Robbie · February 1, 2015

I am looking at my Hummert catalog now, thinking about what I am going to use this coming spring. I'm not so sure that anything I see includes pots that snap into the tray. I want something to hold them down and keep them from bobbing up and falling over. I think I am going to have to make my own trays in order to accomplish this goal.

January 24, 2015	#16
tam91 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Crystal Lake IL Posts: 2,484	I've tried - the shallow carrying trays, all the cups tip. There is a deeper variety, they work great. But I have never figured out where to purchase them - I scrounged mine from the local nursery. __________________ Tracy

January 28, 2015	#19
nickbolk Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Squamish, BC Canada Posts: 33	Last year i started about 2200 seedlings in Costco branded "Kirkland" red beer cups, almost identical to the red solo cups I used (from Costco) the year before. The kirkland cups are square bottom, which I think solo cups are or can be now as well. Both styles fall over quite easily in 1020 flats if you dont stagger the cups- they are too large to do 3 wide in straight rows without tipping. I used a mixture of trays for 4" round and 3.5" square carrying trays and both work excellent!! the square carrying trays were 3x7 and I could fit 20 cups in usually, again because they are a litle bit too big __________________ Nick A young buck, hungry for tomatoes

January 28, 2015	#22
luigiwu Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: ny Posts: 1,219	dfollett, are those red party cups the kirkland ones from Costco? they don't seem to have a square bottom that Nick had mentioned before. I like those trays! My restaurant shelving (also from costco) is 16" x 45-3/8" clear of the corner poles, two of these seem like they just might fit per shelf? __________________ Subirrigated Container gardening (RGGS) in NY, Zone 7!

January 31, 2015	#24
luigiwu Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: ny Posts: 1,219	dfollett, are those trays strong enough to be able to pick it up wth all those cups/soil/plants on it? __________________ Subirrigated Container gardening (RGGS) in NY, Zone 7!

January 31, 2015	#27
brokenbar Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South Of The Border Posts: 1,169	Sterilite "under the bed" 41 qt. Holds 30 large red Walmart plastic cups. They are about 6" deep. All I use now and wish I had thought of it years earlier. __________________ "If I'm not getting dirty, I'm not having a good time."

January 24, 2015	#17
zeuspaul Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: North County, San Diego Posts: 419	I use stainless steel full size chaffing dish water pans. The sides are 4.5 inches tall. I also have a few of the inserts which are 2.5 inches tall and slightly smaller. You can get perforated inserts if you want to dip the insert in the water pan for bottom watering. I carry the pans inside at night and prefer the non perforated pans because it is easier to keep the underside clean. To water I add water to the pan and then drain it with a siphon a few hours later. I use square pots because they are more space efficient but I would guess round would work too. Initial cost is more than plastic but they last a lifetime. There are no fears of leaks for inside use.

January 24, 2015	#18
WillysWoodPile Guest Posts: n/a	I quit using the round-bottomed cups because they tipped over way too much. I use the square-bottomed Solo cups [when I use Solo cups]. Now I use 5 and 6 inch square pots and the trays made for them. I got tired of them tipping over and messing with drainage. It was just too much of a hassle for me so getting the right pots [for you, for your situation] might be a little more expensive but it is worth it in the long run.

January 31, 2015	#26
Old chef Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Long island Posts: 456	how about useing the wax paper containers that chineese food comes in? they are square bottom and come in bigger sizes than solo cups. Even have a handle on them that can be used while plants are still small Old Chef

February 1, 2015	#29
luigiwu Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: ny Posts: 1,219	That's a great "tray" too, brokenbar - thank you! I was at Costco today. Their Kirkland 18oz red cups had an instant rebate so for 240 cups, it came out to be around $8.50ish. Woot! __________________ Subirrigated Container gardening (RGGS) in NY, Zone 7!

February 1, 2015	#30
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	I am looking at my Hummert catalog now, thinking about what I am going to use this coming spring. I'm not so sure that anything I see includes pots that snap into the tray. I want something to hold them down and keep them from bobbing up and falling over. I think I am going to have to make my own trays in order to accomplish this goal.