Seed starting tray ??

[My Foot Smells]

picked up a 72 cell pro-hex w/ dome lid for 12.95 today, which is per the usual. man, these things are getting more "flimsy" by the year.

are some "better" than others? im skeered this thing will fold in two if i try and move manually, esp. if there is any water in the holding tray.

i plan on starting seeds this weekend, so probably a little late for me this year, but maybe others can benefit..


(went looking for a 50 cell for first batch, but only had 72 - wally world doesn't have garden stuff out yet; slim pickens around here in january)

[AlittleSalt]

The 72 cell pro-hex is what I use too, This is the 5th use I've gotten out of mine. Put a 1x12 under it and you can move it a lot easier. I made some trays for ours http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=43117

[dmforcier]

Yeah, there are more substantial. The hydro store I found after I bought my Pro-Hex (at HD for ~$6.95 two years ago) are definitely stronger, with a comparable price. They sell the trays and inserts separatetly, too, so you can destroy the inserts to get the seedlings out.

Is there a pot store near you?

[My Foot Smells]

Very nice, thanks.

[dmforcier]

BTW, I never have a problem moving my trays, but I never allow more than about 1/4 c of water to collect in one, either.

[My Foot Smells]

Originally Posted by dmforcier

Yeah, there are more substantial. The hydro store I found after I bought my Pro-Hex (at HD for ~$6.95 two years ago) are definitely stronger, with a comparable price. They sell the trays and inserts separatetly, too, so you can destroy the inserts to get the seedlings out.

Is there a pot store near you?

I got this one at a gardening and beer supply store called the water buffalo. They could be involved in off the grid applications considering the inventory on hand.

[Cole_Robbie]

Cell trays are meant to be placed in web flats. It makes it much easier to move them around.

Here's a web flat:

[dmforcier]

True. They fit nicely, but I've never needed to do it. YMMV

[My Foot Smells]

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

Cell trays are meant to be placed in web flats. It makes it much easier to move them around.

Here's a web flat:

i usually use a solid tray to hold water for bottom feeding/watering the babies. after initial sprout, i will go to a shallow wrapping paper plastic tub when they get to 4" pot and bottom water in those (later to be used for misc. storage & they stack).

in comparison to above, i "borrow" coke trays that are hard plastic from convienent stores that have built in handles and are tank-like. they double as takeoff baskets and work great. but don't lend them out or let others use, they willl never be returned.

the solid holding tray on recent purchase is flimsy and think a bounty paper towel would offer more strength. i've got several but buy new each year for some reason (as the pro-hex insert never last more than a year). the plastic dome will yellow like a smoker's tooth if any sun exposure.

[FourOaks]

I would suggest a Hydro store as well. I have 1020 trays and 72 cell plug trays that I bought years ago, still going strong. The clear domes are starting to yellow a bit. But they are several years old.

Last year, in a pinch, I bought one of the "Hex-Pro" sets from Home Depot or Lowes, whichever. Absolute garbage. I used it, but had to handle it with kid gloves.

[oakley]

Yup garbage. I use a couple hex trays underneath. Having done that they have lasted a few years now.
I picked up the square 36 cell kits at a Pharmacy during a Fall clearance for a buck each a couple yrs ago. The square size is so easy to move around but way over-priced retail in the Spring.

I finally trained myself to stop tossing aside in the garden or into the garden shed where they get stepped on, etc. started keeping them clean and stacked and ready for the next season. (how mature)
I do like to water when the seedlings are wee ones out of their holding trays and into a big baking tray to bottom water rather risking over-watering in their own trays...it is like handling a big rubber-band or wet noodle.

I made wooden holding trays but just for hardening off. Too bulky for indoors on my shelves under lights.

[Cole_Robbie]

The web flats work fine for bottom watering. I dunk flats in a shallow bin of water, usually a mortar mixing tub.

If anyone is an inventor, invent me a tray that will hold solo cups or 4" pots that have dry pro mix in them, so that the plants don't float and tip over in the bin. For pots that have been separated, I can only put them in about an inch of water without them tipping over.

I did make a much larger watering bin last year out of a pond liner inside a 2x12 frame. It's a shallow pool that I can use to water several flats at once.

I insist on bottom-watering all my plants, even though it is time-consuming. Other market vendors use overhead sprayers to water everything. No one at market has tomato plants as nice as mine, but there is a limit to how much one person can accomplish. I max out my abilities at a little over a hundred flats. Mine are 48 cell, so that is about 5,000 plants. I'm trying to scale it back each year, as that is a little more than I need.

[jtjmartin]

I have a couple web flats but I've started to just use 2 flats on all my seedlings. I punch holes in the first flat and put a "no-hole" flat underneath.

- they are not as flimsy and easier to move
- I can bottom water pretty easily
- there is a little reservoir
- if they are outside because the weather is right and it's going to rain, I just remove the bottom flat so that the tomatoes don't become waterlogged.

I've also used some of those under the bed clear storage trays/units to put multiple flats in - then I can wheel the flats in and out of the garage.

[dmforcier]

the plastic dome will yellow like a smoker's tooth if any sun exposure.

More than that, putting a covered flat out in the sun for even a brief period will cook the contents. Ask me how I know.

[decherdt]

10x10 square Burpee flats with Jiffy square hole inserts almost eliminates twisting, and reduces the unwieldiness of a full 1020. Does not help with the costs though

http://www.tomatoville.com/album.php...pictureid=2426