trays for grow light stand

[Labradors2]

Last year I treated myself to a grow light stand from Gardener's Supply. I absolutely love it

I bought a whole pile of 3" plastic pots and also saved a ton of individual yoghurt containers, and I used my mish mash of saved containers which include celery keepers, some sturdy plastic boxes and various "throwaway" containers as holders for my little pots so that I could easily take them out for watering/examination.

When I had to pot them up into larger pots, I used square washing-up bowls (from the Dollar store) to house them. They are nice and sturdy and do a great job.

I'd like to get some decent trays, maybe even "starting kits" for the first phase. Gardener's carries some 24 cell ones that are 14 3/4" x 9 1/4" and I don't know about optimal fit either for my 3" pots or for the stand. Their prices with shipping are pretty steep.

I'm also considering the "Permanest" trays which are 10" x 20" or 12" x 15".

Just wondering what others use.

Linda

[bower]

I use 1020 trays and cell packs that fit in them. Then I pot up into beer cups - the fit is not perfect but it's better than I can do with the square pots I have - I think they are 3 inch pots. You can only fit a dozen in and there's a load of wasted tray space since they don't fit 3 across. There's a size down from that, maybe 2 1/2 inch? pots that actually fit well in a 1020 tray but they are a bit small for tomatoes.
I'd advise you to get one of each type of tray just to try out the fit with your pots and setup before you make your final choice. 1020's are only a couple bucks each, or less maybe. Pretty sure I got a bunch for 99 cents apiece one year at one of the hardware stores.
I made quite a bit of use of some rectangular stacking tubs I got from the dollar store - they were a great fit for small solo cups, so a dozen peppers X 3 tubs also perfect under one 4 foot light, and they seemed to like the high wall and white reflective environment. Those tubs started to break up though after being in and out the garden, and they have some little grooves in them that are not the easiest to clean. I will probably go with plain smooth white washtubs as a replacement.

[Gerardo]

storage flat trays meant to go under the bed work well

[barbamWY]

These are ridiculously expensive, but I can put them in the dishwasher to sanitize and they last for years. I have an old Burpee grow light stand and they fit perfectly. I have had some of these trays for over 10 years.
Charley's Greenhouse 8665 Starter Tray, set of 3
Barb
http://www.charleysgreenhouse.com/in...2=405&cid3=-99

[heirloomtomaguy]

Another vote for 1020 trays. I buy them in bulk 80 bucks for 100 of them. Greenhouse Mega store also sells them for around 1.50 a piece.

[Labradors2]

Thanks for all the ideas. I will have to experiment and see what suits my setup best.

Wow Barb, those starter tray prices are wild {LOL} Sometimes it's best to bite the bullet and buy something that fits perfectly and doesn't wear out!

I've looked at those under-the-bed storage trays before as I love the idea of them but never found suitable ones for my dratted 3" pots!

People say that they double up on the cheap 1020 trays to make them last a little longer.

A friend suggested Rubbermaid "bus totes" which she has. They are super strong and 20x15 (outside dimensions). They might work too.

Linda

[oakley]

I've never regretted 1020's. I purchased a big starter set 15yrs ago. Not huge, just five trays, 6 various inserts, two clear domes. Bought another 'kit' five yrs later and still use and have most of them. (step on one in the garden now and then).
Seems no longer offered by TGS. It was a good deal at the time.

Everything fits in a 1020. Very modular. The mesh trays from the garden center collected over the years...used to strengthen the trays doubled up...i have a half dozen 1010's that fit, two per 1020. All standard inserts fit, the cell packs, the 5x5's.
Once cleaned they stack for storage.

The square 1010's are my favorite as they are easier to move around in a small space. Turn for even light, etc.

Johnny's has them on sale right now though not a big sale really. Worth it if you have some other seed needs maybe.

[bower]

Yeah - a full sheet of cell packs whichever kind, to fit a 1020 tray, is only a dollar - at our most expensive local garden store.
Those mesh trays are great to reinforce the 1020's so they're easier to move around when full. I borrowed a half dozen from the farm so I don't know what you would pay for them. I would definitely buy a few more if I saw them for sale with a few dollars in pocket. But they aren't as commonly available around here. I may ask at the nursery.
When I bought a bunch of 1020's at 99 cents they also came with a clear plastic lid each. I've been using those also as reinforcement under the tray and to catch any drips/leaks. The trays themselves are a bit brittle and I've cracked the sides on a couple of them, either by picking them up without any reinforcement underneath, or by having them caught outdoors in the wind. Our wind will flip a tray if it's only half full. Still they are good value for the money, even the cracked ones are still useable with reinforcement.

[oakley]

Oh the wind.
The only good thing about wind is that the bugs can't take hold.
I'm so cheap and thrifty and a repurpose junkie i'm surprised that i finally said fu**it
last year and made the big move to organizing my methods.

Having the base collection of 1020's and 1010's and a stack of trays and the mesh trays,
adding a new potting up system was not that big a deal. After near 20yrs and a bit here and there, a system that is integrated over time, is just a small piece of the puzzle.

I hesitated getting out of salvaged red cups and still have a stack i'll use for give-away seedlings. But now have the tall square pots. Love them. Deep and hold more volume soil than the cups. Have the trays that hold them up-right and easy to move around.
Not toppling over. (GreenhouseMegastore)

Clear stack of totes from Ikea (cheap!), and can handle a nice amount of square pots snug and keep out the wind and let light it for hardening off. Lots of sizes that stack and great for seed storage like all my micro green seeds.

I've got 4 dozen micros and a couple dozen micro sunflowers and trays of micro greens going since early November. This system has made that easy.

[Greatgardens]

Here is a vote for the green Permanest trays. I've used these for years and still have a few from the first ones I got -- probably 40 years ago. They are also pretty expensive and no mention of Dishwasher safe, although that seems "over the top" to me. They will degrade if left in direct sunlight UV if exposed to extended periods, but never had any issues under lights. I use the "cheapies" in my cold frame. Here is a link:

http://parkseed.com/large-perma-nest...domes/p/v1590/

[Cole_Robbie]

I use 1020 web flats. The trays are really flimsy and easy to break when moving around. I don't use the trays, and just put the cell packs directly into the web flat.

[FarmerShawn]

There are 1020s, and there are 1020s. First I got some cheapies at a discount store, and they were, well, cheap. Broke if you looked at them too hard. Then I sprung for some from Greenhouse Megastore, and the difference was clear. I've had them for five years now, and while I have lost a few, most are still going strong.


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[heirloomtomaguy]

Im way too cautious when it comes to reusing trays. My 1020s hit the garbage after 1 use. For 80 cents they are just not worth washing with bleach and risking possible contamination. Plus i only use 10 or so a year so they work fine for what i use them for. I might also mention there are several wholesale plastic companies within 15 miles of my house.

[barbamWY]

Originally Posted by FarmerShawn

There are 1020s, and there are 1020s. First I got some cheapies at a discount store, and they were, well, cheap. Broke if you looked at them too hard. Then I sprung for some from Greenhouse Megastore, and the difference was clear. I've had them for five years now, and while I have lost a few, most are still going strong.
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I got trays at Greenhouse MegaStore when I could not find decent ones here. They are a good quality. I looked at my history and it was the heavy duty not the regular ones that I had purchased.
http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/p...s-heavy-duty/s
Barb

[ddsack]

Originally Posted by Greatgardens

Here is a vote for the green Permanest trays. I've used these for years and still have a few from the first ones I got -- probably 40 years ago. They are also pretty expensive and no mention of Dishwasher safe, although that seems "over the top" to me. They will degrade if left in direct sunlight UV if exposed to extended periods, but never had any issues under lights. I use the "cheapies" in my cold frame. Here is a link:

http://parkseed.com/large-perma-nest...domes/p/v1590/

The old original green Permanest trays were great, perfect size and top quality. The new ones produced in the last few years are thin and brittle, chip and crack very easily. I won't buy them anymore.

I see there is a tan version, I don't remember which supply house had them as well as the green. I don't suppose those are any thicker. Anyone bought the tan ones?