The best seed starting trays for jumpstarting your garden

Regardless of your age or experience level, there’s never a wrong time to try out home gardening. Whether you’re interested in gardening as a hobby, a side hustle or simply want beautiful blooms in your space, you’ll need to learn the basics. In addition to durable gardening shears, raised garden beds and other gardening supplies, an easy-to-use seed starting tray is a great way to jumpstart your journey. 

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

To help you choose the best seed starting trays, we consulted gardening experts for shopping advice and compiled a list of their recommendations — bestselling brands like Gardener’s Supply and Burpee are included.

Seed starting trays are shallow trays with multiple small plots (called cells) organized in a grid, which help to germinate seeds for gardeners of all skill levels. Trays are typically made from plastic, biodegradable or compostable material, the latter of which can be planted directly into the ground.  “[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 professional garden designer and the founder of Garden Cult.

Some people use seed starting trays as a starting point 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 also have drainage holes to prevent overwatering.

We spoke with DeVito and horticulturalist Nathan Heinrich, both of whom emphasized the following factors when recommending the best seed starting trays:

Material: Seed starting trays are available in either plastic or some sort of composted material, such as peat, wood pulp and coir (coconut fibers). Seed trays made from peat, for example, are beneficial because you can plant them directly into native soil once the seeds have germinated and sprouted. That said, trays made from composted material are sometimes not as durable as plastic options. Plastic seed trays are prized because they hold up well against root growth and different elements that may disturb the plant. If you do use plastic trays to grow edible plants, look for ones that are BPA free.

Soil type: Soil is foundational to plant growth, and different types may be better suited for certain types of plants. You can buy a seed starting mix that’s premade or you can make your own using a mix of soil and fertilizer.

Light exposure: Plants sown in seed starting trays should be placed wherever they can get sufficient light exposure. If using artificial light, however, make sure those plants are easy to grow under such conditions, 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 can also buy seed starting trays with grow light attachments if your access to natural light is limited.

Watering: Seedlings also need sufficient water to grow. In addition to watering cans, you can often buy watering trays, sometimes called a reservoir, bottom tray or propagation tray, which goes under the cells of the seed starting tray. Depending on what you’re planting, you can water seedlings in seed trays by either watering them from above or by adding water to the tray below. Since seed starting trays have small holes on the bottom, it allows the plants to absorb water from below. Ensuring you have the space, supplies and time to do this regularly is important if you plan on using a seed starting tray.

Below, we rounded up seed starting trays recommended by our experts and ones that have at least a 4-star average rating from at least 500 reviews on Amazon. All of them are either made of plastic, silicone or biodegradable material.

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

What we like

• Self-watering system
• Comes with dome cover

Something to note

• Plastic could be sturdier

This plastic seed starting tray from Gardener’s Supply Company comes recommended by DeVito, who says it’s a great option for beginners. The seed-starting kit has two 24-cell seed starting trays with a propagation tray for watering, two germination dome covers which regulate temperature, a six-quart bag of seed starting soil mix, a capillary mat and wooden seedling marking sticks. While the seed starting tray is suitable for both indoor and outdoor gardening, it’s best if used for growing indoor or greenhouse seedlings, according to the brand. The propagation tray underneath the seed tray helps maintain water over time, so your plants receive continuous self-watering, according to the brand.

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

What we like

• Biodegradable material
• Can plant directly in soil

Something to note

• Be wary with inclement weather

This biodegradable seed starting tray, also from Gardener’s Supply Company, comes recommended by DeVito, who says it’s good for gardeners who want an eco-friendly option. As is common with biodegradable seed starting trays, you can plant these pots directly into the ground due to the organic material. The wood fiber cells are both durable enough to help promote plant growth for seedlings but they’re also easy to work with when transplanting them into your garden bed.

Burpee SuperSeed Seed Starting Tray (8 XL cells)

What we like

• Flexible silicone material
• Good for small spaces
• Modern looking

Something to note

• Not biodegradable

This vibrant, modern-looking silicone seed starting tray from Burpee is a perfect option for gardeners with limited space, like a windowsill, according to DeVito. The tray has the same features of a typical plastic or biodegradable tray, such as small holes underneath for soaking up and draining water. The most unique aspect, however, is the pliable silicone bottoms that allow you to easily press the seedlings out of the cells and transplant into native soil or a large pot when ready.

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

What we like

• Adjustable vents
• Compatible with heating mats
• Transparent cells

Something to note

• Not biodegradable

This Mixc seed starting tray has everything growers want to sow multiple types of seeds. The plastic tray kit includes a cell tray and a propagation tray, both of which fit together underneath a plastic humidity dome, also included. The dome cover also has adjustable vents on the top that you can change by hand, depending on the weather or climate you want to expose your plants to. The tray is also safe to use with a heat mat, according to the brand. That means you can have even more control over the temperature around your plants, which is important if you live in a particularly cold environment. The model has a 4.4-star average rating from over 8,000 reviews on Amazon.

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

What we like

• Double vents
• Humidity dome
• Sturdy plastic

Something to note

• Not biodegradable
• Best for growing in bulk

The Gardzen seed starting tray has all of the basics required for setting up your seedlings. The model has the usual multi-cell seed tray, draining holes on the bottoms and a plastic humidity dome for temperature regulation. Since the brand offers large capacity cell trays, with both 40-cell and 70-cell options, each of the tray kits have domes with multiple adjustable vents on the top for optimal temperature regulation. It also has a 4.6-star average rating from over 6,000 reviews on Amazon.

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

What we like

• Biodegradable
• Dividable

Something to note

• Not as durable as plastic

The Growneer seed trays are made from peat, a biodegradable material made of composted organic material, which makes them ideal for planting the seedlings directly into the ground once they sprout. The brand sells 10-cell and six-cell trays, both of which come with T-shaped plant labels that you can stick into each cell with soil. A benefit of peat seed starting trays like this one, is that you can cut and separate each cell however you want.

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

What we like

• Has a grow light
• Remote controlled

Something to note

• Only has 12 cells

If you plan on using your seed starting tray indoors, consider purchasing one with a grow light. While many plants and seedlings thrive while growing indoors, a grow light can help make the germination process smoother and faster. A grow light also makes it easier to provide your plants with light, regardless of where in your home they are, especially a space with limited natural light. The light on this tray has adjustable settings that can be controlled with a remote. Plus, it has a 4.3-star average rating from over 3,000 reviews on Amazon.

If it’s your first time shopping for seed starting trays, it’s important to keep certain features in mind, such as the material of the tray, the size and number of cells, and where you plan on transplanting the seedlings. It’s also crucial to make sure you have the proper space to transfer them to, such as a large flower pot or garden bed.

The type of seed starting tray you choose also matters. Seed starting trays are either made from plastic or composted material such as peat or wood fibers. Both work fine for growing seedlings, but there are benefits and drawbacks to using each type, which we explain below.

Plastic trays are a popular choice for growing seedlings because they’re durable enough to use multiple times. “The plastic [seed starting trays] are theoretically reusable and usually cheaper,” says DeVito. “[And] depending on the type of plastic, possibly recyclable.” That said, plastic seed starting trays are less environmentally friendly compared to peat trays since you have to remove the seedlings by hand to transplant them into garden beds or native soil.

Biodegradable trays are also commonly used for starting seeds because they don’t require disturbing the plant roots while transplanting. Since they’re made from organic material, they’re safe to plant directly in the ground. That said, if you’re an experienced gardener and plant seedlings often, keep in mind that using peat trays requires buying new ones annually, which can be costly for some.

At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

• Carmen DeVito is a professional garden designer, certified New York state landscape professional and the founder of garden consulting company Garden Cult. 
• Nathan Heinrich is a gardening designer and horticulturalist.

Cory Fernandez is a commerce editor at NBC Select, where he covers food, cooking, cleaning, lifestyle and wellness. He spoke with professional gardeners and horticulturalists for their insight, recommendations and guidance.

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Source: | This article originally belongs to Nbcnews.com