Although it is possible to buy mature plants or seedlings at nurseries, many gardeners find that starting plants from seed yields greater rewards. A seed starting tray is one of many tools required to sow seeds at home, and it’s also one of the most crucial.
Seed trays are incredibly useful for streamlining planting, maintaining order in your beginner garden, and creating an ideal environment for growing your greens. If the weather is still too chilly for them to grow outside, you can bring your plants inside using seed starting trays.
However, because there are so many options available at a wide range of prices, shopping for the best seed starter trays online can be somewhat difficult. We have listed the top seed starting trays in this article, so don’t worry. Pick the one you like best as you continue reading.
Table of Contents
Advantages Of Using Seed Starting Trays
Using a seed starting tray makes the process easier, cleaner, and more maintainable even though seeds can germinate in almost any type of container. These are a few benefits of using a seed-starting tray.
- To make it simpler to heat or water evenly, seed trays arrange the seedlings in rows.
- When the weather is suitable, seed trays can be taken outside because they are light and portable.
- The soil or seed starting mix can effectively drain from seed trays thanks to the drainage holes that are present.
Best Seed Starting Trays
Best Overall: Gardzen 40-cell Plant Tray
Almost all the materials a gardener would require to begin a sizable collection of plants are included in this seed starter kit. It comes with five plastic trays, each of which can hold 40 seedlings. The bottom of each cell has a hole to allow drainage. Base trays are a part of the kit and don’t have to be bought separately. Additionally, 2.75-inch-tall domed lids with a rounded top are included, enabling seedlings to develop in a temperature-controlled environment.
The seedlings should be moved into larger containers (or a garden bed) before they outgrow their cells because each one is shallower than average at 1.4 inches long, 1.4 inches wide, and 1.85 inches deep.
Pros
- Comes in a pack of 5
- Made with reusable plastic
- Comes with base trays and domed lids
- Extraction tools are included
Cons
- Shallow cells
Best Bang For The Buck: Aifusi 10-pack Seed Starter Kit
This kit from Aifusi might be a good option for people who want to start lots of seeds without making a sizable financial commitment. The trays come in a pack of ten, and there are 720 total cells in all of them. Each cell is 1.57 inches deep, 1.5 inches long, and 1.5 inches wide. Water cannot build up at the bottom of the cells thanks to drainage holes.
The trays can be used year after year and are appropriate for organic vegetable gardening because they are made of thick BPA-free plastic. Despite having a sizable growing capacity, these trays are sold without any extras. Base trays must be purchased separately.
Pros
- Affordable price
- Comes in a pack of 10
- Durable and reusable
- Made with BPA-free plastic
Cons
- Shallow cells
- Accessories not included
Best Self-watering: Burpee 32-cell Self-watering Ultimate Grow System
With this self-watering grow kit from Burpee, beginners may appreciate how simple it is to germinate seedlings. It includes the company’s coconut coir pellets, which should be inserted into the bottom of each cell and moistened with water before adding soil. Following that, the pellets gradually release water.
The kit includes two trays, each of which has 16 cells, 32 growing pellets, a clear greenhouse dome, a self-watering mat, a base tray, and six plant markers. Each extra-large cell measures 2.25 inches long by 2.25 inches wide by 2 inches deep, giving every plant plenty of room to expand.
Pros
- Made with large cells
- Includes a base tray and greenhouse lid
- Easy-to-use self-watering design
Cons
- High price
Best Domed: Bonviee 10-pack Seed Starter Trays
Although there are many seed tray options available on the market that come with domed plastic lids, not all of them have humidity control. The users of this Bonviee model can choose the ideal humidity level for their plants by using a clear lid with a vent. There are ten trays in the package, and each one has a domed lid that matches.
Despite the fact that each tray is only about 6.1 inches long by 4.4 inches wide, the cells in each one are 2 inches deep, giving the seedlings room to expand their root systems. Base trays and plant labels are additional components of the kit.
Pros
- Affordable price
- Includes vented domed lids
- Designed to accommodate coconut coir pellets
Cons
- Small trays
Best Reusable: Hydroponic City Seed Tray
This large order includes 120 seed trays, but since each tray only has six cells, it is perfect for mixing different plant types together, moving them around, and storing them in confined areas like windowsills.
You can also transplant a small number of seedlings at a time because there aren’t many cells in each tray, avoiding upsetting or harming seedlings that aren’t yet ready for planting. The trays are made of reusable black poly-plastic and have good drainage.
Pros
- Every order includes 5 plant labels
- Bottom drainage holes to avoid water accumulation and roots oversaturating
- Only 6 cells per tray make them small enough to place on windowsills and easy to move around
Cons
- No base trays included
Best Vents: Solgit Plant Growing Seed Trays
These Soligt medium-sized seed trays are 13.7 X 10 X 6 inches in size, making them simple to fit on wide windowsills and move around as necessary. Three starter trays and three dome lids with added height are included in the pack to accommodate taller seedlings. You don’t have to worry about water leaks because the trays are sturdy, reusable, and don’t have holes in the bottom.
You can regulate the airflow and humidity thanks to the two adjustable vents found on transparent dome lids. The trays are helpful for watering cells of germination-in-progress seeds by soaking them from the bottom up. This keeps seedling roots from being disturbed and guarantees they receive the appropriate amount of water.
Pros
- Humidity adjustable dome lids
- Durable and reusable
- Solid base trays without holes help to prevent leakages
Cons
- The order does not include cell inserts
Best For Faster Germination: Bonivee Seed Starter Tray Starter Kit
Bonnivee’s excellent seed starter kit includes base trays, seed cell trays, plastic domes, and plant labels. Each tray has 12 cells and bottom holes to allow for proper water drainage.
The cells are a respectable size, coming in at about 1.5 inches. Moving the seedlings around is simple, and bottom watering is made possible by the base tray’s larger size for catching and holding the water.
Increase the temperature and maintain humidity around your seedlings as they sprout by using the top domes that are included. Their domes are distinctive and have top vents so you can control the humidity.
Pros
- includes humidity domes, bases, and seed trays.
- The top of the domes has vents for adjusting them.
- Thick, PP plastic for durability
Cons
- Have to transplant out of the seed cells
Best Kit: Jiffy 36 Peat Pellet Seed-starting Greenhouse Kit
Due to the inclusion of peat pellets, fertilizer, a domed lid, and a base tray, this Jiffy kit is ideal for beginners who are just starting out with seed germination. There aren’t any individual cells in this kit, which makes it unique. The ability to transplant seedlings without separating them one by one makes the cell-less setup preferable for some home gardeners.
Start by adding 1.5 inches of warm water to the base tray, followed by the pellets, use. The water can be drained after the pellets have risen 1.5 inches in height. The netting on each pellet must then be peeled back in order to insert a number of seeds into each one. There is no need for extra soil.
Pros
- Includes biodegradable peat pellets and fertilizer
- Comes with a domed lid
- No additional soil is required
Cons
- Lacks cells to separate seedlings
How Do I Choose The Best Seed Pots And Trays?
You need to know how to choose the best seed starting trays whether you purchase them online or at a nearby garden center.
Years ago, I believe I used the incorrect ones, which had an impact on how I began my seeds. Determine which type works best for your garden, it can occasionally take some trial and error.
The Material Used For The Seed Trays
Many seed trays are made of plastic, but some seedling trays are made of a biodegradable substance, like coconut fiber. Each of these has advantages and disadvantages.
You save money by using them because plastic is frequently reusable. When I pick up the cell trays, I also notice that they often feel more sturdy and are less likely to break in half. However, you must remove the cells from them in order to pot them up and transplant them outside, which is a lot of movement for a small seedling.
The material eventually breaks down after being planted in the ground, making biodegradable pots useful. Using these pots helps prevent transplant shock, which affects many plants or root rot when you start them in trays.
This is more expensive, though. It might work if you’re only starting a few plants, but since I start hundreds of seeds, it is financially impossible for me to do so.
Seed Tray Size
Take into account how many seeds you need to plant. Some seed trays can accommodate up to 70 seedlings, while others only have six cells.
The size you choose is determined by the number of seeds you need to start and the amount of space you have for your plants. For instance, larger trays might be preferable if your tables have plenty of space, whereas smaller trays are best for use on windowsills or small shelves.
Extra Options And Accessories
Before you purchase the seed trays, check what extras are included. Here are some items that are frequently included as accessories.
- Base Trays: These sturdy trays allow you to water your plants from the bottom while holding seed trays. Additionally, they make moving your seedlings simpler.
- Watering Mat: Some seed trays come with a special mat that aids in drawing moisture into the seed cells without overwatering the soil.
- Dome: Your seed trays are covered with a clear plastic dome to maintain the ideal humidity levels needed to boost germination rates.
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