There’s nothing better for blustery weather and SAD attitudes than the pleasure of seed starting. While it may be too early to start most seeds in January, it’s never too early to plan, order seeds, and gather seed starting supplies so you’ll be ready to get your hands in the soil for some indoor garden therapy!
With competitive price and timely delivery, MARSHINE sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.
Whether you’re an experienced seed grower or among the millions of new gardeners starting seeds for the first time, we’ve compiled a list of ideal seed starting supplies to make your seedy adventure a pleasure that yields gorgeous, healthy, strong plants.
Some seeds grow best sown directly in the garden in spring when the temperatures rise and the soil warms. However, other seeds, like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant, need a head start indoors to produce strong plants ready for the gardening season.
Before you begin your seed starting journey, keep in mind that plants need adequate light, controlled temperatures, water, and good airflow. To maintain your sanity, you’ll want to avoid starting seeds on your dining room table, unless you’re unbothered by mess. Pick a spot for a comfortable workstation where you have access to electricity, consistently warm temperatures, and mess doesn’t matter. (You WILL spill seed starting mix and water, so unless you’re lucky enough to own a heated greenhouse, find a corner of a heated basement or craft room for your seed starting activities.)
Once you find your ideal space, start gathering supplies. Make a list of your favorite veggies, fruit, and flowers, and order seeds—pronto. With the surge of interest in gardening, seeds are in high demand, and you want to ensure that your favorite tomatoes or zinnias aren’t sold out. Visit our National Garden Bureau seed company members to find your favorite varieties and don’t forget to try something new! Why buy the usual varieties, start something new and have fun!
Once you’ve placed your order, it’s time to gather supplies. Some companies offer seed starting kits with many of the supplies you need packaged together. But many supplies can be found at home.
You’ve selected your seeds, and they’re beckoning to you, begging for attention. The snow is swirling outside, and you’re eager for some garden therapy. Is it time to start sowing seeds?
Starting seeds too early can be just as detrimental as starting them too late. It can be a challenge to keep a too-tall tomato healthy inside until May or June. But how do you know when to start sowing seeds, so the plants are ready at just the right time for your garden?
Seed packets offer a wealth of information. You’ll find information about days until germination, as well as days to maturity, along with light needs and other great tips. However, if you’re starting a lot of seeds, it can be tricky to keep track of the different germination times, making it confusing to know when to start growing.
Fortunately, you can find an excellent resource online with Johnny’s Seeds Seed-Starting Date Calculator. First, find your expected last spring frost date. Then, plug the date into the calculator. The calculator tells when to start seeds indoors, as well as when to transplant outside, broken out by crop. This tool helps ensure you start your seeds at just the right time.
Of course, if you plan to start seeds indoors, you’ll need something to contain those plants-to-be. While you’ll find dozens of ideas for upcycled seed-starting containers on Pinterest, make sure that whatever you choose to use for growing seedlings offers plenty of depth for adequate growing mix. You want big, strong roots, and they can’t develop in a tiny bit of growing medium or space. Make sure the container provides drainage to avoid root rot.
Seed germination cell trays make the perfect option for growing lots of plants in a limited space. You can find propagation trays in a wide range of cell counts, from 50 cells to 200. Use small cells for plants like lettuce, which will be transplanted quickly, and larger cells for plants that grow deep root systems. These rigid, reusable trays allow you to grow seeds with similar requirements in one tray—for instance, plants like tomatoes and peppers prefer bottom heat and good light. By inserting a tag with the variety name into each row or cell, you can grow several plant varieties in one tray, while avoiding variety mix-up.
Because cell trays provide drainage holes, insert the cell tray into a leak proof tray to protect furniture and avoid water spillage. Leak-proof trays are also great for bottom watering delicate seedlings. Add water to the bottom tray, allow the seedlings to soak up the water for an hour or two, then dispense of the standing water.
One of the most important tips for growing seeds is to keep the growing medium moist but not soggy. A humidity dome placed over the cell tray helps preserve moisture, keeping the seeds happy. Remove the dome as the seedlings grow to ensure good air circulation.
Some seedlings, like sunflowers, spinach, and corn, prefer direct sowing, as their roots dislike disturbance. However, by starting seeds in biodegradable pots, you can jump-start growing your favorite plants, making sure they’re ready for the garden season. Biodegradable pots come in a wide range of options, from rectangular, small, multi-cell strips to six-inch round pots. If using biodegradable cells, place them in a leak-proof tray with a humidity dome to help preserve moisture. Regardless of the option you choose, make sure to place a tray underneath the biodegradable pots, as water passes easily through them.
Once the weather warms and your seedling has grown big and strong, dig a hole and plant the entire container in the garden, container, or raised bed. The plant’s roots will grow through the biodegradable pot into the surrounding soil, and the pot will decompose throughout the season.
Skip the garden soil and invest in soilless seed starting mix to give your seeds the best start. When growing seeds indoors, a soilless mix offers a finer, lighter choice than typical garden potting soil, making it easier for young roots to navigate and grow in the medium. The main reason to use a sterilized seed starting mix is health: mold and fungi issues can kill delicate seedlings, ruining your hard work and plant joy. Sterilized seed starting mixes contain no contaminants or pathogens, creating a healthy, hospitable home for your young seedlings.
If you have a container already, wash it out well and sterilize it with a 10 percent bleach/90 percent water solution. Rinse well. Add the seed starting mix to the container, pour in a bit of water, and mix to thoroughly moisten the medium. Using a container makes it easy to scoop the pre-moistened mix into the trays, and then pop on the lid to store leftover seed starting mix.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Leak-Proof Seedling Trays. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
Fill the propagation trays or seed starting containers with seed starting mix using a deep scoop, then use your hands to level the soil and tamp it into each cell. Make sure each cell is filled fully so the seed has plenty of medium for establishing roots.
Some seeds, like tomatoes and peppers, need warm soil to germinate well. Adding a heat mat with a thermostat to set the ideal soil temperature helps ensure even, speedy germination. Cold soil can inhibit germination, and cold, wet soil may even cause seeds to rot. Using the combination of a heat mat and thermostat allows you to control soil temperature for better germination.
Some seeds need light to germinate, while others, like pansies, prefer dark. However, as soon as seeds begin growing, they all need an adequate light source. When growing indoors, set up a light stand with full-spectrum bulbs that mimic the sun’s rays. Ideally, place the lights about two inches above the seedlings. It’s important that the lights’ height is adjustable to “grow” with the plants.
To make your life easy, plug the grow lights into a timer. Seedlings need between 12 to 18 hours of light each day. With a timer, the lights will turn on and off at the same time each day. It’s a nice time-saver to make sure your seedlings consistently receive proper light or try a grow light station with a timer built in.
Along with some seeds needing scarification, others, like some perennials, require a chilling period before germination called “stratification.” All you need is a small container filled with seed starting mix. Moisten the mix, add the seeds, pop on the cover, and place in the refrigerator. Stratification requirements vary by species, so check your seed packet for more information. Whether the seeds need two weeks or two months, make sure the mix never dries out during stratification.
You’ve gathered your seed supplies, set up your seed starting station, organized your seeds according to start times…now what? If it’s still a bit too early to start your seeds, consider joining a seed swap. Seed swaps are fun ways to try new seed varieties. Instead of buying ten packets of tomato seeds for ten different varieties, partner with some friends or neighbors to swap seeds so that you all can enjoy the pleasure of growing new varieties.
Why Should You Use Seed Starting Trays
When plants are healthy from the start, they're more likely to grow vigorously and look their most beautiful when fully grown. Plant trays and flats provide a safe place for young plants while they sprout, making them a must for casual and expert gardeners.
Some people also use planting trays for permanent indoor growing to produce a beautiful, lush environment. Unlike large, potentially messy outdoor pots, these trays are made to be used inside with leak-proof designs. They're also very affordable, saving you money compared to regular outdoor pots.
Propagation Trays, Seed Trays and More
Shop dozens of bulk plant trays that are made for the way you garden.
Our trays are available in three different thicknesses to meet all budgets and demands. These standard-size garden trays are perfect for inserts that help you get a jump on spring as a seed-starting tray, or fill them up with soil and seeds for a handy fodder tray. The heavy-duty open design allows for easy community watering, and they're available with or without drainage holes. You can get colored trays for an extra pop or some daisy trays for your bedding plants.
Make sure to check out our lineup of inserts, propagation trays, black form trays, plug flats, carrying trays and humidity domes. They're made of durable materials such as thermoformed plastic and terracotta to prevent leakage.
Not a fan of plastic? We have biodegradable tray pots, mesh drainage trays, plant irrigation waterbeds and much more in various shapes and sizes. Grow your plants while respecting the environment with trays that make the most of every resource used to grow your garden.
You can get a giant garden tray to use as an irrigation table for potted plants or a seed-starter kit that simplifies those crucial early growth stages. There are kits for organic seed starting, kitchen herbs, high-humidity seedlings and much more.
The Best Plant and Seedling Tray Collection
Greenhouse Megastore supplies hobby gardeners and commercial planters with the planting trays, expertise and fast shipping they need to grow amazing flora. Whether you need a seed starting tray for your greenhouse grow table, a propagation tray to place on the windowsill or a flat to showcase plants during a farmers market, we have the right trays in stock.
You also get the best deal on planting trays and seed starters. Greenhouse Megastore will match any online competitor's advertised price and give volume discounts on many items as part of our Price Match Policy. Contact our team today to discuss your planting goals and how our selection of Greenhouse Megastore trays can help you meet those goals.
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