Seed Starting Buying Guide

I've been gardening and writing about gardening for more than 20 years, yet I find I'm always learning new things about the plants, insects and other critters that call my backyard home. That's the great thing about gardening &#; it's never boring! I've worked as a landscaper, on an organic farm, as a research technician in a plant pathology lab and ran a small cut-flower business, all of which inform my garden writing. Someone once asked me when I'll be finished with my gardens, to which I replied, "Never!" For me, gardening is a process, not a goal.

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Whether you're new to starting seeds or looking for fresh ways to grow your healthiest plants, we have supplies and systems that ensure success. With so many choices, how do you decide which is right for you? We're here to help.

Factors to Consider

Although you can start seeds in just about any container as long as it has holes for drainage, as with any task you're more likely to have better success using equipment designed specially for that purpose. And if you're new to seed-starting or introducing a friend to growing from seed, why not start with the systems that ensure success? Here are some considerations to help you choose.

• Reusable pots and trays are made from durable materials that can be washed, sanitized, and reused year after year.
• Plantable pots are made from biodegradable materials so the seedlings can be set in the garden pot and all, eliminating root disturbance. Cleanup is easy, and there are no bulky pots to store.
• DIY pots includes those made from recycled materials, such as newspapers, as well as pot-free soil blocks.
• Deep-root pots encourage more extensive and robust root systems that help plants make an easy transition to the garden.
• Self-watering systems deliver water to seedlings as they need it, reducing the risk of over- or under-watering.
• High volume systems allow you to grow a garden's worth of seedlings in a compact space.

Gardener's Best® XL Seed Starting Kit: Deep-Cell Kit Grows Extra-Large Seedlings

This innovative self-watering seed starting system is 30% deeper than our Deep Root, growing full-size, garden-ready seedlings that are hardier and healthier. Optional add-ons, sold separately, include: additional Seed Starting Trays and Humidity Domes for fast germination.

• Self-watering system extends time between waterings
• Durable, reusable & dishwasher-safe
• Large pop-out hole in each cell makes transplanting easier

• Perfect for:

  peppers, zinnias, and other seedlings that would benefit from a BIG starting space; no need to transplant up in a larger pot!

 

Gardener&#;s Best® ECO XL Seed Starting Kit: Deep-Cell Kit Made with 25% Less Plastic

All the benefits of our original XL Seed Starting Kit, but made with hemp fiber and 25% less plastic! Grow extra-large seedlings with an extra-green self-watering seed starting system. Additional Seed Starting Trays and Humidity Domes for fast germination, sold separately.

• Made with hemp fiber and 25% less plastic &#; each kit keeps nearly 3 pounds of CO2 out of the atmosphere!
• Self-watering system extends time between waterings
• Durable, reusable & dishwasher-safe
• Large pop-out hole in each cell makes transplanting easier

• Perfect for:

  peppers, zinnias, and other seedlings that would benefit from a BIG starting space; no need to transplant up in a larger pot!

 

This heavy-duty, recycled-plastic seed starter includes an efficient and effective self-watering system that solves the challenges of over- or under-watering. Simply fill the reservoir and plants get the water they need, when they need it.

• Capilary mat delivers water from reservoir to soil
• Dishwasher-safe for easy sterilization between uses
• Clear cover holds in heat and moisture to maximize seed germination

• Perfect for:

  the brand new gardener. The included humidity dome helps seeds germinate and a bottom-up watering design will support veggies, herbs, and flowers

 

Paper Pots Seed Starter Set: Earth-Friendly Paper Cells

Expandable paper honeycomb creates a whopping 50 cells. When you're ready to transplant into the garden, pots tear apart so you can plant them, paper liner and all.

• Plantable pots are biodegradable and minimize transplant shock
• Ideal for high-volume growing
• Reusable perforated tray; paper cell refills available

• Perfect for:

  cucumbers, sunflowers, and other seedlings that don&#;t like being handled due to transplant shock

 

Paper Pot Maker: Make an Endless Supply of Plantable Pots

The ultimate in upcycling! In seconds you can transform strips of newspaper into seed-starting pots, ready to nestle into a waterproof tray and fill with soil mix. Easy, fun, and economical for high-volume growing.

• Biodegradable pots minimize transplant shock
• Make as few or as many as you need
• Eliminates the clutter and storage hassles of plastic pots

• Perfect for:

  radishes and other quick-growing seeds that don't need to spend weeks in a seedling-sized pot

 

Biodegradable Pots and Tray: Plantable Pots Minimize Transplant Shock

These fully biodegradable pots ease transplanting woes and work, allowing you to plant directly into the garden &#; pot and all. The wood fibers immediately begin to biodegrade, ensuring adequate moisture and aeration as well as restriction-free root growth.

• Plantable pots transplant directly into the soil
• Heavy-duty plastic tray is reusable year after year
• Suitable for organic gardening! No binders or glue in the pots.
• Additional biodegradable seed trays sold separately

• Perfect for:

  cucumbers, nasturtium, squash, and other seedlings that grow quickly and do not appreciate having their roots disturbed

 

Cowpots: Plastic-Free Pots with Fertilizer Built In

An ingenious farmer makes these transplanting pots from odor-free, 100% composted cow manure. As your seedlings grow, the pots gradually degrade, releasing organic nutrients. Plant pot and all in the garden for healthy root growth without transplant shock.

• Biodegradable pots transplant directly into garden
• Roots grow through and take natural fertilizer with them
• Eliminates transplant shock

• Perfect for:

  heavy feeders&#; like tomatoes, squash, and broccoli will appreciate the slow release of nutrients as this manure-based pot degrades.

 

Soil Blocker: Make Perfectly Sized "Pots" with No Waste

Never run out of starter pots again! This clever device presses moistened soil into compact blocks with a small divot in the top, ready for dropping in a seed. Roots grow freely, get oxygenated, and grow more robustly as a result.

• Make blocks as you need them &#; no need to store plastic pots
• An easy, no-waste, DIY solution that's perfect for high-volume growing
• Minimizes transplant shock.

• Perfect for:

  peppers, tomatoes, and other seeds that would benefit from a BIG starting space; no need to plant up in a larger pot!

 

Galvanized Seed Starter: Stylish Design and Smart Features

An attractive seed starter worthy of display on a tabletop or under lights. The leakproof tray holds 24 individual, tapered cells, so you can bring the ready-to-transplant seedlings to the garden without disturbing the other plants.

• Longlasting and resuable, year after year
• Chic galvanized metal complements home decor
• Seedlings remove easily with little root disturbance

• Perfect for:

  starting a variety of seed types; separate pots make it easy to transplant individual plants one at a time 

   

 

Deep Root Seed Starter: Grow Bigger, Healthier Plants

This self-watering system features deep growing cells that result in more root mass &#; the secret to vigorous seedlings that thrive when transplanted. The smart design is inspired by the systems used in European horticulture laboratories.

• Heavy-duty system can be reused for many years
• Self-watering system ensures proper hydration

• Perfect for:

  peppers, tomatoes, zinnias, and other seeds that would benefit from a BIG starting space with plenty of root space

 

Pop-Out Pots: Seedlings Grow 40% Larger with No Transplant Shock

Pop-Out Pots are the secret to seedlings that are primed for robust growth in the garden. Transplant young seedlings from seed starting trays into these self-watering pots. When it&#;s time to set plants in the garden, simply lift the fabric strips to &#;pop out&#; plants without disturbing roots.

• Self-watering system ensures perfect hydration
• Easy-lift line minimizes root disturbance
• Compact design fits on a windowsill

• Perfect for:

  cucumbers, squash, sunflowers, and other seedlings that don&#;t like being handled due to transplant shock

 

The company is the world’s best Leak-Proof Seedling Trays supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

Self-Watering Galvanized Seed Starting Tray: Galvanized Individual-Cell Seed Tray Has Self-Watering Convenience

We designed this system for season after season of successful seed-starting. The leak proof tray holds 24 individual cells, so you can bring the ready-to-transplant seedlings to the garden without disturbing seedlings that aren't quite big enough.

• Enjoy seed-starting success year after year
• Tapered pots let you easily remove seedlings
• Wire grid with moisture-retaining mat keeps seedlings hydrated

• Perfect for:

  starting a variety of seed types; separate pots make it easy to transplant individual plants one at a time

 

Sili Seedlings Seedling Tray, 6-Cell: Eco-Friendly, Silicone Seed-Starting System is Reusable

These sustainable silicone seed-starting trays are durable, reusable, and easy on tender young roots. Because they're so flexible, you can pop seedlings out with ease &#; no tugging or tearing required.

• Pop seedlings out quickly and easily
• BPA-free, food-grade silicone
• Dishwasher safe

• Perfect for:

  starting seeds with kids (crush-proof!) or gardening in colder climates (frost-proof!)

 

Sili Seedlings Seedling Tray, 10-Cell: Silicone Seed-Starting Trays Are Dishwasher Safe

These silicone trays make seed-starting so much more fun! Like other systems they have base drainage so that soil doesn't stay soggy and rot your seeds. Unlike plastic trays, they won't snap, crack, or break from use. Plus, they're flexible and twistable &#; so when seedlings are big enough to go out to the garden, it's super easy to pop them out. Use 5 to a base tray and you have 50 plants in a 10" x 20" space!

• Durable and flexible
• Reduces risk of transplant shock
• 5 trays fit perfectly in our Heavy Duty planting tray

• Perfect for:

  starting A LOT of seeds with kids (crush-proof!) or gardening in colder climates (frost-proof!)

 

Coco Coir Seed Starting Discs and Tray: No-Mess Seed-Starting System with 50 Plantable Coir Discs

You'll love this reusable, no-mess seed-starting system. Just hydrate the 50 individual coir discs in their cells, add your seeds, and wait for the little shoots to appear! Water as needed until they're ready to transplant into the garden, coir and all! Replacement coir discs available separately.

• No soil to mix or scoop
• Start a lot of seeds in a small space

• Perfect for:

  s

  tarting a whole garden; 50 pre-fi

  lled cells make it easy to start many, many seeds at once

   

Whether you&#;re a seed starting beginner or a long-time grower experiencing new challenges, you&#;re not alone! We&#;ve collected some of the most common questions we get asked about seed starting with helpful answers and troubleshooting advice.

Finding the right seed starting system is only half the battle! Explore our deep dive on seed-starting to learn the ins and outs of growing flowers and veggies from seed, so you can graduate from novice sower to master grower!

Many gardeners choose to start their seeds in punnets, trays or containers. This is essential if you&#;re starting seeds indoors or in a greenhouse. But it can also be a good option if growing outdoors, as you can grow seedlings while other crops are maturing, grow them in a protected space, and you have control over where and when to plant them out. Of course, this means choosing a suitable container to host your seeds, and to give your seedlings a good start it's important to choose wisely.

Some seeds are happy to be sown in small containers, crowded together and then separated out later for transplanting. Some plants prefer to start off in larger pots with less competition, where disturbance when transplanting won't be as great. Some plants with long or delicate roots don't take kindly to being started in pots at all, such as melon, radish and most root vegetables.

For the many seeds which can benefit from a few weeks of cossetted container growing, how do you decide which pot, punnet, or tray to sow in? Here are the main points to think about when making your choice.

Thrifty and Sustainable Options 

There's not necessarily a need to buy containers, especially if you're only sowing a few seeds at a time. Many household items can be reused or recycled to make containers that are sustainable as well as thrifty.

• Empty toilet rolls can be used as biodegradable pots for seedlings with longer roots, such as climbing beans and peas.
• Newspaper can be rolled into &#;pots&#; of varying sizes that will also break down after transplanting, or you can use a paper pot maker for a more professional result.
• Eggshells can be used to start smaller plants, also providing nutrition and soil improvement when planted out.&#;
• Egg cartons make good biodegradable punnets for small, fast-germinating seeds.
• Non-biodegradable containers such as yoghurt pots or milk cartons can be used for seedlings, giving them another role in life before heading for the recycling bin. Make sure to put small holes in the bottom of containers for drainage.

While these options are inexpensive and eco-friendly, for serious seed-raising work many gardeners prefer to choose a ready-made option.

What to Consider for Bought Pots and Containers 

There are quite a few things to consider when choosing the container for each of the seeds you want to sow. As always with gardening, it's about finding the right balance for your needs, with no necessarily right or wrong answers.

Cost 

One of the great advantages of growing from seed is the savings you can make compared to buying established seedlings, but this saving can be undone if you overspend on the containers. Think about whether more expensive options will give you enough benefit to justify the cost, or whether something a little more cheap and cheerful would be equally as good.

Sustainability

At first glance, a plastic pot might not seem as sustainable as a biodegradable container, but remember that plastic can be reused many times, which lowers the overall cost and spreads out the resources used in production. To make plastic a more eco-friendly choice, be sure to buy sturdy containers that will last for several years without splitting or cracking, wash them between uses, and store them out of sunlight when not in use.

Ease of Use 

If you're sowing large numbers of seeds you want your containers to be convenient to use, and also simple to store out of season. Some types of pots can be messier to handle than others, or may require closer attention to watering and feeding.

Number and Type of Seeds 

If you're sowing many types of plants but only a few seeds of each, you'll probably want punnets or pots that make it easy to group the different species together. On the other hand, if you're sowing a large number of one or two kinds of seed, then a container that makes the best use of space would be a better choice, and will likely also be more economical.

Matching Punnet and Drip Trays

One final point to note is that most containers will also need to sit on a drip tray to collect excess water, and punnets can be easier to organise and handle if stored in the correct punnet tray. It can be a good idea to purchase punnets and corresponding trays together, for example 10 water saver punnets will fill a 10-cavity punnet tray.

Choosing the Material 

Seedling pots are available in three main material types: coir, biodegradable jiffy pots, and plastic. Each has its good and bad points.

Coir Seed Starters 

Made from recycled coconut husks held in place with a fibre mesh, coir seed starters are a biodegradable option that lets the seedling be planted out whole to reduce transplant shock. The coir is sterile to avoid pathogen problems including damping off, and are also simple to use as they require only water and no additional compost.

However, the lack of soil is also a drawback. As there are no nutrients to feed the seedlings, you'll either need to use a liquid plant food or transplant the seedlings when they're still small and vulnerable. Also, the coir can dry out quickly compared to soil in plastic punnets, so they require extra care and attention compared to traditional pots.

Almost any kind of seed can be sown in coir, but in general, smaller seeds sown near or on the surface work best, including lettuce, tomatoes and soft herbs.

Jiffy Pots or Strips 

Made from compressed wood pulp fibre, jiffy pots or strips are another biodegradable option that can be transplanted whole to avoid root damage. They're a little more versatile than coir starters, as they're available in a range of sizes from single large pots to strips with smaller compartments. What's more, you can choose which kind of compost to fill them with to provide the seeds with all the nutrients they need.

However, as a single-use option they can work out to be relatively costly, and overwatering can lead to the pots becoming soggy, making them difficult to handle. Nonetheless, they are a good choice for nearly any plant that doesn't like being transplanted, including beans, zucchini, tomatoes and more.

Plastic Seedling Trays and Punnets 

Plastic seedling trays are perhaps the most common option for home gardeners. They're reusable to offset their non-biodegradable nature, and are available in a variety of sizes and formats to suit a large range of seeds. They can be bought as single large trays for broadcasting small seeds, or trays ready-divided into sections to keep the plants' root systems apart. Watering is straightforward as the soil tends to hold moisture well, and bottom-watering is usually an option so you don't need to check moisture levels as often.

The two main drawbacks are that there's a higher risk of transplant shock when teasing the seedlings out, and also disease can build up with reuse unless the trays are thoroughly disinfected each time they&#;re used.

Plastic trays are good for starting all kinds of seeds with relatively shallow root systems, including tomatoes, herbs, zucchini chilli and capsicum.

Choosing Between the Plastic Punnet Options 

If you decide that a plastic seed tray or punnet is the best option for you, the next question is which size and shape of container to use.

• Seedling Trays: Offering a single compartment to fill with your choice of compost mix, seed trays are good for scattering numerous seeds of a single type, for later thinning out and transplanting to larger pots or the open soil.
• Multi-Cell Punnets: These divide the tray into separate compartments, keeping the root systems of each seedling separate for easier transplanting. Multi-cell punnets are available most commonly with six, ten, or 24 cells in one tray.
• Water Saver Punnets: These punnets offer a halfway house between ordinary trays and multiple cells. Each punnet takes up a row or two in a larger tray and is good for sowing four to six seeds of a single variety, with several plant types sharing a single tray for easier watering. They&#;re a good choice if you&#;re growing a few plants each of a lot of different varieties.
• Squat Punnets: These punnets are similar to water savers, but a little deeper and squarer to accommodate single plants. Squat punnets are ideal for growing tomato, cucumber, zucchini, and other plants that are best transplanted once they've reached a good size. Again, several squat punnets will fit into a single drip tray.
• Forestry or Propagation Tubes: Lastly, these pots are used to grow larger individual plants including trees and shrubs. Because they are deeper and have more room for roots, plants can be kept in the tubes for longer than in punnets. Forestry tubes are the deeper of the two types and are often used to grow trees with long tap roots such as eucalyptus.

There's plenty to think about when growing plants from seed, but it's hugely satisfying to see a mature plant develop from its earliest stages. Picking the right container to start the process will have a huge influence on your overall success, so it's important to choose carefully.
 

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