What cell trays works best for starts?

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TomF
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I hate the one team use flimsy plastic the get at ether garden store for virgin use or when buying seedlings. I have saved a lot but they are already half compromised if they had transplants in them. I did get the soil blocks kit from Lee valley as I really like the idea that they air prune. With the tiny blocks you need to ensure they stay watered but they can dry down before you have to move them to the next size up. And they do not suffer transplant shock.
https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/ga ... item=XK906

The Neversink Windstrips are a very sturdy design that air prune at the corners reducing a lot of potential root binding but they are hard to find in Canada. They are available from Dubois Agrinovation but $$$ and I thought I could try one or two for my home garden. They look like a one time investment that will last for a long time. Buy good shit once! Anyone want to go in on a 10 pack? https://duboisag.com/ca_en//winstrip-tr ... ink-2.html

The inspiration for these was from here.
Windstrips- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7cNgBFIqL0
The complete guide to Soil Blocks- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQueN2ZPitY&t=1232s
And the debate- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxrdtTp-jNs
Or nothing- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGijPHutr70
And of course there is always the zone 8 guru, Charles Dowding- Will Dan beat him out? -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmyD2iyB-FU
angelinab
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I have a similar question! Thanks for all these references Tom (and for your compost thoughts on that other thread. I got busy with work and never got around to responding).

I ended up buying some recycled paper trays that will only be good for one use I suspect. Wanted to avoid plastic and peat but am having second thoughts about just getting plastic trays I can reuse.

I've never grown veggies from seed before (aside from sticking old wrinkly tomatoes in pots and letting them do their thing) so I'm a bit overwhelmed. Wondering if anyone's got advice on a growing medium? I was looking at coco coir but from the reading I've done, I'm not clear if I'd also need to use something with nutrients in it. I read that the seeds have everything they need to get started inside of them, but I'm confused about whether or not they need to go into a bigger pot with good soil before getting transplanted outside.

Any and all advice on this process will be greatly appreciated!
ElysseG
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I too bought the flimsy plastic pot and regret that as the are a hassle to clean after the season is over. I was just doing some reading on soil blockers and would love to hear others thoughts who have used them. I am leaning towards the soil blocking but would love some more feedback first.
angelinab
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Just saw Andrew's post on this in the Seed thread so never mind!
angelinab wrote: Thu 27-Jan-2022, 10:31 Wondering if anyone's got advice on a growing medium? I was looking at coco coir but from the reading I've done, I'm not clear if I'd also need to use something with nutrients in it. I read that the seeds have everything they need to get started inside of them, but I'm confused about whether or not they need to go into a bigger pot with good soil before getting transplanted outside.
Danoost
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We've used a 200 tray for our market garden transplants. It's a small cell but space conservation is everything for us. Now, we're using an open tray (no cells). It works great. We use a vacuum seeder that spreads seeds evenly with 200 seeds per tray. I'd say we get around five seasons out of the trays. At transplant time we tear the plants apart from each other with minimal damage and shock.

I like the open tray system because roots are free to spread, water get's evenly distributed, they're easier to sperate when reusing.

As a home grower, see what works best for you. Some people use fiber egg cartons. Some use an open tray of some sort with adequate drain holes. Or, use a 72 cell tray, or something in that neighborhood.

You could also start your seedlings in a nursery bed in your garden. This would be a small raised bed in your garden where you start all your seedlings by planting them close together and then transplanting them when they need more space. In early spring, when the weather is cool, they'll probably need protection and maybe some additional heat. A hotbed could be used here. We'll demonstrate this in the course videos.

There is no need to wash or sterilize the trays at the end of the season.
jack oostenbrink
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angelinab wrote: Thu 27-Jan-2022, 10:31 I have a similar question! Thanks for all these references Tom (and for your compost thoughts on that other thread. I got busy with work and never got around to responding).

I ended up buying some recycled paper trays that will only be good for one use I suspect. Wanted to avoid plastic and peat but am having second thoughts about just getting plastic trays I can reuse.
If you don't mind using an open cell concept where the roots have free reign in the tray consider up cycling some of the compostable containers that you get through out the year. (egg cartons, top and bottom, or soft fruit fiber containers) Ive also up cycled clear plastic dome shaped containers that have a lid and they work great for starting seeds since they keep the humidity of the cotainer higher.
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Andrew
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Ideally you want something that will allow the roots to grow through like soil blocks or cardoard / paper. Plastic is fine, but be ON it, you don't want them becoming root bound they will suffer shock when transplanted and be slow to respond.

Whatever you do, always transplant with fresh vermicompost and include vermicompost in your soil blend.
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