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+--- Thread: Seed Trays (/showthread.php?tid=1694)
RE: Seed Trays - Scarlet - 16-09-2022
I use nursery ones already and have to use a pencil...
Link here https://containerwise.co.uk/product/cmh126-propagation-tray-126-cells-e/
The ones I use at the moment are much smaller modules -[attachment=5370]
Snapdragons need really small modules
[attachment=5371]
... they take ages to germinate but also grow very slowly through the winter so having bigger modules doesn't work for me... and it really saves space.
I think veg is a little different?? They grow much quicker than flowers, so need potting up quickly.
RE: Seed Trays - Proserpina - 16-09-2022
(16-09-2022, 07:13 AM)Small chilli Wrote: Only thing with your very posh none flimsy ones. Because you don’t have a lot of flex in them you will at times need to have a blunt stick/pencil/pen whatever that fits in the drainage hole to push the plugs out.One of the nice things about the Charles Dowding ones is that they have a drainage hole that's big enough for a finger so you don't need anything extra to pop seedlings out.
RE: Seed Trays - Scarlet - 16-09-2022
(16-09-2022, 09:28 AM)Proserpina Wrote:They did do a tray with dowels on it to match the holes - so you could pop them all out at once - that was super expensive.(16-09-2022, 07:13 AM)Small chilli Wrote: Only thing with your very posh none flimsy ones. Because you don’t have a lot of flex in them you will at times need to have a blunt stick/pencil/pen whatever that fits in the drainage hole to push the plugs out.One of the nice things about the Charles Dowding ones is that they have a drainage hole that's big enough for a finger so you don't need anything extra to pop seedlings out.
I do find my fingers get sore from poking my fingers in the modules, especially when they are a bit split and chipped.
RE: Seed Trays - toomanytommytoes - 16-09-2022
I like the look of the Charles Dowding trays but the cells are too small for my liking, makes them harder to keep watered and if the plants get too big the leaves are a pain to untangle. Also I like planting in multiples of 4 (due to square foot gardening) so odd numbered trays would annoy me a bit. Most of the time I use 24 cell trays and they are ideal for many things, but I also like 12s and sometimes 9s. If they made sturdy trays in these sizes I would snap them up. My local gardening centre sells second hand trays for very cheap, though they are usually 4s or 6s which we already have a lot of. I use trays even if they're a bit broken (free air pruning, right?
), they get patched up with duct tape and only go in the bin when they've well and truly had it.
RE: Seed Trays - Scarlet - 16-09-2022
[attachment=5372][attachment=5373]
These are really deep - nearly 10cm..
[attachment=5374][attachment=5375]
These are approx 5cm deep by 4cm. really good size for starting hardy annuals eithput using tons of compost.
[attachment=5376][attachment=5377]
Thrse are the smallest module size I got - perfect for snaps, poppies, clary sage, Bupleurum etc. This is the same size as my most used chesp plastic module trays. 5cm deep by 3cm square.
[attachment=5378][attachment=5379]
These are now going to pot heaven.
I didnt actually get the Charles dowding ones - they were too shallow for me. I got the deep trays.
I'm not using gaffa tape anymore to do repairs! I got lots of cuts from broken plastic... so Im binning any that have started to deteriorate.
There are several options on there... I use capillary matting in drip trays which help to keep everything moist.
I also grow in large numbers - Even before starting the cut flower plot I would rarely sow only a dozen seeds.
I planted out over 100 snapdragons last year. They stay in the green house for a long time so space is a consideration too. I've single sown a full tray of poppies yesterday, lots of autumn sown hardy annuals etc go in now. They dont need huge modules. Odds/eveb trays are not an issue for me -I plant extras for losses and expect gaps.
I hope some of the photos are useful for some - it is difficult to show size on a photo.
RE: Seed Trays - Proserpina - 16-09-2022
Ah yes, those are the ones I wish I had gone for rather than the Charles Dowding ones! I did get some other ones at the same time, and they have been much nicer to use.
RE: Seed Trays - Farendwoman - 16-09-2022
(16-09-2022, 11:52 AM)toomanytommytoes Wrote: I like the look of the Charles Dowding trays but the cells are too small for my liking, makes them harder to keep watered and if the plants get too big the leaves are a pain to untangle. Also I like planting in multiples of 4 (due to square foot gardening) so odd numbered trays would annoy me a bit. Most of the time I use 24 cell trays and they are ideal for many things, but I also like 12s and sometimes 9s. If they made sturdy trays in these sizes I would snap them up. My local gardening centre sells second hand trays for very cheap, though they are usually 4s or 6s which we already have a lot of. I use trays even if they're a bit broken (free air pruning, right?Likewise TMTT - I keep them going for ever with insulating tape. Once one of the modules has definitely had it, I carefully cut that one out using sharp secateurs.
It makes it even more of a jigsaw to fit the odd shapes on the greenhouse bench though, Scarlet!
RE: Seed Trays - Veggie - 16-09-2022
(16-09-2022, 06:30 PM)Farendwoman Wrote:When I have two identical but damaged modules I sit one inside the other, with the broken ones sat inside a good one.(16-09-2022, 11:52 AM)toomanytommytoes Wrote: I like the look of the Charles Dowding trays but the cells are too small for my liking, makes them harder to keep watered and if the plants get too big the leaves are a pain to untangle. Also I like planting in multiples of 4 (due to square foot gardening) so odd numbered trays would annoy me a bit. Most of the time I use 24 cell trays and they are ideal for many things, but I also like 12s and sometimes 9s. If they made sturdy trays in these sizes I would snap them up. My local gardening centre sells second hand trays for very cheap, though they are usually 4s or 6s which we already have a lot of. I use trays even if they're a bit broken (free air pruning, right?Likewise TMTT - I keep them going for ever with insulating tape. Once one of the modules has definitely had it, I carefully cut that one out using sharp secateurs.
It makes it even more of a jigsaw to fit the odd shapes on the greenhouse bench though, Scarlet!
RE: Seed Trays - Scarlet - 16-09-2022
(16-09-2022, 06:30 PM)Farendwoman Wrote:That would seriously drive me nuts(16-09-2022, 11:52 AM)toomanytommytoes Wrote: I like the look of the Charles Dowding trays but the cells are too small for my liking, makes them harder to keep watered and if the plants get too big the leaves are a pain to untangle. Also I like planting in multiples of 4 (due to square foot gardening) so odd numbered trays would annoy me a bit. Most of the time I use 24 cell trays and they are ideal for many things, but I also like 12s and sometimes 9s. If they made sturdy trays in these sizes I would snap them up. My local gardening centre sells second hand trays for very cheap, though they are usually 4s or 6s which we already have a lot of. I use trays even if they're a bit broken (free air pruning, right?Likewise TMTT - I keep them going for ever with insulating tape. Once one of the modules has definitely had it, I carefully cut that one out using sharp secateurs.
It makes it even more of a jigsaw to fit the odd shapes on the greenhouse bench though, Scarlet!
I was so short of space last winter... tons of small modules everywhere/ Im hoping these large trays, not only save space/stop the jigsaw thing/ but also easier to move stuff around.My local nursery always give away his unwanted pots - the Botanical Nursery - specialises in foxgloves. I actually had a load of air pots from him last week that he uses for peonies...why I bunged them i the car I really dont know!
RE: Seed Trays - Farendwoman - 16-09-2022
Never heard of airpots before - had to look it up.
They look worth a try, especially if you’re getting them for free.