Self watering seed tray

[Arturro]

Have any of you ever try to start seeds and grow seedlings in self watering trays? Something like this: https://www.thegardenshop.ie/self-watering-seed-tray/
The tray does not float onto water or sits in the water. Its put onto constantly wet mat, and supposedly keeps a soil moist.

 

[Knucklehead]

I haven’t used one of those. I use the regular 1020 trays and inserts as shown here:

1020 Trays Heavy Duty

Propagate seeds, transplant seedlings and much more using these versatile 1020 flats. Order gardening trays with or without drainage holes at the best prices.

www.greenhousemegastore.com

Traditional Inserts

Traditional Series inserts for use with 1020 Trays or 1020 Daisy Trays. Available in a variety of configurations to meet different handling, labeling, and space requirements. Inserts are engineered for easy de-nesting. BPA Free. 10.42" x 20.85" inserts. Each insert fits one 1020 Tray...

www.greenhousemegastore.com

My feeling is that the key to either system is to use the proper seedling soil mix that will wick up the proper amount of moisture. I use Miracle Grow Seed Starter Potting Mix made especially for starting seed. I usually have to order it online due to my rural location. My germination rate has been excellent with the 1020 trays and my seedlings stay in the trays all the way up to time to transplant in the tobacco patch. I don’t move the seedlings into larger pots, I just thin out the overseeded seedlings until I have one per cell and keep them watered and fertilized until time to move them outside for hardening off. I stop water a week or two before transplant and slowly start introducing the seedlings to full sun a little bit at a time each day until they can withstand full sun all day to prevent sunburn. Then I water in the seedlings as I transplant into the garden.

 

[Arturro]

I haven’t used one of those. I use the regular 1020 trays and inserts as shown here:

1020 Trays Heavy Duty

Propagate seeds, transplant seedlings and much more using these versatile 1020 flats. Order gardening trays with or without drainage holes at the best prices.

www.greenhousemegastore.com

Traditional Inserts

Traditional Series inserts for use with 1020 Trays or 1020 Daisy Trays. Available in a variety of configurations to meet different handling, labeling, and space requirements. Inserts are engineered for easy de-nesting. BPA Free. 10.42" x 20.85" inserts. Each insert fits one 1020 Tray...

www.greenhousemegastore.com

My feeling is that the key to either system is to use the proper seedling soil mix that will wick up the proper amount of moisture. I use Miracle Grow Seed Starter Potting Mix made especially for starting seed. I usually have to order it online due to my rural location. My germination rate has been excellent with the 1020 trays and my seedlings stay in the trays all the way up to time to transplant in the tobacco patch. I don’t move the seedlings into larger pots, I just thin out the overseeded seedlings until I have one per cell and keep them watered and fertilized until time to move them outside for hardening off. I stop water a week or two before transplant and slowly start introducing the seedlings to full sun a little bit at a time each day until they can withstand full sun all day to prevent sunburn. Then I water in the seedlings as I transplant into the garden.

So, with 1020 tray do you keep the insert in water all the time or water when needed than drain?

 

[Knucklehead]

So, with 1020 tray do you keep the insert in water all the time or water when needed than drain?

I keep water in them, the seedling soil mix just wicks the needed water. The soil stays damp and spongy but I don’t have drowning problems with the seedlings and the seed don’t mold. The inserts are perforated so they can be divided into cells of either four or six, depending on which one you buy. I tear off one of the cell packs of four or six at the perforations so I can pull away one of the cell packs and pour water straight into the tray. If you water the soil from the top, the soil can become compacted and cause what is called spiral root and/or the seedlings don’t perform as well.
Spiral root


Avoid fertilizers that contain urea. Urea will usually kill seedlings. Stronger plants in the patch can withstand urea but not the seedlings. I use this urea free orchid fertilizer in 20-10-20. A Kentucky commercial tobacco grower uses 20-10-20 in his greenhouse so I chose those numbers also just a different brand. Here’s what I use:

Amazon.com

Thats a good price right now for the three pounds at $14. I ordered 1.5 lbs. last week for $18. @#$&*@$ luck lol.

 

[Knucklehead]

If you google some float trays in greenhouses the styrofoam trays ride on top of a pool of water. The soil is the key, the proper seedling mix just wicks up what it needs. I tried a homemade float system in my basement but it makes an unholy mess in a home. The 1020 trays work just as well for me, it’s just a matter of adding water about every three days or less depending on how fast they are growing.

 

[Arturro]

Thank you Knucklehead.

 

[Knucklehead]

Thank you Knucklehead.

Anytime.