Find out about the common types of seed-starting equipment.
There is so much seed-starting equipment on the market today that it can be difficult for newcomers to sort it all out. The choices vary by style, price, and cost, and it is important to match the seeds’ requirements with the equipment.
Things to Start Seeds In
Here are some of the most common types of equipment used to start seeds:
- Seed trays: These generic seed trays, usually made from plastic, are available at almost every nursery and garden shop. The quality and size vary tremendously. Look for ones that allow for more root growth (signified by a larger hole for each seedling), as they will give seedlings the best start. There are some fancier ones available, most often ones that are termed “self-watering.” The fancier ones are typically more expensive, so it is up to the gardener to decide whether they are worth the extra cost.
- Rootrainers: Traditionally used in commercial nurseries, these plastic trays have become increasingly popular with home gardeners in recent years. They are similar to seed trays, but differ in a few significant ways. The holes are longer and wider than most other seed trays, giving the seedling roots more space. They typically flip open at the side so that you can check on root growth at any time. They provide more air space at the bottom of the tray, which gives the roots more air, something that many people consider beneficial. Because they are more elaborate than regular seed trays, they are typically more expensive.
- Pellets: Usually made from peat moss or the more sustainable alternative coir, which is made from coconut shell fibers, these pellets are generally covered with a fine mesh that holds them together. Putting them in warm water makes them expand. Once they have expanded, you drop the seed into the middle of the pellet. When it has grown to the size where it can be planted in the garden or a container, you can simply plant the pellet with the seedling.
- Degradable pots: Usually made from peat moss or more sustainable alternatives like coir and aged cow manure, these are small to medium sized pots that you fill with a seed-starting mix and then plant your seed(s) into. Like pellets, they can simply be planted whole in the ground or container when the seedling has matured. These and pellets are often used for seedlings that are less happy with transplanting than most, such as sunflowers, garden peas, sweet peas, and nasturtiums.
- Homemade seed starters: Gardeners have long utilized homemade seed trays, reusing materials such as toilet paper tubes, egg cartons, shoeboxes, and newspaper pages to craft homemade pots and seed trays. Just make sure that the seedling’s roots are getting enough space and air.
Related Products
Here are some of the most common additional seed-starting products:
- Sterile seed-starting mix: This is the most commonly sold medium for starting seeds. It is usually soilless and made with a mix of various materials; examples include vermiculite, peat moss, and compost. (The types of materials, and their ratios, vary widely.) Many gardeners believe that starting with a soilless mix is important for lessening the risks to seedlings, but other gardeners use a mix with soil.
- Heat or heating mats: Heating mats are very common on the shelves at nurseries and garden shops, though not many people utilize them. Heating mats are used for seeds that prefer warmer soil than what the ambient indoor temperature of an average home can provide. They are most commonly used for seedlings of warm-season crops such as tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant. They are generally fairly expensive, but usually can be reused for several years.
- Watering or capillary mats: These allow for watering from below. The mat is placed under the trays or pots, with a piece of it stuck into a constant supply of water (typically a filled sink, bucket, or similar). They are most often used for seedlings and for plants that dislike water splashed on their leaves. Not as common as heating mats, these are utilized more in commercial nurseries than in home gardens, and may need to be purchased from a mail-order company. They can be used to water your houseplants while you are on vacation in addition to being used for your seedlings.
- Seedling sprayers: These are gentler than watering cans, allowing for seedlings to have a less dramatic watering. Instead of using a watering can, you gently squeeze the sprayer and a light mist comes out. Like watering mats, they may need to be ordered from a mail-order company.
- Seed handlers and sowers: There are a wide variety of commercially available products for handling and sowing seeds. They range from the simplest devices, such as “seed spoons” to pick up, move, and sow tiny seeds, to complex gadgets that are also used by commercial nurseries and farmers.
The copyright of the article Guide to Basic Seed-Starting Equipment in Gardening Products is owned by Elizabeth Loveland. Permission to republish Guide to Basic Seed-Starting Equipment in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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