Row Seed Flats source/opinions?

huntoften · January 3, 2011

I'm going to change my starting method this year and use the row seed flats instead of the 4 packs I've been using. I've used Craig's dense seed method for a few years now and just can't think of a better way to start a lot of plants than this.

I see that Johnny's has a "staggered" 20 row seed flat this year that's different that the one I saw last year.

http://www.johnnyseeds.com/p-8105-20...f-5-flats.aspx

Has anyone used these before? If so, are they fairly sturdy to use for a few years? Are there other places out there that have something comparable?

Any other recommendations? I plan on starting 2K-3K plants around 40-50 different varieties of tomatoes, 15 types of peppers, several types of basil and eggplant as well. Just looking for an efficient way to start them. Thanks for any advice.

RinTinTin · January 3, 2011

That's a nice looking flat. I may order some. They do state "reusable", so I'm hoping they are not too flimsy.

Wi-sunflower · January 4, 2011

Yes they should be re-usable. I have a case of the full row type and have used them several times.

But frankly I don't use them any more and think they suck for growing a lot of different varieties. Why -- because the different varieties always grow at different rates and need to be transplanted at various times. Then you're stuck with that flat with some empty rows. Not to mention it's hard to get rows that are in the middle out before the others.

Now I just mass plant in an 18 or 24. Then you can take each pot out as you need to work with it. If for some reason you have to delay the transplanting, you can always take every other pot out and "stagger" them to give the plants a bit more room and air.

Carol

dice · January 4, 2011

I went with one of these Plantel trays for this year, inside
an underbed shallow plastic tote for a tray (could fit two
Plantel trays in it, actually):
http://www.groworganic.com/plantel-tray-192-cell.html
http://www.target.com/Under-Bed-Stor...&node=14025921

Someone else mentioned how the standard 11"x20" trays tend
to flex when you pick them up, developing leaks, and I found
that to be true. By the second year of using them, at least one
of them always leaks, so I have to put them inside a web flat to
use them without that happening. Then I need inserts, too, for
the seedlings.

I decided to do this instead. The Plantel tray is thick and sturdy.
I expect it to last forever, more or less. They don't need media
inserts, any seed-starting mix will do. (I am using coir this year,
so that the little 1"x1"x2.5" cells in the Plantel tray do not dry
out inconveniently fast and so that newspaper pots wicking water
away from the media in potted up seedlings is less of an issue.)

korney19 · February 23, 2011

sorry I'm late!

huntoften, I use those trays for starting my peppers, 20 varieties each year. I've been using the same tray for about 10 years now. I just ran across them after looking to buy more of them for many years. Jung's also has them. They are very sturdy. The uneven lengths strengthens the tray in the middle.

Stay away from the tray that has 20 rows running across the width dimension--they are flimsy like standard inserts.

Hope this helps.

tam91 · February 27, 2011

By the way, Johnny's has their photo of the staggered row type, which I ordered - but what they are actually shipping is the full row ones. They said they will be correcting the photo.

korney19 · February 28, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by tam91

By the way, Johnny's has their photo of the staggered row type, which I ordered - but what they are actually shipping is the full row ones. They said they will be correcting the photo.

When will you be getting the straight 20-row version? If they are what has been out on the market already, I would probably consider returning them. If it's the same one, they are quite thin and flimsy, you would need to have them in place before filling with mix & seeds--you couldn't pick them up without them flexing like an accordian.

Maybe try asking for a pic of it.

Neither one fit a tray really well but at least the uneven one is strong enough to not worry about moving or flexing and doesn't even need a bottom tray, except it comes in handy when watering. Or if you have big fingers.

tam91 · February 28, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by korney19

When will you be getting the straight 20-row version? If they are what has been out on the market already, I would probably consider returning them. If it's the same one, they are quite thin and flimsy, you would need to have them in place before filling with mix & seeds--you couldn't pick them up without them flexing like an accordian.

Maybe try asking for a pic of it.

Neither one fit a tray really well but at least the uneven one is strong enough to not worry about moving or flexing and doesn't even need a bottom tray, except it comes in handy when watering. Or if you have big fingers.

I already have them (straight rows). I'm no expert, but they seem ok to me - not really thin or flimsy. They will not bend side to side or end to end. I can twist them a bit, if I try. I intend to put them inside a tray anyway, for watering.

huntoften · February 28, 2011

They sent me the 20 row, straight ones...they are pretty tough...they bow in the middle a bit in the trays, but if you tuck the sides in, they do ok. I'll likely use these for a few seasons until something better comes along.

korney19 · February 28, 2011

Do they like like these that Pinetree sells?

https://www.superseeds.com/details.php?id=H117E

If so, then the old style I would say is rigid and the new style flexible. I can literally lift a full "sheet/tray" with one hand, with a full load of moist to wet promix & seeds included.

The problem with the new style is they aren't recommended for use with seedling/heat mats and the dimensions of the opening can change based on how full you fill them (the openings' walls flex) and how much the soilmix dries out (often get gaps between walls and media.)

Sorry, I must just take things too seriously.

tam91 · March 1, 2011

Yes, they look similar.

I would think the problem with drying out on a heating mat would occur with anything with narrow rows, wouldn't it?

These have a rim, they "perch" on top of a tray. I haven't filled them yet, so don't know what they'll do once they're full.

tam91 · March 2, 2011

OK, now that they are filled, they seem fine. I can carry one with one hand, if I grab it on the long side.

What is a bit flimsy, however, is the solid tray I'm setting them in. The weight of the seed row tray, which rests on the top of the regular tray, causes the bottom tray to bow out a bit in the middle. Still works though.

January 3, 2011	#1
huntoften Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Kansas CIty Posts: 560	Row Seed Flats source/opinions? I'm going to change my starting method this year and use the row seed flats instead of the 4 packs I've been using. I've used Craig's dense seed method for a few years now and just can't think of a better way to start a lot of plants than this. I see that Johnny's has a "staggered" 20 row seed flat this year that's different that the one I saw last year. http://www.johnnyseeds.com/p-8105-20...f-5-flats.aspx Has anyone used these before? If so, are they fairly sturdy to use for a few years? Are there other places out there that have something comparable? Any other recommendations? I plan on starting 2K-3K plants around 40-50 different varieties of tomatoes, 15 types of peppers, several types of basil and eggplant as well. Just looking for an efficient way to start them. Thanks for any advice. __________________ Kansas City, Missouri Zone 5b/6a

January 4, 2011	#4
dice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PNW Posts: 4,743	I went with one of these Plantel trays for this year, inside an underbed shallow plastic tote for a tray (could fit two Plantel trays in it, actually): http://www.groworganic.com/plantel-tray-192-cell.html http://www.target.com/Under-Bed-Stor...&node=14025921 Someone else mentioned how the standard 11"x20" trays tend to flex when you pick them up, developing leaks, and I found that to be true. By the second year of using them, at least one of them always leaks, so I have to put them inside a web flat to use them without that happening. Then I need inserts, too, for the seedlings. I decided to do this instead. The Plantel tray is thick and sturdy. I expect it to last forever, more or less. They don't need media inserts, any seed-starting mix will do. (I am using coir this year, so that the little 1"x1"x2.5" cells in the Plantel tray do not dry out inconveniently fast and so that newspaper pots wicking water away from the media in potted up seedlings is less of an issue.) __________________ -- alias

February 28, 2011	#9
huntoften Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Kansas CIty Posts: 560	They sent me the 20 row, straight ones...they are pretty tough...they bow in the middle a bit in the trays, but if you tuck the sides in, they do ok. I'll likely use these for a few seasons until something better comes along. __________________ Kansas City, Missouri Zone 5b/6a

January 3, 2011	#2
RinTinTin Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Seattle Posts: 581	That's a nice looking flat. I may order some. They do state "reusable", so I'm hoping they are not too flimsy.

January 4, 2011	#3
Wi-sunflower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,591	Yes they should be re-usable. I have a case of the full row type and have used them several times. But frankly I don't use them any more and think they suck for growing a lot of different varieties. Why -- because the different varieties always grow at different rates and need to be transplanted at various times. Then you're stuck with that flat with some empty rows. Not to mention it's hard to get rows that are in the middle out before the others. Now I just mass plant in an 18 or 24. Then you can take each pot out as you need to work with it. If for some reason you have to delay the transplanting, you can always take every other pot out and "stagger" them to give the plants a bit more room and air. Carol

February 23, 2011	#5
korney19 Buffalo-Niagara Tomato TasteFest™ Co-Founder Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: The Niagara Frontier Posts: 942	sorry I'm late! huntoften, I use those trays for starting my peppers, 20 varieties each year. I've been using the same tray for about 10 years now. I just ran across them after looking to buy more of them for many years. Jung's also has them. They are very sturdy. The uneven lengths strengthens the tray in the middle. Stay away from the tray that has 20 rows running across the width dimension--they are flimsy like standard inserts. Hope this helps.

February 27, 2011	#6
tam91 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Crystal Lake IL Posts: 2,484	By the way, Johnny's has their photo of the staggered row type, which I ordered - but what they are actually shipping is the full row ones. They said they will be correcting the photo.

March 1, 2011	#11
tam91 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Crystal Lake IL Posts: 2,484	Yes, they look similar. I would think the problem with drying out on a heating mat would occur with anything with narrow rows, wouldn't it? These have a rim, they "perch" on top of a tray. I haven't filled them yet, so don't know what they'll do once they're full.

March 2, 2011	#12
tam91 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Crystal Lake IL Posts: 2,484	OK, now that they are filled, they seem fine. I can carry one with one hand, if I grab it on the long side. What is a bit flimsy, however, is the solid tray I'm setting them in. The weight of the seed row tray, which rests on the top of the regular tray, causes the bottom tray to bow out a bit in the middle. Still works though.