There are flat trays and inserts that are thicker and sturdier than what you have. What you have is likely the 'disposable' grade which as you noted easily tears.

It has been too many years since I ordered cases of the stuff I use to tell you where to buy them at, but if you search on terms like 'greenhouse supply' or 'nursery supply' you will likely find a number of sources. You want to look for terms like medium or heavy duty.

The thing to keep in mind about the trays/inserts is that you can extend the life of any of them by using heavy duty trays to support them. The outside is a heavy duty tray which provides support. Inside that is a propagation tray either one with holes or without depending on your preferences. Inside this are the pot trays/cells. By using this set up it's the outside heavy duty tray that takes the wear when they are lifted or tilted to drain water or what have you.

As a rule I don't reuse much of the inserts even when they do hold up. The reason is that they are a pain in the rear to properly clean. I reuse the heavy duty outer tray and the less heavy duty propagation trays, but usually not the inserts themselves.

Your preferences may vary.

You need plug flats. They are much sturdier grade, reuseable for a number or years, and ultimately a lot cheaper than buying them retail, even with shipping.

This company has them at a good price, $13 for ten trays. They have different size cells depending upon what you want to grow.

I've ordered several times from them, always had good service, no problems.

Here is a link that might be useful: Greenhouse Mega Store:

I tried using peat pots for starting seedlings a few years ago, and I managed to succeed, at least partially, but...Peat pots lose moisture continually, through the walls and bottom of the pot. Its hard to keep the soil hydrated, especially if the indoor relative humidity is on the low side. Now I use plastic pots for this purpose.

Novesel.com Large variety, good prices and sevice. I've ordered fom them many times. Never diappointed.

Hiya Neohippie,

Another option is Soil Blocking. You make a soil mix and press block maker into them. They make better seedlings because the plants will not root-bind. In plastic containers, the roots will circle around and around, looking for a way out. When you put the seedlings in the ground, they will take awhile to get going as the roots are a tight cluster. With soil blocks, they spread to the outer edges and wait. You put them into the next size block and they again spread to the outer edges and wait. Eliot Coleman is a big advocate of them and talks abotu them in hos book - "The New Organic Grower".

I've used them for the past two years and am very happy with the results. I purchased the Ladbrooke soil block makers, but many have made their own out of household bottles. As with anything, it involves a lot of trial and error. Once you get the hang of it, you'll be a convert.

Melon, did you mean Novosel?

If there is a Master Gardener group near you, they often have a "pot recycling" drop-off, and you can get six or nine cell containers. I just fill a large bucket with a 10% chlorine solution and after rinsing off any remaining dirt, dunk the cells into the bucket for about 5 minutes.
Alternately, ask friends to save the cell containers they buy seedlings in and give them to you.
Peat pots are very difficult, which is probably why you don't see seedlings for sale in peat pots at nurseries!

I would like to second the Greenhouse Mega Store. I have used them for several years and have been very satisfied with their prices and service.

Sorry about the spelling error justaguy. www.novosel.com

Sorry again justaguy. It's www. novoselenterprises.com

Most anything that will hold seed starting mix EXCEPT peat pots or peat pellets. A search for either of them will get you lots of discussions on their problems. Check out the Growing from Seed forum here too for lots of container suggestions - everything from plastic butter containers to old ice cube trays. It all depends on how may plants you will be starting.

Personally I prefer the plug flats already mentioned and Novosel is an excellant source commonly used by professional growers.

Dave

I just plant seeds in plastic cups (16 oz) You drill holes in the bottom. And I don't have to transplant as they grow. They are usually ready to plant in the garden (big enough).

Last year I started the seeds off in egg cartons and potted up into 16 oz disposable coffee cups. Worked for me, But I'm sure it wont work for everyone.

You've already gotten some good advice, so I'll only add a bit about handmade newspaper pots. I've tried them and they dried out too quickly, much like the peat pots, stunting the seedlings in them (they were a full 1/3 shorter than seedlings of the same type and age growing in plastic pots next to them). But maybe you'd have better luck? They're surely environmentally friendly, using something that we already have plenty of, something doesn't need to be mined/extruded/etc. or trucked in. If you don't have enough newspaper, you could use junk mail ~ any paper at all really.

I guess I'm a little lower tech. I reuse plastic containers that I get from the store. Right now, I love the deli meat containers from Sam's Club. The are heavy black plastic with clear lids. Just drill some holes for drainage. I use a high quality seed starting mix in the containers. Then when the seedlings are large enough, I "prick" them out and transplant them into single serving yogurt containers that I've again, washed and drilled a hole in. Works like a charm but perhaps doesn't look as "neat" as the other options mentioned. However, I am reusing :) I wash the containers out afterward and put them in the recycling bin if they became cracked or damaged in some way or I bleach and save them for the following season.

i'm in the tannabanana camp. i like to use the clear plastic trays that strawberries come in. they already have holes in the bottom. Once the seeds have sprouted i cut the plastic top off and throw it away. Pricking the seeds out to transplant them used to feel scary (to me, not the seedlings) but turns out it is no big deal.

i'd like to try soil blocking one day but i just don't grow on that scale.

I bought seed starting flats at the home harvest link below and I am happy with my dealings with them. I also bought the green heavy duty pan that goes with the plastic seed starting flats. I use the 1203 series the most.
David
http://homeharvest.com/propagationflatsdomesinserts.htm

Thanks for the suggestions. I have been saving up things like sour cream containers and the trays that tofu comes in, but they're kinda big. They work for starting seeds and then pricking them out later, but what do I put them in after that?

The single serving yogurt containers are a nice size, but it will take a while for me to save up enough of those. I've also been saving egg cartons, but I have the same problem with not having enough.

I'll probably try out some of the greenhouse plugs people have suggested. Besides, it's nice to have a range of containers for different plants.

Thanks for the help.

Heard someone say they used the roll off of a toilet paper.

Neohippie, Take a look at the Winter Sowing forum. You may have to modify some of the ideas to fit your zone, but have good ideas for growing containers. Like milk jugs.

Luke

Knittlin -- I've been making newspaper pots for this spring's planting. May I ask what sort of container you placed your pots in that they dried out and stunted the plant growth? Truth to tell, I haven't thought that far ahead. I've got a bunch of sweet potato vines sprouting in water and want to pot them and hold 'till warmer weather.

Anyway, you've given me something to think about. I give veg. seedlings to church families. Making good use of my free time and reusing newspapers.

To add on to the reusing comments, I've used water bottles. I admit to the vice of drinking bottled water. You can cut them in half or shorter, poke some holes in the bottom for drainage and use those. You can always recycle them after you're done planting.

"The single serving yogurt containers are a nice size, but it will take a while for me to save up enough of those. I've also been saving egg cartons, but I have the same problem with not having enough."

Plastic and styrofoam cups come in these sizes and work well if you punch holes in the sides near the bottom. It's something to buy and not recycling, but they are cheaper than buying new similar sized nursery pots. Talk to friends and watch the curbs on trash day, also I've picked up plenty of containers that way. Wash them well and soak in a 10% bleach solution and you are good to go.

I used newspaper pots last year for my tomato seedlings. I liked them, though they are not quite as neat as plastic pots. I used several thicknesses to make the pots and formed them around tall cylindrical drinking glasses, about 3 inches in diameter. I keep them in nursery flats and allowed a bit of water to stand in the bottom after I watered. That helped keep them moist. Just pay attention. They don't dry out nearly as fast as peat, which I have used and hated in the past. (I learned how to make them from a video on You Tube. I sure that's still around this year. :)
The one drawback to the newspaper pots was that as time went on and the paper stayed moist, they tended to sag and lean. I am going to use them again this year, but will either put them in a deeper tray or make them not quite so deep to begin with. I found it easier to make a good supply of them at one time rather than on an as-needed basis.

There is a better way, I think; save those plastic 6-pack or 8-pack flats and reuse them. If you do not get some, see those landscaping guys during spring/fall planting and get their emptied flats and pots that they will trash anyway. Of course, some of those flats are better than others and come with nice 4" pots. I got some of them last year from a landscaping crew, as I was driving by. What is more, is that those flats and pots are easy to store and take minimal space.

For soil, make your own recepe, depending on what you sow.
For small seeds, for example, I mix pearlite, peat moss, crushed dried leaves, some good finely screened grden soil. If you are picky, get a bag of good potting soil and substitute it for garden soil.
One big bag of peat moss, one big bag of pearlite will last me for one season, total cost under 20 bucks.

for big seeds I would use just straight good old garden soil with lots of organic mater.

for labeling, I buy this big package of popsicle sticks, sold at dollar store; cost one buck, of course.

Gosh, while my daughters and their families were visiting us over Christmas I had them help me make square newspaper pots. I've several hundred now and had planned to use them this spring for my transplants. I have always reused plastic containers but recently heard the newspaper protocol works better because there is less stress on the transplanted root systems. Do others have experience with water wicking?

farmerboybill,

I have a few questions about soil-blocking. I looked at the site you mentioned and I was wondering if it would work to put the soil blocks on top of a wicking mat. How well do the blocks stay together? Is it possible to start root crops such as carrots, onions or radishes in soil blocks.

Milehighgirl, I ain't farmerboybill but I have used a wicking mat. Just watch to prevent roots growing into the neighboring block.

huffy, Thanks!

Anyone use soil blocks to start root crops?

Anyone use Rapid Rooter Organic Starter Plugs?

Here is a link that might be useful: Rapid Rooter Organic Starter Plugs

"I've been making newspaper pots for this spring's planting. May I ask what sort of container you placed your pots in that they dried out and stunted the plant growth?" I just put them in nursery flats so I could lift them and move them more easily. Once I noticed that they were drying out so fast, I tried all sorts of different ways to water ~ overhead with a mister, bottom watering, water wicking, etc. Nothing worked as well as the plastic nursery pots. Less than a day and they were dried out again. I'd water, go to work, come back and they'd be dry. But again, you may have better luck in your climate.

I can get a good 10 years use out of those prop flats and usually get them for free or very cheap at local nurseries.

I've lost interest in individual cells/containers and would rather untangle baby roots after planting 50+ seeds in the germinating mix of my choice. I soap or peroxide the flats after use to prevent damping off carry-over. i get much better resuults this way than with 6 packs or cells, but I do have to transplant quickly or the seedlings will suffer from competition and increased root loss during transplanting (usually right at the 4 true leaf stage).