Too shallow, too small. Bigger and deeper is preferable.

Karen

Hi, I have used flats and boy they dry out fast. You have to ck on them several times a day in spring with the warm weather and the spring winds. They really be better to use inside unless you make a small hoop house over them, but then they must be harden off.

I have 24 and 48 count cell trays that I use for winter sowing, but they are 4" deep for root room - they work fine here where there is no chance whatsoever anything is going to dry out in winter or spring - so please consider the difference in climates before you take that as a recommendation :) My deck, paths, urns, patio, even me, are all busy growing algae and moss right now.

I sow more than a seed per cell, and later either thin with manicure scissors, or tease/tip the whole plug out and gently pry the seedlings apart.

I wonder if you can use the cell trays inside a storage container. You can cut the drainage holes in the storage container about 1/4" up the side so some water will always be in the bottom so the cells can suck it up. Plus condensation should help keep things moist this way too. I may have to try it this year.

Roy

Thanks everyone for your comments. I think I will forget about that method now. I still don't know why the plants wouldn't be okay in there; after all, the plant places have them in these packs. I hate to think that I bought them for nothing but I guess glad that I didn't buy any more.

Roy, I don't know but it sounds like a good idea to me.