Getting prepared to start seeds

17 years ago

It's that time of year again and I've determined to make sure last years disaster doesn't rear it's ugly head this year.

Last year I attempted to start my seedlings in one of those 288 cell trays but the big problem was those cells were only like an inch to two inches deep and I had a hard time keeping them from drying out. Dilema is now I have about 10 of these style trays unused. I'm not inclined to try them again. The first batch only had a few survivors and so I started an emergency batch by just filling a tray with soil and starting the seeds. I put them too close together and it was a chore to dig the sprouts up without disturbing the others. I also got a late start. first batch started around the end of March, second batch started early April. My plants never got very far before dying.

I've come up with some options.

1. revert back to the standard 72 cell tray to start and then pot up.

2. use the 48 cell trays I have to start and finish them in the same cells. This would be a bottleneck as I can only heat 3 flats at a time and have 8-48 cell trays.

3. simply fill a tray with seed starting mix, create rows, and start the seeds without boundaries. I would need to spread them out a little more to make it easier to transplant the seedlings later into the 48 cell trays.

4. An idea that just sprouted this morning. I could cut off the bottoms of the cells on the 288 cell trays, fill a flat with mix, then put the 288 cell tray on top to provide separation but still have the benefit of the depth of the tray itself. Should also make transplanting easier.

5, another idea I had was to fill a flat with mix then construct dividers out of plastic or cardboard in a grid pattern.

Some things I am certain about:

1. I want to grow and finish the seedlings in the 48 cell trays as they seem to be adequate sized for the little ones to grow in till they are transported to their new home in the garden.

2. I plan on better organizing my seed starting my maturity times. For example starting my Lemon Drop and Habs earlier than I start my miniature red bells and tomatoes.

3. Have a final number of each variety in mind ahead of time and organize my 48 cell trays accordingly. I will start more than I intend to end up with and thin them out. My goal is to not waste space under the lights with dead cells like I had when I started seedlings in the 72 cell trays. This would also allow me to make better use of my 3 heat mats and flats in my germination station.

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Comments (5)

macheske
17 years ago
Mike,
Do you have any clear plastic covers? I've found that if you place the trays with clear plastic covers directly under lights that they generate plenty of heat in a heated room to get starts going. I only use my heat matts for seeds that take a long time to germinate since the starting mix will start to grow algae if left covered that long. I'd start in the biggest cell size that you can fit in your starting set up and only put the seeds that take long to germinate on the heat matt. Starting in flats works out well too if you don't mind transplating them when they're small to the cell trays. I put 2 to 3 seeds in each cell when I start and if I have a cell that doesn't produce a plant I transplant one from a cell that has more than one in it. That way I always end up with full trays. Mine are about ready to put in 3" pots.
Good luck to you,
Rick

These are in 36 cell trays
peppermike
Original Author
17 years ago
I do have plastic covers I usually use a heating pad like you get at the pharmacy, and cover the tray with the plastic dome keeping a thermometer in the soil to monitor the temp. Generally I get my first sprouts within 6 days. The year before last year I had beautiful plants that I had started in 72 cell trays and potted up to 16 oz plastic cups. Last year was just a mess.

Just took an inventory on my trays and only have four 48 cell trays that are in good shape, 4 that are well used and might be salvageable but I'd need to sterilize them. I don't mind potting up so starting in one tray and transferring to another doesn't bother me. I'm inclined to revert back to what has worked in the past which was larger cells. Last year I tried to start way too many seeds. close to 600. In a small way it's good thing they didn't pan out... I'd have been living in a forest till it would be time to put them out. This year I'm going to be more realistic.

By the way those are beautiful looking plants. What kind are they? They look a bit like Habs
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User
17 years ago
Hmm. I start mine in 200 cell trays with a cover and haven't had a big problem keeping them moist.I move them from the 200 cell tray as they germinate and into deep 72 cell trays.

john
thepodpiper
17 years ago
I do the same as John but in 144 cell trays and then to 72 as soon as the sprout. My suggestion would be to take one of the flats fill it half way up with water and every other day or longer just set your 288 in the water for a couple of seconds. I would definetly keep them seperated in the cell trays.

Dale
macheske
17 years ago
Hey Mike,
Thanks. Those are a mixture of bells, chiles, jalapenos, thai, and a couple bhut jolokias. I wish I would have started some habs this year. I spent a few weeks in French Guiana last month and had habs with everything. Sorta strage for a country with the capital city of Cayenne. I'm hoping to find a few habs at the local nursery.

I guess my point was that I find very little use of cell trays smaller than 36 since the plants seem to outgrow them in a very short time. I'm going to be putting mine in 3" pots this weekend and will probably need to go to 4.5" before I put them in the ground. I checked them yesterday and they're already getting rootbound. Luckily, I think I have the room for them.

600 plants! What are you trying to compete with Dale, lol. I guess if I only grew peppers I'd have room but not much more since my garden is only 60 x 80 feet.
Good Luck,
Rick