Seed Trays That Survive More Than One Growing Season
The Bootstrap Farmer 1020 Extra Strength Trays are our overall pick for plastic thick enough to reuse for years. The Epic Gardening 6 Cell Trays give deeper roots more room, and the Jiffy 72 Pellet Greenhouse is the simplest complete kit for a first sowing season.
If you sow seeds every spring and are tired of replacing cracked trays, the Bootstrap Farmer 1020 Extra Strength Trays are the ones to buy, with the Epic Gardening 6 Cell Trays better for deeper rooted crops and the Jiffy 72 Pellet Greenhouse the easiest complete starting point.
Seed trays look interchangeable but are not, because cheap ones flex and split the first time you carry a full one, and shallow cells force transplanting before seedlings are ready. We compared plastic gauge, cell depth, drainage design and what owners report about reuse across seasons to rank the seven below.
What we recommend
Bootstrap Farmer 1020 Extra Strength Trays
Standard 1020 trays moulded from noticeably thicker plastic than the flimsy trays sold in garden centres, so they can be lifted full of wet compost without folding in the middle. They are designed for years of reuse rather than a single season. Owners report using the same trays for many seasons, which changes the cost calculation completely.
Pros
- Thick enough to lift full without flexing
- Standard 1020 size fits inserts and domes
- Genuinely reusable for many seasons
Cons
- Costs several times a disposable tray
- Bulky to store compared with thin trays
Epic Gardening 6 Cell Seed Starting Trays
Deep celled inserts made from durable plastic with a bottom opening that lets you push the root plug out from below without tearing roots. The extra depth lets seedlings stay in the tray longer before they become root bound. Owners report far less transplant shock than with shallow supermarket style trays.
Pros
- Deep cells suit tomatoes and peppers
- Push up base removes plugs without damage
- Sturdy enough for repeated seasons
Cons
- Fewer seedlings per tray than 72 cell inserts
- Deeper cells use more compost
Burpee Self Watering Seed Starting Kit
A kit with a water reservoir and a capillary mat that draws moisture up into the cells, keeping compost evenly damp without daily watering from above. That consistency is the hardest part of seed starting for most people. Owners report noticeably better germination rates than hand watering, particularly for small seeds that wash about.
Pros
- Even moisture without daily attention
- Avoids washing small seeds out of position
- Dome included for germination humidity
Cons
- Mat needs cleaning to prevent algae
- Constant moisture can encourage damping off if unventilated
Jiffy 72 Pellet Greenhouse Seed Starter Kit
A complete kit with a tray, dome and seventy two compressed peat pellets that expand when watered, removing the need to buy and mix compost separately. It is the simplest possible route into seed starting. Owners report excellent convenience, with the reminder that the netting around each pellet should be removed at planting to avoid restricting roots.
Pros
- No compost mixing or measuring required
- Plants go out in their pellet with minimal disturbance
- Cheapest way to try seed starting
Cons
- Netting must be removed or roots can be restricted
- Tray and dome are thin and rarely survive a second year
Hydrofarm Germination Station with Heat Mat
A complete station combining a 72 cell insert, a tall humidity dome and a seedling heat mat, which is what peppers, tomatoes and aubergines need to germinate reliably in a cool house. Bottom heat is the single most effective change for warm season crops. Owners report dramatically faster germination on peppers compared with an unheated windowsill.
Pros
- Bottom heat transforms warm season germination
- Tall dome gives seedlings headroom
- Everything needed in one package
Cons
- Heat mat needs a thermostat for precise control
- Cell insert is thinner than dedicated reusable trays
MIXC Seed Starter Tray Kit
A multipack of cell trays with domes, base trays and plant labels, giving you enough capacity for a full season of successional sowing without buying several separate kits. The plastic is thin but adequate if handled with care. Owners report good value for volume, with the caveat that they will not last as long as heavy gauge trays.
Pros
- Plenty of capacity for successional sowing
- Domes and labels included
- Cheap enough to expand a setup quickly
Cons
- Thin plastic flexes when lifted full
- Unlikely to survive many seasons
iPower Seedling Starter Tray
Plain standard size seedling trays sold in packs, suitable for use as drip trays, propagation bases or with your own cell inserts. They are basic but correctly sized to fit the standard 1020 accessories. Owners report they do the job for a season or two provided they are supported when carried full.
Pros
- Cheapest way to cover a bench
- Standard size fits common inserts and domes
- Useful as drip trays under pots
Cons
- Flex badly if lifted without support
- Crack after a season or two of use
How to choose
Plastic thickness is what you are actually buying The 1020 tray is a standard size, and almost every insert, dome and heat mat is built around it. What varies enormously is the gauge of plastic. Thin trays cost very little and split the first time you lift one full of wet compost, usually across the middle. Heavy gauge trays such as the Bootstrap Farmer 1020 cost several times as much and last for years, which works out cheaper if you sow every season. If you must use thin trays, always carry them on a board or a rigid tray.
Cell depth decides when you have to transplant Shallow cells, common in cheap kits, force you to pot on within two or three weeks or the seedling becomes root bound and stalls. Deeper cells like those on the Epic Gardening inserts let plants stay put considerably longer, which matters if your last frost date is a moving target. Deep rooted crops such as tomatoes, peppers and squash benefit most. Small seeds like lettuce and brassicas are perfectly happy in shallower cells and give you more plants per tray.
Bottom heat matters more than light at germination Seeds germinate in response to soil temperature, not light, and most warm season crops want soil around seventy five to eighty five degrees Fahrenheit. A cool windowsill often sits far below that, which is why pepper seeds sit for weeks doing nothing. A heat mat, as included with the Hydrofarm Germination Station, solves this directly. Once seedlings emerge, priorities reverse: they need strong light immediately or they stretch, and the heat mat should come off.
Watch drainage and airflow to avoid damping off Damping off is a fungal problem that kills healthy looking seedlings overnight at soil level, and it thrives in constantly wet, still air. Make sure every cell has a drainage hole, water from below where possible, and vent the humidity dome once seeds have germinated rather than leaving it sealed. Clean and disinfect reused trays between seasons with a dilute bleach solution, since spores overwinter in old compost residue in the corners of cells.
The lineup, side by side
| # | Model | Size | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bootstrap Farmer 1020 Extra Strength Trays | Standard 1020 footprint | Best overall | 9.4 | Check price |
| 2 | Epic Gardening 6 Cell Seed Starting Trays | 6 cells per insert, deep profile | Best cell design | 9.2 | Check price |
| 3 | Burpee Self Watering Seed Starting Kit | Reservoir with capillary mat | Best for even moisture | 9.0 | Check price |
| 4 | Jiffy 72 Pellet Greenhouse Seed Starter Kit | 72 compressed peat pellets | Best complete kit | 8.8 | Check price |
| 5 | Hydrofarm Germination Station with Heat Mat | Tray, 72 cell insert, dome and heat mat | Best for heat loving seeds | 8.6 | Check price |
| 6 | MIXC Seed Starter Tray Kit | Multiple cell trays with domes and bases | Best value multipack | 8.3 | Check price |
| 7 | iPower Seedling Starter Tray | Standard 1020 footprint | Best budget | 8.0 | Check price |
Common questions
What size seed starting tray should I get?
Standard 1020 trays, roughly ten by twenty inches, are the sensible default because every dome, insert and heat mat is built to that footprint. Cell count within the tray is the real decision: 72 cells for lettuce and brassicas, 36 or fewer for tomatoes, peppers and squash that need root room.
Do seed trays need drainage holes?
Cell inserts do, so excess water can escape and roots get air. The base tray underneath is often solid deliberately, so it holds water for bottom watering. Many trays such as the Bootstrap Farmer range are sold in both versions for exactly this reason.
Can seed starting trays be reused?
Yes, if the plastic is thick enough. Heavy gauge trays last many seasons. Wash off compost residue and disinfect with a dilute bleach or hydrogen peroxide solution before each season, since fungal spores that cause damping off survive in old debris.
Should I use a humidity dome?
During germination, yes, since it keeps the surface moist while seeds are sprouting. Once most seedlings have emerged, start venting it and remove it within a few days. Leaving a sealed dome on established seedlings creates the still, damp conditions that damping off needs.
What compost should go in seed trays?
A seed starting mix, which is fine textured and very low in nutrients. Rich potting mixes are too strong for germinating seeds and can burn young roots. Once seedlings have their first true leaves, either begin dilute feeding or pot on into a standard potting mix.
How deep should seeds be sown?
A common rule is roughly twice the seed’s diameter. Very fine seeds such as lettuce and snapdragons need light to germinate and should be pressed onto the surface rather than covered. Always check the packet, since a few species have specific requirements.
Is a heat mat necessary?
Not for cool season crops like brassicas, lettuce and peas, which germinate happily at room temperature. It makes an enormous difference for peppers, aubergines and tomatoes, which can otherwise take weeks in a cool house. Adding a thermostat prevents overheating the root zone.
When should seedlings be moved out of the tray?
When roots begin circling the bottom of the cell or the plant has two to three sets of true leaves, whichever comes first. Deep cells buy you extra time. Do not move seedlings straight outdoors from indoors; harden them off over a week of increasing outdoor exposure first.
Final word
The Bootstrap Farmer 1020 Extra Strength Trays are the ones to buy if you sow seeds every year, since the extra thickness is the difference between a tray that lasts a decade and one that splits in March. The Epic Gardening 6 Cell Trays suit deeper rooted crops that need longer in the cell, and the Hydrofarm Germination Station is worth it if peppers and tomatoes have never germinated well for you.
