Grab some Epic 6-Cell Trays: http://bit.ly/3dfot1s – Every year I update my seed starting methods for better results, consistency, and health of my seedlings.
In addition to some slight planting method adjustments, the biggest addition in 2021 are these Epic 6-Cell trays, which last dramatically longer than the cheap plastic flimsy trays sold at many nurseries, but also have some great features to help seedlings develop healthier.
I like them so much, I now offer them on the Epic Gardening store, so grab a few if you’re interested!
SPONSOR: Espoma Organic
Espoma Organic has been organic from the start and makes absolutely epic potting mixes, and organic fertilizers. Their organic seed starting mix is perfect for getting your seedlings going this 2021 season:
https://www.espoma.com/where-to-buy/
0:00 – Intro
1:13 – Epic Trays
2:03 – 1020 Tray
2:27 – Seed Starting Mix
4:00 – Romanesco Cauliflower
5:21 – Carmel Spinach
5:59 – Kailaan Broccoli
6:32 – Lucid Gem Lettuce
7:29 – Candy Stripe Cosmos
8:28 – Great Lakes Lettuce
9:14 – Mammoth Melting Snow Pea
10:24 – Watering In
11:56 – Humidity Dome
12:19 – Sprouting
13:09 – 3 Indoor Tips
15:04 – Potting Up
17:07 – Transplanting In
18:36 – Cleaning and Sterilization
19:25 – Old vs. New Trays
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Mixed up Lucid Gem TOMATOES and Lunix Lettuce, +20 years good harvests if you caught that 😉 – link to buy Epic 6-Cell Trays here: http://bit.ly/3dfot1s
10 bucks a cell…HAHA
I am using egg cartons and pretty happy with them. Roots can grow through the carton paper. It's easy to water them, I only add water to the tray and the carton soaks the water. And they're fully biodegradable, so I often plant the seedlings right in them. Plus, it's nice to know that I don't need to buy more plastic
Ooooh that tray looks like basically the egg carton method except its reusable and won't dry out as fast. WANT
What kind of water do you use? And at what point do you start fertilizing the seedlings? What is your preferred fertilizer for your seedlings? Thanks!!!
Just finished potting up seeds in my EPIC 6 cell trays. The quality of this product is -what's beyond EPIC?. I am very impressed. They will last me the rest of my life I'm sure. They were a pleasure to use as they are very stout and don't bend from weight when picked up. Thank you for an excellent quality product. Looking forward to bigger sized cells in the future.
A few things I didnt see covered that I have questions about. A) The seed starter mixes seem to have next to no nutrition. When I start small seeds the size of lettuce or smaller, I don't think there is enough in the seed to get the plant going past the first sprout leaves. Do you add anything at any point? B) Mold every where. We want the seeds damp, but then mold comes and eats the seed. C) Should I be taking plants direct from seed cells into the ground or put them in intermediate pots?
Trays look great. Too bad they're like 10x the price of other cells
Who is the tray manufacturer? Not you reselling but who makes them?
Love your Vlogs! Where did you get the plastic seed catalog storage container- LOVE IT!
Make shipping available to the Netherlands!
My mint just sprouted
Cauliflower? That works in your zone?
So do you keep seeds growing constantly? How often do you start seeds when you are growing food, to keep a continuous supply?
Anyone can start a seed, gees
is it okay to expose the domed seed trays to the sun?
As much as I love watching the gardening channels and they provide an awesome source of information, behind them all seems to be an advert for products, Charles did the same in his latest , here is link to my £30 stick of wood dibber…
Those cases that your seed packs are in are great. Where did you get them?
Kept in reasonable conditions, how long can plant seeds stay viable for?
When starting indoors….how often should i water the seedlings? I'm struggling with this right now. Can't seem to get it right!
Kevin: Oh, and I have another video on that…and on that…
Me: Yes. Of course you do, Kevin!
Thank you for this content! What about heat for the seed t propagate? And darkness? I'd like to start seeds in my greenhouse, but have been doing it indoors with rooter plugs, a heat mat and controlled environment (temp/humidity). When I tried to pop some of them (sweet basil, cilantro, various lettuces) it just didn't work right. I'm learning from my mistakes and would like to know if you can pop the seeds in light or if darkness is always an important part of the process? It seems like it can work both ways. What do you think about this?
dude the trys are sold out maybe take off link?
Hi I'm about to buy these and am wondering if the bottom tray also comes with the cells? Thank you.
Where do I order the bottom tray?
Most of the traditional old black plastic trays are made in China nowadays and come with all the contaminants of the original materials recycled and virgin, including lead and arsenic. Being manufactured in China is not the problem per se, just that there's a tawdry history of imports having contaminants and discoveries have not yet ceased or slackened enough to call it a stereotype and move on. They're not durable, even the heavy duty ones lasting only a few years at best. They're also end products, not recyclable, generally agglomerations of multiple constituent materials.
Meanwhile, polypropylene is highly durable and quite strong, inert, requires none of the phthalates or plasticizers of the BHA familiy, and it highly recyclable. It's biggest drawback in usage is the degradation of molecule chains under UV exposure, which means that it breaks into smaller and smaller pieces until it's powder again, rendering in-sun applications problematic. However better and better continue to reach the market as researchers experiment with treatments and new blends with other inert substances. The main issue with polypropylene (#5 or PP) is that its greatest strength, durability, is also its greatest ecological weakness, persistence in the environment with an as-yet undetermined half-life. Unlike other plastics it is inert, fortunately, but not all critters pass it with ease. Plus just because PP itself is inert does not mean that the pigments released as the plastic breaks down into smaller pieces.
So PP isn't for everything plastics can do, at this point, but may eventually supplant the majority of other forms as we learn new ways to inhibit disintegration. The recycling industries don't accept nearly as much of it as we use, either, so much of it never gets recycled. These are solvable problems, however, and likely research is further advanced on some issues than I am presently aware. I'm MUCH happier using PP for gardening and kitchen use than any other kind of plastic, though at least #1 and #2 get recycled at much higher rates (though still abysmal). All plastics manufacture employ and discard toxic chemicals as well, so I'd rather see less production in the first place. However focusing on PP more would help permit development of universal practices that minimize, mitigate, or eliminate toxic waste in all phases of the plastics production and reuse cycle.