Planting Trays

We manufacture plastic planting trays in Kenya with UV-treated PVC plastic material. These seed trays have cell sizes as; 28, 50, 66, 72, 160, 200, 204, and 288. Our seedling trays for sale haves a perforation at the bottom of each cell to allow for water drainage and root aeration. The choice of the propagtion tray depends on the  seed size, and final size of the seedlings at transplanting stage. The larger they are, then the choice will be for trays with larger cells. The lessor the cell sizes on a tray, the more they are.

Different seedling cell sizes on seedling trays

Steps to plant seeds in trays 

• Add the planting media up to about 80% of the cell volume
• Place the seed a single seed at the top of this media
• Do this for all cells in the tray
• Add another layer of the planting media to fill up the small space left. This will cover the seed
• Add water
• Place the planting tray in a warm place, with ample light, and free of pests
• Place a label showing; the crop type, date of planting, expected date of transplanting

Do not stack the trays on top of each other

As one of the top seed tray supplier in Kenya, we advice and demonstrate to farmers the right tray to propagate each crop with. This is done by our team of field agronomists countrywide

Planting Trays FAQs

i. What is tray planting?

This is the propagation of seedlings or cuttings through plastic propagation trays

ii. What are seedling tray prices?

Our UV-treated PVC seedling trays cost Kes 100 apiece for all cell numbers. These seedlings trays prices in Kenya are retail, and a discount is offered for bulk buyers

iii. What can I use for seed trays?

Vegetable seed germination, fruit tree or forestry seedlings growth, and silkworm growing

iv. How do you use planting trays?

In an era when farmers have graduated to high-value hybrid vegetable seeds;

• planting trays make it possible to account for each seedling, the reason that every seed is placed manually one by one
• this makes it easy to count actual germination and seedling survivals
• the seedlings have less pest and disease infestation because the trays are used with sanitized growing media
• at transplanting, the growing media covers the root system which prevents transplanting shock in the field or greenhouse
• transplanting shock slows down crop growth and delays maturity

v. When should I transplant my seed trays?

When the crop has been hardened enough to withstand open field or greenhouse conditions

vi. How do you use seed trays?

Add treated planting media in each cell, then sow one seed per cell. Water it to keep it moist till transplanting

vii. How deep should a seed tray be?

Not less than 5cm

Grekkon Limited’s agronomists guide every farmer during procurement on the most appropriate tray to use

viii. What can I use instead of seedling trays?

A grower will propagate the seedling by preparing a soil nursery, which is the traditional way. The challenge with this method is the exposure of seedlings to soil borne pests and diseases. This lowers the germiation and seedling survival rate. Another alternative is to have propagation plastic bags

A traditional seedlings nursery using soil as the root medium

Seedlings growing in bags with soil as the root medium

ix. How long should seedlings stay in planting trays?

It depends on the crop type, and place of establishment. For intsnace onion seedling will take up to 6 weeks, while tomato seedlings will be ready in 4. Crops destined for greenhouse transplanting are transferred earlier than those being established outdoors from planting trays