The Seed Tray That Waters From the Bottom

Every gardener has lost a tray of seedlings that looked fine on Tuesday and fell over by Friday. The usual culprit is damping-off, a fungal disease that thrives in soggy soil and attacks young stems right at the soil line. One of the best defenses is simple: water from the bottom, and keep the surface dry.

That's exactly what this tray is designed to do.

How it works

The tray holds nine individual 1.5-inch cubes. A built-in water spout on one side lets you pour water into the base instead of over the tops of the seedlings. The soil soaks it up from below, the roots chase the moisture downward, and the leaves and stems stay dry.

• Nine cells for herbs, vegetables, flowers, succulents or microgreens
• Compact footprint of about 5" × 6", which fits a windowsill or a spot under a grow light
• Sturdy, reusable plastic: rinse or wipe it clean at the end of the season
• No more flimsy trays that crack after one spring

When to start seeds in Michigan

For much of lower Michigan, the last spring frost usually lands in May, so many vegetables and flowers get started indoors about six to eight weeks earlier, in March or April. Tomatoes, peppers and slow herbs like parsley do well with an indoor head start. Check your seed packets and your local frost date, and count backward from there.

Gardener tips for this tray

1. Fill the cells with a light seed-starting mix, not garden soil.
2. Pour water into the spout until the mix darkens from below.
3. Give seedlings light right away: a sunny south window or a grow light a few inches above.
4. Once they have their first true leaves, move them to bigger pots or harden them off for the garden.

A gift for the green thumb

It's an easy gift for the gardener who has everything except more trays. Pair it with seed packets for a birthday, a Mother's or Father's Day present, or a spring Easter basket.

Going for full cottage style? Our mushroom shelves look right at home next to a windowsill garden.

Find more practical prints in our 3D printed guide and gifts for dad.