Choosing the right germination tray defines crop success from day one: the cell geometry (or its absence) determines whether roots develop into a mat for block harvesting or into an individual root ball for transplanting. Gardese offers two fundamental formats designed for different scenarios: hydroponic green fodder and microgreens versus professional nursery work with transplant seedlings. This comparison helps you decide which one fits your production.
🎯 Choose in 10 seconds
- If you produce hydroponic green fodder (HGF), microgreens or mat germinations: go to Hydroponic tray
- If you do professional nursery work with seedlings for transplanting to the field or greenhouse: go to Horticultural and ornamental tray
What to consider before choosing
Before buying the trays, assess these four criteria. They determine whether the crop will deliver the expected yield or be lost to uneven germination or root rot.
- Type of harvest expected: for hydroponic green fodder (HGF), microgreens and sprouts that are harvested as a single piece with a root mat, you need a smooth tray without cells. For seedlings that are transplanted individually to the field, a large pot or a larger hydroponic system, you need a tray with cells that form an individual root ball.
- Species and growth rate: short-cycle vegetables (lettuce, leafy greens) and small species work in 200-288 cell trays. Medium-sized vegetables (tomato, bell pepper, eggplant) in 128 cells. Cuttings and ornamentals with extended time in the tray, in 72 cells with a more voluminous root ball.
- Drainage and fungus prevention: trays with cells require calibrated drainage per cell to evacuate excess irrigation without losing substrate; damping-off, collar fungi and root rot typical of mass germination are avoided with this feature.
- Sun exposure and service life: both Gardese trays incorporate UV treatment in the resin, an indispensable condition for Caribbean greenhouses and full-sun production; without the UV additive the plastic becomes brittle and breaks after a few seasons.
Plastic hydroponic tray: smooth surface for block harvesting
- Smooth surface without cells for a continuous root mat
- Virgin plastic resistant to nutrient solutions and salts
- UV treatment for outdoor and greenhouse use
- Lightweight stacking to optimize warehouse space
- Not suitable for producing individual seedlings for transplanting
- Single format only, in a box of 180 units
Box of 180 hydroponic trays. The flat geometry without cells allows the development of a continuous root mat that is harvested as a single piece, a critical condition for HGF and microgreens where block harvesting optimizes time and production. Designed for the production of HGF from corn, barley, wheat and oats for livestock feed, microgreens for fine dining, initial mass germination before transplanting, and intensive urban agriculture projects.
Plastic horticultural and ornamental tray: cells for transplant seedlings
- Four cavity formats (72, 128, 200 and 288 cells)
- UV treatment integrated into the resin
- Calibrated drainage per cell to prevent fungi
- Conical root ball geometry for clean extraction with the root ball
- Individual harvesting of seedlings (not suitable for HGF or microgreens)
- The number of cells must match the species to be grown
Germination tray with cells in four configurations, in boxes of 140-160 units depending on the format. The 72-cell tray works with cuttings and ornamental plants with extended time in the tray; the 128-cell with medium-sized vegetables (tomato, bell pepper, eggplant); the 200 and 288 with short-cycle vegetables (lettuce, leafy plants). The conical cell facilitates directed root development and clean extraction with an intact root ball, a key condition for successful transplanting to open field, greenhouse or large pot.
Comparison table
| Feature | Hydroponic | Horticultural and ornamental |
|---|---|---|
| Ideal use | HGF, microgreens, mass germination | Individual seedlings for transplanting |
| Geometry | Smooth without cells | With conical cells |
| Harvest | Block (root mat) | Individual (intact root ball) |
| Available formats | Single | 72, 128, 200 or 288 cells |
| UV treatment | Yes — outdoor and greenhouse use | Yes — outdoor and greenhouse use |
| Calibrated drainage | — | Yes, per cell |
| Chemical resistance | Nutrient solutions and salts | Moist substrate and fertigation |
| Packaging | Box of 180 trays | Box of 140 or 160 trays depending on the format |
Use case → recommended product matrix
| If your case is… | Recommended product |
|---|---|
| Producing HGF of barley or oats for livestock | → Hydroponic |
| Growing microgreens for restaurants and gourmet supermarkets | → Hydroponic |
| Cuttings of ornamental plants with extended time in the tray | → Horticultural 72 cells |
| Tomato, bell pepper or eggplant seedlings for greenhouse | → Horticultural 128 cells |
| Lettuce or leafy plant seedlings for open field | → Horticultural 200 or 288 cells |
| Initial mass germination before transplanting to a hydroponic system | → Hydroponic |
| Commercial nursery with mass production of vegetables | → Horticultural and ornamental |
| Production of grass for feeding poultry or horses | → Hydroponic |
Before buying the trays, define two pieces of information: the destination of the crop (block harvesting for consumption or individual transplanting to the field) and the cycle of the species. A fast vegetable in a 72-cell tray wastes space and substrate; a long-cycle ornamental plant in a 288-cell tray grows stunted due to lack of root space. The practical rule: the higher the growth rate and the smaller the final size, the more cells per tray.
Do not reuse horticultural trays with substrate without disinfecting them between cycles. Collar fungi (Pythium, Fusarium, Rhizoctonia) survive in substrate residues and spread to the next germination, causing mass damping-off. Washing with pressurized water and disinfection with a 1-2% hypochlorite solution before each cycle is standard practice in professional nurseries.
All products compared
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the hydroponic tray to germinate tomato seedlings?
It is possible for the initial germination phase, but since it has no cells the roots form a continuous mat that is difficult to separate for individual transplanting. If you are going to transplant tomato to the field or greenhouse, use the 128-cell horticultural tray: the conical root ball facilitates clean extraction with intact roots.
What number of cells should I choose for my crop?
The rule is proportional to the size and cycle of the species. 72 cells for cuttings and ornamentals with extended time; 128 for medium-sized vegetables (tomato, bell pepper, eggplant, zucchini); 200 for small vegetables and leafy plants with an intermediate cycle; 288 for lettuce, small brassicas and very short-cycle species.
Is the hydroponic tray suitable for microgreens for human consumption?
Yes, it is the standard format for the production of microgreens and sprouts intended for fine dining, gourmet supermarkets and home consumption. The smooth surface allows the entire block to be harvested with scissors or a knife, keeping the piece intact. For food safety audits, wash and disinfect the tray between cycles.
