[GardenShed]

Hi all,

I went to buy some equipment for growing onion seeds recently - I wasn't quite sure what to get as I've not started veg off inside before. 

I started by looking at the plastic module seed trays which have holes in the bottom of them, but could not work out what you are supposed to fit the inserts into.  These module inserts are themselves called seed trays, but I would have presumed that these inserts would sit in some sort of tray without holes, to prevent water from going all over the place.  I then found some seed trays, which didn't have module sections, but these also had holes in them.  The only thing I could find in the end was something called a gravel tray, which has no holes in - the seed trays (those with and without modules) fit inside the gravel tray.  Likewise, the propagator lids fit on top nicely.

Is the gravel tray the right thing to buy i.e. is this supposed to be the bottom of the propagator?  In the end I bought some of these gravel trays, propagator lids, but did not bother with the plastic seed inserts - instead got the little compostable individual module pots, which I was going to stand inside the gravel tray.

Also, if you do use these gravel trays with either the plastic seed trays or compostable modules stood inside - do you bother with a layer of gravel?  I can only presume the idea is that the gravel keeps the seed tray insert slightly raised above the bottom of the gravel tray, so that it is not sat in the water which will drain away through the seed tray insert and into the bottom of the gravel tray?

Thanks.

[mumofstig]

I just stand seed trays/modules (with holes)  inside the trays (without holes) - no gravel used here.

I find the compostable pots go mouldy if kept damp or dry out too much if you ease up on watering - so I don't use them