Seed Starting Supplies
Growing your own plants from seed is a joyous experience. It also lets you grow any type or variety of plant you want while saving a bunch of money compared to the cost of commercially-grown seedlings and plants. Here, we share the best seed starting supplies we know of — all of which have been tested and used by our team!
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Featured Picks: Seed Starting Supplies
Our top “must have” supplies if you’re planning to get serious about seed starting. Keep scrolling down to see all our recommended seed starting supplies.
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Buy on AmazonGrowJourney Note: Want a one-and-done solution? This is it! This high quality 2-pack combo kit contains everything you need to start up to 144 seedlings at once! Made by Bootstrap Farmer out of North Carolina, these products are extra durable and long lasting so you’ll get years of use out of them. EACH Kit includes: 1 Ultra-Durable, High-Quality, 72 Cell Starter Tray w/ 1 Flat and 1 Dome (5" tall w/ vents) *2 kits total
Variations: 2 Cells, 2 Flats, 2 Domes (shown)// 10 Cells, 10 Flats, 10 Domes
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$14.99$11.99Buy on AmazonGrowJourney Note: Many of your favorite summer garden plants need temps of 75-80+℉ degrees to germinate, but your house is only around 70℉. A heated seed propagation mat can make the difference between low-no germination and 100% germination by keeping temps 10-20°F over room temp. This one is sized to fit perfectly under a single seed tray. 1 mat included, but multi-packs are available. We recommend more than 1 if you're doing mulitiple flats of heat-loving seedling germination. Works really well with a thermostat too!
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07/27/2026 04:37 pm GMT -
$3.89Buy on Amazon
GrowJourney Note: Label your seed cells AND transplants so you can remember what each seedling/plant is! So many new gardeners make the mistake of not doing this, and it causes all lots of head scratching. Write in plant type and variety (ex: Tomato, ‘Peacevine’) so you’ll know where to put it in your garden and whether you love it and want to grow it again once you’ve eaten it. Sometimes we also include plant height or other helpful info on the back of the tag.
Variations: 100 tags (shown) // 1000 Tags // 100, multicolored (5 colors, 20 tags/color)
Use with: Staedtler UV Resistant Plant Marking Pen (2 Ct) - awesome pen!
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07/27/2026 04:23 pm GMT -
$9.99Buy on Amazon
GrowJourney Note: Spray bottles are essential for keeping your seeds in the ideal moisture range to germinate. After going through many “cheap” spray bottles, we bought one that would last. This spray bottle also works great when you’re spraying neem oil on your indoor seedlings to get rid of aphids. We like to keep two for this reason - one for misting seedlings & one to apply pest control.
Variations: Amber Glass, 16oz (shown) // Blue Glass, 16oz
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07/29/2026 03:08 am GMT -
$22.99Buy on Amazon
GrowJourney Note: Aaron, say something.
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07/29/2026 02:52 am GMT -
Buy on Amazon
GrowJourney Note: A high quality organic seed starting soil mix to help get your seedlings off to the best start possible! You can also use it to get roots established on cuttings. Formula includes sphagnum peat moss, perlite, kelp meal, worm castings, and well-aged compost, so lots of good microbes to get friendly with the plant roots helping to boost the life-long health of the plants. This product is also OMRI-listed.
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Seeds Starting Supplies: Trays, Cells, and Domes
Find the best and most durable cells and containers for seed starting. Note: Most seedlings do great in plastic trays/cells. However, more transplant-sensitive plants (like cucurbits – melons, squash, cucumbers, etc) are better started in biodegradable containers in order to minimize root disturbance when transplanting into your garden.
Bootstrap Farmer 1020 Trays Extra Strength No Holes (5 Pack)
GrowJourney Note: Reusable, solid plastic trays (no drainage holes) are a must-have for seed starting, and these are the best we’ve found. Made for and by real farmers at Bootstrap Farms, these trays are especially heavy-duty (which isn’t usually the case with seed starting trays), so they won’t fall apart while carrying your seedlings around and should easily last multiple growing seasons. Dimensions:10" x 20", works with standard 1020 cells.
Bootstrap Farmer 1020 Trays w/Humidity Dome Extra Strength (2 Pack)
GrowJourney Note: Same great seed trays as the solid (no holes) 10" x 20" trays also mentioned on this page, but these include a 5″ high dome to help keep humidity high during germination. Once your seeds are germinated, remove the dome to help prevent “damping off,” a fungal disease caused by too much moisture and poor air circulation (commonly kills seedlings). Works with standard 1020 cells.
Bootstrap Farmer Seed Starter Kit Extra Strength: 1020 Trays, Humidity Dome, 72 Cell Plug Tray (2 Pack)
GrowJourney Note: Want a one-and-done solution? This is it! This high quality 2-pack combo kit contains everything you need to start up to 144 seedlings at once! Made by Bootstrap Farmer out of North Carolina, these products are extra durable and long lasting so you’ll get years of use out of them. EACH Kit includes: 1 Ultra-Durable, High-Quality, 72 Cell Starter Tray w/ 1 Flat and 1 Dome (5" tall w/ vents) *2 kits total
Variations: 2 Cells, 2 Flats, 2 Domes (shown)// 10 Cells, 10 Flats, 10 Domes
Bootstrap Farmer 1020 72 Cell Trays Extra Strength, With Drain Holes (5 Pack)
GrowJourney Note: These sturdy seed cells are heavy duty and designed to stay together as a single sheet; some gardeners prefer them versus the cells that come apart. Ultra-Durable, High-Quality, BPA Free 72 Cell Tray (with drain holes). Made to last multiple seasons, won’t break or crack while carrying plants. They fit the standard 1020 cell trays; cells are 1.5” square x 2” deep.
Variations: 5 Tray Pack (shown)// 10 Tray Pack // 60 Tray Pack
Use with: Solid-bottom seed starting trays to avoid water leaks.
Bootstrap Farmer 1020 128 Cell Trays Extra Strength, With Drain Holes (5 Pack)
GrowJourney Note: These sturdy seed cells are heavy duty and designed to stay together as a single sheet; some gardeners prefer them versus the cells that come apart. Ultra-Durable, High-Quality, BPA Free 128 Cell Tray (with drain holes). Made to last multiple seasons, won’t break or crack while carrying plants. They fit the standard 1020 cell trays; cells are 1” square x 1.25” deep.
Use with: Solid-bottom 1020 seed starting trays (also featured in our resource section) to avoid water leaks, unless you buy a tray + flat pack (below).
Variations:
10 Tray pack (shown) // 5 Trays + 5 Flats // 10 Trays + 10 Flats
Bootstrap Farmer 1020 Tray & Mesh Tray Bundle, Extra Strength (5 Pack)
GrowJourney Note: If you’re using Ladbrooke soil blocks or Rockwool Cub Plugs, you'll need mesh inserts + trays - this combo bundle has you covered. They create an even flat surface for the soil blocks to rest on, and allow you to easily lift out all your blocks at once when you need to. They also help keep your seed blocks properly drained and aerated. These also work perfectly with standard 1020 cells (72 cells & 128 cell) if you want to be able to easily lift them out to dump excess water.
Variations: 5 pack (shown) // 10 pack // 10 w/ 10 domes pack
Use with: Ladbrooke seed starting kit
Bootstrap Farmer 1020 Trays Extra Strength for Microgreens, Shallow (10 Pack)
GrowJourney Note: Same great quality as the standard reusable solid plastic 1020 trays, but these are shallow,1.25" deep. These are great for growing microgreens because harvesting is much easier with lower sides. We also use them as drainage trays that sit inside the solid 1020 trays when growing seedlings; they allow for bottom-watering which cuts down on pests like fungus gnats.
Made for and by real farmers at Bootstrap Farms, these trays are especially heavy-duty (which isn’t usually the case with any plastic tray), so they won’t fall apart and should easily last multiple growing seasons.
Bootstrap Farmer Humidity Dome 5" Tall Vented for 1020 Trays Extra Strength (2 Pack)
GrowJourney Note: In case you already have the 1020 trays and only need a dome... This 5″ high dome is plenty tall to give your seedlings room to grow while helping to keep humidity high during germination. Once your seeds are germinated, remove the dome to help prevent “damping off,” a fungal disease caused by too much moisture and poor air circulation (commonly kills seedlings).
Variations: 2 domes (shown) // 5 domes // 10 domes
Seedling Starter Trays, 720 Cells: (120 Trays; 6-Cells Per Tray), Plus 5 Plant Labels
GrowJourney Note: The classic seed starting cells for seed germination. 120 6-cell trays with thinner plastic designed so you can easily pop out individual seedlings. This type of cell won't typically last past a handful of growing seasons, but 720 cells will keep you growing for a long time to come. They (will ship as 120, 6-celled trays). Equivalent to ten 1020 flats.
Use with: Solid-bottom seed starting trays to avoid water leaks.
Daniel’s Plants Biodegradable Seed Tray (10 Pack 100 Cell)
GrowJourney Note: Not reusable, but these biodegradable pots make seed starting and transplanting super simple. They also minimize root disturbance and transplant shock since you put the whole biodegradable pot straight into the ground when you transplant your seedlings. We use them for starting cucurbits, beans, corn, and other more finicky transplants. Made from 100% spruce fiber they are a forestry bi-product, unlike peat. 10 Cells/Strip, 100 Cells total
Use with: Solid-bottom seed starting trays to avoid water leaks.
Seeds Starting Supplies: Accessories
Extra supplies to help elevate your seed starting success and keep track of your plants throughout their lifecycle.
GrowJourney Note: Label your seed cells AND transplants so you can remember what each seedling/plant is! So many new gardeners make the mistake of not doing this, and it causes all lots of head scratching. Write in plant type and variety (ex: Tomato, ‘Peacevine’) so you’ll know where to put it in your garden and whether you love it and want to grow it again once you’ve eaten it. Sometimes we also include plant height or other helpful info on the back of the tag.
Variations: 100 tags (shown) // 1000 Tags // 100, multicolored (5 colors, 20 tags/color)
Use with: Staedtler UV Resistant Plant Marking Pen (2 Ct) - awesome pen!
GrowJourney Note: These plant tags give you more room to write and make reading easier. You also don’t have to pull them out of the ground to read them, making them a great choice for the plant tags you use in your garden. Durable UV-resistant plastic that will last for many seasons. Dimensions: 4" x 2.4". Bonus permanent pen included!
Variations: Multicolor option (also 200pcs)
GrowJourney Note: Many of your favorite summer garden plants need temps of 75-80+℉ degrees to germinate, but your house is only around 70℉. A heated seed propagation mat can make the difference between low-no germination and 100% germination by keeping temps 10-20°F over room temp. This one is sized to fit perfectly under a single seed tray. 1 mat included, but multi-packs are available. We recommend more than 1 if you're doing mulitiple flats of heat-loving seedling germination. Works really well with a thermostat too!
GrowJourney Note: Seedling mats regulate temperature 10-20°F degrees above the ambient air temps, but on their own they won’t stay at a specific temperature. Sometimes you need warmer conditions, which is where a thermostat comes in. It will provide the constant optimum temperature you set it to, between 68-108°F / 20-42°C depending on your specific crop. (This mat does go lower, but you likely won't be germinating any crops requiring a 40°F germ temp.)
GrowJourney Note: Spray bottles are essential for keeping your seeds in the ideal moisture range to germinate. After going through many “cheap” spray bottles, we bought one that would last. This spray bottle also works great when you’re spraying neem oil on your indoor seedlings to get rid of aphids. We like to keep two for this reason - one for misting seedlings & one to apply pest control.
Variations: Amber Glass, 16oz (shown) // Blue Glass, 16oz
GrowJourney Note: If you are looking for nicer tags that will never fade or have the contents wear off (we use them to mark trees, special plant varieties or plants in public spaces, like a butterfly garden), these copper tags will do the trick. Two sizes included: 2.5" W x 4"H (20 Qty), and 2.5" W x 6" H (10 Qty).
Use with: Permanently engrave the copper name plate using a ball point pen or these awesome letter stampers!
GrowJourney Note: A great cold frame option, you can use to start seeds, harden off transplants, and grow greens and other cool-season crops. The base is made wood, and the top is made with polycarbonate panels that diffuse light so plants don’t “cook." The top panel is adjustable in height and can be locked in place at various height intervals. Dimensions: 25" W x 39.5" L, 10.5″ – 15″H
Seeds Starting Supplies: Ladbrooke Soil Blockers
Ladbrooke soil blockers aren’t necessary for newbies or those with small gardens. However, they’re something you may want to consider if you have a large garden or market garden/micro-farm where you’re starting lots of seeds. Also, if you’re starting hundreds or thousands of seeds that benefit from supplemental heat/heat mats, Ladbrooke micro-blocks are the way to go for space efficiency. Another big benefit: air-pruned roots. Want to learn more about why, how, and when to use a Ladbrooke system before buying them? Read our Ladbrooke guide first!
GrowJourney Note: Complete Ladbrooke blocker set for more advanced gardeners and people with large gardens who start a lot of seeds. Never buy seed cells again! You’ll get faster & more reliable germination with the micro blocks vs plastic cells), and you can start over 300 seedlings in a single tray, 4x more than with seed cells. Includes Mini 4 blocks (2" blocks), Micro 20 (3/4″ blocks that nest in the Mini 4 blocks), Cubic Inserts, 1" Seed Dibbles, and Grow Tweezers. Genuine Ladbrooke, made in England.
Use with: Mesh bottom trays + Solid flats to press the blocks into.
IGrowJourney Note: Complete Ladbrooke blocker set for more advanced gardeners and people with large gardens who start a lot of seeds. Never buy seed cells again! You’ll get faster & more reliable germination with the micro blocks vs plastic cells), and you can start over 300 seedlings in a single tray, 4x more than with seed cells. Includes Mini 4 blocks (2" blocks), Micro 20 (3/4″ blocks that nest in the Mini 4 blocks), & Cubic Inserts. Genuine Ladbrooke, made in England.
Use with: Mesh bottom trays + Solid flats to press the blocks into.
GrowJourney Note: Micro 20 is best for starting small seeds, then soil blocks with germinated seedlings insert inside Mini 4 soil blocks. Used extensively in Europe to start seeds – no more individual cell packs! You can start over 300 seedlings in a single tray, 4x more than with seed cells. Our favorite way to start nightshade seeds–in our experience you get faster & more reliable germination with the micro blocks vs plastic cells. Makes 20, 3/4″ blocks at once. Genuine Ladbrooke, made in England.
Use with: Mesh bottom trays + Solid flats to press the blocks into.
GrowJourney Note: Most popular Ladbrooke soil blocker size. Makes four 2″ soil blocks. We sometimes start our larger seeds (like cucurbits, favas & beets) that don’t like having their roots disturbed in these blocks. These are also used to “block up” your mini-blocks so they have room to grow. We’ll usually wait about 2 weeks, but some people will do it as soon as 7-10 days after germination. Makes 4, 2″ blocks at once. Genuine Ladbrooke, made in England.
Use with: Mesh bottom trays + Solid flats to press the blocks into.
GrowJourney Note: If you’re using Ladbrooke soil blocks or Rockwool Cub Plugs, you'll need mesh inserts + trays - this combo bundle has you covered. They create an even flat surface for the soil blocks to rest on, and allow you to easily lift out all your blocks at once when you need to. They also help keep your seed blocks properly drained and aerated. These also work perfectly with standard 1020 cells (72 cells & 128 cell) if you want to be able to easily lift them out to dump excess water.
Variations: 5 pack (shown) // 10 pack // 10 w/ 10 domes pack
Use with: Ladbrooke seed starting kit
Seed Starting Supplies: Seed Starting Mix/Soil & Food
Growth media, organic plant food, and microbial symbionts that will help you grow the healthiest seedlings possible. Also included: ingredients you’ll need if you want to make your own seed starting mix and Ladbrooke soil block soil mix!
GrowJourney Note: A high quality organic seed starting soil mix to help get your seedlings off to the best start possible! You can also use it to get roots established on cuttings. Formula includes sphagnum peat moss, perlite, kelp meal, worm castings, and well-aged compost, so lots of good microbes to get friendly with the plant roots helping to boost the life-long health of the plants. This product is also OMRI-listed.
GrowJourney Note: Worm castings make an excellent amendment to any garden or seed starting mix. If you don’t have your own castings to add to the mix, we highly recommend you get these. They act like a ‘super humus’, an extremely fertile organic fertilizer properly conditioned for best root growth and most bio-available plant nutrition. These also make an awesome outdoor garden soil amendment or actively aerated compost tea (AACT).
GrowJourney Note: Beneficial soil microbes, including mycorrhizal fungi, make all the difference when you’re trying to grow healthy organic seedlings or mature plants. This is an excellent inoculant for your seedlings and mature plants alike.
The cutting edge formula contains:15 different species of mycorrhizal fungi, 19 different species of beneficial bacteria, 2 species of trichoderma, & plant vitamins and glycine
GrowJourney Note: If you’re making your own seed starting mix, you’ll need to use a sphagnum moss or coco coir in addition to organic materials (like worm castings & top soil), fertilizer, mycorrhizae and perlite/vermiculite (for aeration). Coco coir is more sustainable than sphagnum peat moss (what’s commonly used) since it comes from a waste product (coconut shells/husks). Rapidly expands and holds water once wetted. We’ve been using this brand for years.
GrowJourney Note: Hands-down our favorite potting soil. We use it when we're potting up young seedlings (which ideally start in a seed starting mix) and for all of our larger potted plants. You can technically use it for starting seeds if you're in a pinch, but it contains larger chunks of organic matter that isn't ideal for young seedlings in small cells. Contains beneficial soil microbes and mycorrhizal fungi to help optimize plant health and resilience.
GrowJourney Note: Want to reduce or eliminate the need to regularly put liquid fertilizer on your indoor seedlings before you transplant them into your garden? Add this slow-release organic fertilizer into your seed starting mix. A superior blend of alfalfa meal, fish bone meal, feather meal, mined potassium sulfate, soft rock, phosphate, seaweed extract and Pro-Biotic (seven champion strains of beneficial soil microbes) + Ecto and Endo Mycorrhizae. NPK: 2-4-2 Formulation. Ideal for seedlings and plants that need more dilute nutrition (like drought-stressed plants)
GrowJourney Note: Do NOT use gardening soil for seed starting indoors in cells! The soil will quickly turn into a brick. Instead, make your own mix OR use a high quality organic/OMRI listed seed starting mix like this one. We love all the beneficial microbes in this mix, which will make your seedlings & plants extra healthy. It's a premium blend of sphagnum peat moss, peat humus, and perlite, and enhanced with Myco-tone®, a proprietary blend of mycorrhizae fungi to supercharge the roots.
GrowJourney Note: This organic liquid fertilizer is great for giving young indoor seedlings a balanced fertility boost, but it also works equally well on any of your other mature indoor/outdoor plants as well, including perennial fruit, nut, and berry plants.Special micro-brewed formula incorporates earthworm castings; bat guano and other high-test organic ingredients. NPK: 0.1-0.3-0.7 formulation. Big bloom liquid concentrate is 100-percent natural & organic biologically alive formula
GrowJourney Note: Aaron, say something.
GrowJourney Note: A key ingredient in our DIY seed starting mix, vermiculite (a heat-treated mineral) increases water & nutrient retention in seed starting mixes and potting soil. It can also be used as a soil amendment in sandy, nutrient-poor soils.
GrowJourney Note: Another key ingredient in our DIY seed starting mix, perlite is tiny pellets of volcanic glass (don’t worry it’s not sharp) that is used to increase soil aeration and drainage in seed starting mixes and potted plants. It’s also used an amendment to lighten heavy clay soils.
Variation: 8 Qt
Seeds Starting Supplies: Pest Control
If pest insects or their larvae (looking at you fungus gnats!) are harming your seedlings or plants, here are safe and effective products you can use to help!
GrowJourney Note: Whether you have fungus gnat larvae killing your indoor seedlings (they eat their roots), root-knot nematodes damaging your outdoor plants, or other soil pests causing harm in your garden such as Japanese beetles, these predatory nematodes work like magic. Imagine releasing a pride of hungry lions on a herd of fat, lazy deer. Use nature’s pest control instead of synthetic chemicals.
Predatory nematodes are especially effective against mobile pests: grubs, fungus gnats, root aphids, root galls, thrips, codling moths and more. This product is a combination of two beneficial nematodes – Heterohabditis bacteriophora and Steinernema feltiae. Apply when soil temps are between 42°F-90°F.
Variations: 10 Million, 2-3,000 sq.ft (shown) // 25 Million, 8-10,000 sq.ft // 50 Million, 16-20,000 sq. ft
GrowJourney Note: THE BEST neem oil product we’ve ever used for indoor and outdoor plants. If aphids are a problem on your indoor seedlings, neem oil spray is a safe and effective way to get rid of them. We’ve also used it on other indoor plants for spider mites and scales. It also works on outdoor pests as well, if your predatory insects aren't able to do the work for you.
Additional Info: Mix at different neem concentrations (1% – 4% are recommended, depending on the application purpose). Can be applied UP TO THE DAY OF HARVEST. Neem oil is also an insect repellant, anti-feedant, and growth regulator. This is a concentrated form (not ready-to-use) and will need to be applied with a 1-gallon pressurized sprayer or a smaller spray bottle (for smaller areas). We keep a small 8oz bottle of Dr. Bronner's soap to mix (1-2 tsp per gallon) with the neem oil prior to application to help the neem stick to plants/foliage better, but any natural, biodegradable soap will also work.
GrowJourney note: Captain Jack's Deadbug Brew contains Spinosad, a naturally occurring soil dwelling bacterium. Kills bagworms, borers, beetles, caterpillars, codling moth, gypsy moth, loopers, leaf miners, spider mites, tent caterpillars, thrips and more. Use on fruits, veggies, nuts, and ornamentals. This is a concentrated product (not ready-to-use) and will need to be applied with a 1-gallon pressurized sprayer or a smaller spray bottle (for smaller areas).
Seeds Starting Supplies: Indoor Grow Lights
Having your own indoor grow light system will take your gardening game to the next level. Here are the components of the DIY indoor grow light system we use. (Learn more about how to set up and use your own indoor grow light system here.)
GrowJourney Note: The foundation of a good DIY grow light system is a good shelving unit. These metal shelves are light weight, easy to assemble and disassemble, easy to clean, moveable (the have wheels), and highly customizable. Yes, we know because they're the shelving units we use for our home DIY grow light system!
Variations: 18" D x 48" W x 82" H black
GrowJourney Notes: These are the timers we have for our grow light system so we don't have to try to remember to turn them on each morning and turn them off each night. Automation makes your life easier!
GrowJourney Notes: These are the LED grow light strips we've been using since switching from our old fluorescent grow light system - and we love them. They produce happy vigorous seedlings, will last for many years, and are extremely energy efficient. We attach two LED light strips under each shelf; you can only use 5 out of 6 shelves on a 6-shelf system, which requires 10 LED light strips. Since the light strips come in a 6-pack, you'll need to order two (you'll get a total of 12 light strips and have two extras).
Additional Items: Make sure to get a power strip able to accommodate the number of lights & light plugs you need. 2 pack w/ 6 each // 12 outlet
