Clear Tubs for Early Seedlings

Short season gardeners will usually start at least a few types of seeds indoors to get a head start on the spring planting season. Light setups and heat mats work well for a few flats of seedlings, but can be costly and require plenty of extra indoor space. If these options won't work for you, you might try using one or two large clear plastic tubs.



Individual containers of sown seeds can be placed in the bottom of the tub, or with the aid of some sort of divider, they can be stacked until germination takes place. Once a container shows signs of germination and growth, you can place that container on the top row, or move it into another tub set in a sunny window to provide extra light for your developing seedlings. If you have a large floor level window that gets sun, you can stack your tubs as well.

The tubs also work well for transportation during the hardening-off phase of development; requiring fewer trips back and forth as you transfer from indoors to outdoors, and back again. The best tubs to purchase for both of these phases are those with clear tops and flip-latch lids. One flip-latch can be fastened down to keep the lid from blowing off, while the other can be propped open with a twig to allow excess heat to escape. Clear tubs with clear lids allow light from almost any angle to reach your seedlings, while simultaneously offering protection from cold drafts, unexpected downpours, and the oftentimes rare, but blisteringly bright and potentially burning spring sunshine.