>> I like how you didn't put your shelves end to end but stradled the trays.



I always thought there were only two ways:
1. run trays parallel to the long dimension of the shelf, and have at most 2 side-by-side

2. run trays perpendicular to the long dimension of a 22" wide shelf, and have at most 4 side-by-side

3. But this is a third way!

When you have pots instead of plug trays and inserts on the shelves, are some of them too heavy for 1020 trays? Do you use some kind of reinforcement like thin plywood or wood paneling? Or stiff wire mesh?

RickCorey said:

When you have pots instead of plug trays and inserts on the shelves, are some of them too heavy for 1020 trays? Do you use some kind of reinforcement like thin plywood or wood paneling? Or stiff wire mesh?

Rick, have you looked into what they call "carry trays" for the 4" pots? They fit right into 1020 trays. I lucked out and got a bunch free from one of our local stores that were selling plants; they were just going to toss them. I think a lot of the stores that sell 4" plants just toss the trays they come in; might be worth asking around. They're much sturdier for carting those pots than just the 1020 trays.

I pick them up the same way woofie. Some stores do send them back to the supplier, but if you ask they are happy to let you have some.

Are carry trays the same as "web flats"? I have some, but I didn't think they fit inside 1020s. They don't QUITE fit 3 of my 4" pots across.

No, no, they're formed to hold the 4" pots and they're much more stable. I'll have to get a pic.

Ok. I cheated and snagged an image off a vendor's site:

OHHH, "egg-crate-trays" or "trays with pockets". It's good the have a real name for them!

Yeah, I would love to have some for f ree, but of all the garden-gadgets I have a yen for, those are low on my list. They would keep pots from tipping, and keep pots from pinching drooping branchs ... but ...I dunno.

If I had to pay for them, I'd rather work out some wacky work-around like plastic-lined-cardboard-boxes.

Well, the point was, I got mine for free. I wouldn't PAY for them either! I actually spotted the first ones in the trash can at the hardware store!

Wow...Thanks everyone....Ummm i dont know what 1020 trays are... I use just plain trays with 9 cell pots holds 8...and I use the stuff out of those 4 inch pots ,and holders when I pot On...No reinforcing just straddle the space with the trays...I too have everyone save pots ,cells, trays....We just went and got 4 truck loads of 1 gallon to 75 gallon pots that were donated to our fund Raiser perennial plant sale to benitfit the humain society of whitley county...we got to take as many as we could...For future use...they had over 10,000 pots...They used to have hoop houses and grew from seed and such...Not any more and they have all these pots...crazy

I have Petunias ,Lobelia,Coleus,allysum,hollyhock,Hybiscus,snapdragon,phlox,impatiens,Hyacinth bean,pansy`s,Lisiathus,Verbeena,Asters,begonias

I have rearranged an rearranged to get the most flats I could on the shelves....I had just added the top shelf...luckily I had 3 more lights...had to buy the shelf...it seems to bee really efficiant...now

1020 trays are a standard size nursery tray (that nominally measures 10"x20", hence the name) that holds 12 of those little 4 cell packs for starting seeds. Or they'll hold 18 of the 4" square pots. They're pretty inexpensive if you can buy them locally, but if you have to have them shipped (like I do everything, sigh) the shipping runs up the cost. I think I paid about 1.50 for mine. It's kind of nice to have them all the same size, but I still use anything else I can get my hands on that will hold soil!

We find ours free as well at they type of nurseries that propagate their own plants. Anywhere you find an actual greenhouse, be bold and ask if they have any containers they need to get rid of. Most of them have a pile of pots somewhere on the property!

Tamera- I can't wait to see all of those in bloom!

>> No reinforcing just straddle the space with the trays.

Cool, now I'm ambitious to get TWO racks, instead of just ambitious to get ONE rack!


>> what 1020 trays are

Mine are pretty flimsy, but sometimes I double them up.
http://garden.org/blogs/view/R...

It occurred to me last night that capillary mats would work a little better if the drainage ridges in the trays were only 1-2 mm deep, and there were cross-grooves besides the lengthwise grooves. But maybe those ridges or grooves need to be deep to give a little rigidity.

>> Lisiathus

I read those are hard to start and "force" to flower. But they are gorgeous in photos!

Rick,The lisianthus will be blooming late summer...It is sooo eenie....should have started it in november...at least I know I can Grow it,I did last year too..But soo very late...I love it,it does well for me on the west side of the house.

I trimmed my flats so I could squeeze 7 flats per shelf...Im very Lucky to have a very handy Hubby also...He helps me get set up,altho I did have to use the drill motor all by my self... Im pretty handy too we built our house from the ground up...and I have totally smashed a finger or 2 with a hammer...

I bought my flats and cells at Menards....Cheap...and I always look for Free ones...My cousin works the lawn and garden dept at Wamart...I get the square pot holders from her...she is the dept head...stuff they throw away...arrggg...

I have a few bloomers today....Lobelia,Phlox drummondi,and Impatiens....

But Our furnace just went out...and they cant get the part till monday or tuesday.....OY vay...going to have to live in the growroom all weekend...we just spent $600.....ackkk...But this one is covered by waranty...

Yuck, Tamara. Fingers crossed they get it fixed more quickly than was thought.

Thank heavens for that warranty. Stay warm Tamara.

Thanks all...Good thing we have a gas stove...Oven is on and the oilfilled lil radiator I use in the Greenroom,so its a balmy 68... Better than 64..

Ain't that the truth!

Debra, I just have to ask, what is the mix in your black dog? We had one that looked identical. Her name was Irma and we loved her so very much.

Willie is Schnauzer/ShihTzu/Chihuahua.

Lynn, We have a black dog who is a gem. We wondered about her background, so one year for Christmas my daughters got us a DNA test for our gift. It was the best gift ever. This dog retrieves, herds, points, guards and is the most empathic dog I've ever seen. We were guessing she was part lab, rottie, beagle and maybe shepard. When I ran soccer practice in the yard, she tried to round the kids up into a tight group. She would bring their stray balls back, too. We found out she's part lab, part Australian cattle dog, and part Samoyed! She has the Sammie smile, for sure! Now we know why she wants to keep the kids in a group also.
The DNA test was around $55, and just involved swabbing her gums. The results came in 2 weeks or so.
I wish I could clone this dog. She's right with me in the flower beds, searching out bad bunnies and snakes. She pushes me back towards the house whenever she hears thunder, and she loves to sing and dance!