A seed starting tray with a lid is a shallow, celled tray topped by a clear cover that traps warmth and humidity around freshly sown seed, working like a miniature greenhouse until seedlings are strong enough to leave it. The lid keeps the surface of the growing medium damp, softens the seed coat, and raises the air temperature just enough to speed germination. Once sprouts appear you crack the vent, then remove the cover, so the same tray carries a crop from sowing to transplant.
That is exactly the tray we looked for, and the exact modifier most roundups skip. Every one of the 12 seed starting trays with lids below arrives with its own dome or vented cover in the box. We read the spec sheets and weighed cell counts against the crops home gardeners actually sow, with close attention to the three details that decide whether a domed tray works: cell depth, whether the base tray catches runoff, and how the lid vents.
Our winners up front: the MIXC 120-Cell 10-Pack is best overall for its adjustable vents and complete kit, the Gardzen 200-Cell 5-Set is best value for bulk sowing, and the Bonviee 12-Cell 5-Pack is the budget pick. If you only grow microgreens or already have lights and heat, start with the seed starting racks for microgreens instead.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks for Best Seed Starting Trays With Lids (October 2026)
MIXC 120-Cell 10-Pack Kit
- Adjustable vents
- Drainage holes
- 10 cell trays with base trays
- 10 plant labels
Gardzen 200-Cell 5-Set Kit
- Dual adjustable vents
- 40 cells per kit
- Bottom drainage
- Clear dome
All 12 Seed Starting Trays With Lids, Side by Side in 2026
Cell count alone tells you very little. A 200-cell tray with shallow cells and a 12-cell tray with deep cells can cost the same and behave very differently once roots fill the space. The table below puts every pick on the same measures so you can match a tray to a crop and a shelf.
| Product | Specifications | Action |
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| MIXC 120-Cell 10-Pack Kit |
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| Gardzen 200-Cell 5-Set Kit |
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| Bonviee 12-Cell 5-Pack Kit |
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 MIXC 200-Cell 5-Pack Greenhouse Kit |
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 Burpee 72-Cell Kit with Coir Pellets |
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 SOLIGT 3-Set with 5 Inch Domes |
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 Yskea 6-Pack Kit with Grow Lights |
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 VIVOSUN 6-Pack 72-Cell Kit |
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 Patigrow 60-Cell Self-Watering Kit |
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 BlumWay 2-Pack 80-Cell Kit |
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 Ryscam 48-Cell Silicone Tray Kit |
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 VPQZUPG 120-Cell 10-Pack Kit |
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1. MIXC 10-Pack 120-Cell Seed Starter Kit – Best Overall
MIXC 10 Pack Seed Starter Tray, 120Cell Stater Kit with Humidity Dome Green
- Adjustable vents for humidity control
- Drainage holes cut root rot risk
- Complete kit with labels
- Compact under standard grow lights
- Reusable plastic
- Thin plastic can warp after a season or two
- 12 cells means earlier transplanting
- Vent tabs are fiddly and stay in place
Ten separate 12-cell trays, ten watertight base trays, ten domes and ten labels arrive together, so you can run ten varieties at once. The adjustable vent tabs let you dial humidity back instead of guessing.
The footprint is 7.28 by 5.67 inches, so several fit on one shelf under a standard grow light bar. More than 11000 reviews sit at 4.4 stars.
Drainage holes sit in the base of every cell, and the watertight tray underneath catches the runoff. Bottom watering is the cleanest way to use it.
Owners consistently praise how complete the kit is and how well the vents work. A recurring note is that the thin plastic flexes after a season or two in direct sun.
What you get for the money
Ten starter trays, ten base trays, ten domes and ten labels. The vents matter more than the cell count here, since most kits at this size offer a fixed cover.
Where it falls short
Twelve cells is a small pot, so brassicas and fast herbs will want moving on sooner than they would from a 40-cell tray.
2. Gardzen 5-Set 200-Cell Propagator Kit – Best Value
- 200 cells in one purchase
- Two adjustable vents on each dome
- Clear dome shows germination progress
- Drainage holes prevent over watering
- Sturdy plastic
- Cells are shallow for the tray size
- Dome-to-base seal depends on the stickers
Gardzen gives you 200 cells in five complete kits, which is why it lands at the top of our value ranking. Each kit is a 40-cell insert, a base and a dome with two adjustable vents on the roof.
Nearly 8900 reviews average 4.5 stars, and cell volume per tray is the reason owners return. A full spring sowing of tomatoes, peppers and brassicas fits one session.
The clear dome earns its keep in week one. You can watch condensation build and spot the first green tips without lifting anything and letting the humidity out.
Reviewers mention one caveat repeatedly: the cell insert is shallower than a full-size 1020 flat, so seedlings need potting on earlier than the count suggests.
Best use case
Bulk sowing. Five trays on one shelf cover a serious amount of seed, and the stickering tightens the dome seal enough to hold warmth.
What to watch
Shallow cells mean brassicas and melons go root-bound sooner. If you grow big transplants, pair this with a grow light stand that gives you room to move them up.
3. Bonviee 5-Pack 12-Cell Tray Kit – Budget Pick
Bonviee 5-Pack Seed Starter Trays, Humidity Dome, Base, 12-Cell Tray, Black
- Base tray vented lid and labels in one box
- 1.5 inch cells suit larger seeds
- Sturdy across multiple seasons
- Fits under grow lights
- Heat mat compatible
- 12 cells forces early transplanting
- Vent prong tabs are fiddly to fit
- Thin-walled compared with heavy duty trays
Bonviee is the pick when you want one tray per variety and nothing else. Five square 12-cell trays, five base trays, five vented clear lids and ten labels cover the whole setup.
The 1.5 inch square cells are the point. They are wider than the cells in most budget kits, which suits larger seeds like peppers and eggplants that struggle in narrow plugs.
Five trays together cover the footprint of a standard 1020 flat, so one shelf plan works either way. Buyers also note they hold shape under a heat mat.
Over 5600 reviews sit at 4.4 stars. The recurring praise is durability for the money, and the recurring complaint is that twelve cells pushes transplanting earlier.
Who it suits
Beginners and anyone with a short crop list. The whole system is in the box, which avoids buying a cell tray and forgetting the base.
What to watch
The vent tabs press in and do not come back out, so set your airflow before filling. If you already own lights and heat, spend on deeper cells instead.
4. MIXC 5-Pack 200-Cell Mini Greenhouse Kit – Best for High Volume Sowing
MIXC 5 Pack Seed Starter Tray, 200Cell Mini Propagator Greenhouse Grow Kit
- Separate insert over watertight base
- Stackable bases save shelf space
- Clear cells show root development
- Vent dial on the dome
- Two tools and ten labels included
- Plastic warps in direct sun
- Small bottom holes make plug removal harder
- Not enough labels for every cell
This is the MIXC kit at a larger scale: five 40-cell greenhouse trays with a 2.75 inch dome. The cell inserts sit in their own watertight base trays, so bottom watering is the natural method here.
Cells measure 1.5 by 1.5 by 2 inches and the unit is 14.57 by 9.02 by 5 inches, which makes shelf planning easy before you buy.
The transparent cells are more useful than they sound. You can see the root zone and catch circling roots before the tray becomes a rescue job.
More than 3600 reviews at 4.5 stars single out the stacking base trays, which cut the vertical footprint when you are not using all five.
Where it earns its place
Running a propagation schedule rather than one sowing. Separate trays per crop plus stackable bases make it workable in an apartment or a small greenhouse corner.
What to watch
Two owner notes recur: the plastic warps in direct sun, and the bottom holes are small enough that pulling a well-rooted plug takes care.
5. Burpee 72-Cell Kit with Coir Pellets and Dome – Best for First-Time Growers
Burpee 72 Cell Seed Starting Kit with Greenhouse Dome and Coir Pellets
- Fully stocked with 72 coir pellets and labels
- Reservoir base supports bottom watering
- Instructions and diagrams included
- 1020 footprint suits broad sowing
- Thin cell trays deform at transplant
- Coir pellets break apart when lifting
- Dome is flimsy
- Middle cells miss the reservoir water
Burpee solves the beginner problem in a way plastic-only kits do not. The box holds 72 coir growing pellets, a water reservoir base, a clear dome with adjustable vents, two plant diagrams and six markers.
Two 36-cell trays sit in the reservoir, each cell 1.5 inches wide, 1.5 inches long and 2 inches deep. The full footprint is a standard 10 by 20 inches, the size most racks are built around.
Reviews at 4.3 stars praise the packaging and the simple instructions, which matters if this is your first indoor sowing. The reservoir base makes a weekend without watering realistic.
The honest drawback is transplant time. Lift a coir pellet and it can break apart, so seedlings arrive at their next pot with some medium left behind.
Best for a first attempt
If you want one box that explains itself, this is it. Coir pellets and a printed diagram remove most of the early guesswork for a new grower.
What to watch
Reviewers report the dome arriving partly crushed and the thin cell trays deforming at transplant. Middle cells also sit above the reservoir line, so check moisture centrally.
6. SOLIGT Thick Plastic 3-Set with 5 Inch Domes – Most Versatile
SOLIGT Thick Plastic 3-Set Strong Seed Starter Trays with 5″ Humidity Domes
- Thick plastic that survives many seasons
- Extra high dome fits tall seedlings
- Tight seal holds warmth and humidity
- Medium footprint fits a windowsill
- Soil trays not included
- Lids can pop off when moved
- Mold risk if the cover stays on
SOLIGT is built differently from the rest of this list. The domes stand 5 inches tall, the plastic is heavy duty, and each dome covers up to eight six-cell trays for 48 cells per set.
At 4.6 stars from more than 2500 ratings, it matches the top rating in the group on far more reviews than the others. The thick-walled construction is the reason, and it is why these trays should still be in service years from now.
The dome height is genuinely useful. Most covers force you to remove the lid the moment a seedling touches the plastic, and this one gives leggy-prone crops room to grow upright longer.
Two adjustable vents per dome give a real ventilation schedule rather than an all-or-nothing cover, and the dome-to-tray seal holds warmth without tape.
Who it suits
Gardeners who keep trays season after season and would rather buy once. If you already own standard soil cell trays, this set is the lid and base upgrade for them.
What to watch
The planting trays are not in the box, which catches people out. Expect to pop the dome off for watering, and never run the cover on continuously or you invite mold.
7. Yskea 6-Pack Starter Kit with Grow Lights – Best for Small Spaces
- Grow light bars included in the box
- Wide 50-100% humidity vent range
- Reusable polypropylene plastic
- Compact 12-cell footprint
- Twelve cells is a small capacity
- Plastic domes can crack over seasons
Yskea bundles the light with the tray, which is the whole point. Six 12-cell polypropylene trays, domes with adjustable circular vents, and full spectrum light bars in one package.
For a windowsill with no light of its own, that solves two problems at once. A separate light and a separate tray kit means two setups instead of one.
The circular vents give a stated 50-100% humidity range, finer control than a fixed vent hole. You can hold full humidity through germination, then step back fast.
Reviews at 4.4 stars concentrate on that appeal: the light is included, and beginners do not have to work out how far above the tray to hang one.
Best for a small space
Anyone without a dedicated grow shelf. The footprint is small, the light height is already set, and there is no measuring on day one.
What to watch
Twelve cells per tray is small, so this suits a short crop list rather than a bulk run. Owners also report the domes cracking after repeated seasons.
8. VIVOSUN 6-Pack 72-Cell Kit – Best for Deep Cells
VIVOSUN 6-Pack Seed Starter Trays, 72-Cell Starter Kit with Humidity Dome
- Deeper cells extend time before transplant
- Vent controls humidity quickly
- Sturdy plastic survives reuse
- Compact 72-cell footprint
- Heat mat compatible
- Some buyers report a loose lid fit
- Cells still small for fast growers
- Tools and labels missing from some shipments
The VIVOSUN kit is six 12-cell trays, six base trays and six domes, and owners comment most on the cells being deeper than comparable 72-cell kits. Depth buys time.
Cell trays can be used directly or set on the base tray holding six 30mm seedling blocks, so it suits loose mix and plug propagation alike.
Drain holes sit in every cell, and the unit is rated for heating mats running 0 to 120 degrees F. That matters in a cold basement where germination otherwise stalls.
Just under 950 reviews at 4.4 stars lean positive on cell depth and vent response, with a small group reporting a loose lid and vent fit.
Why depth beats cell count
Two inches of soil means roots can anchor before the seedling is knocked out of the cell, which separates a clean transplant from one that sulks for a week.
What to watch
A small share of reviews report lid fit issues, and a few shipments arrived without the tools and labels listed. Check the box contents before sowing.
9. Patigrow 60-Cell Self-Watering Kit with Grow Light – Best All-In-One
- Capillary mat cuts daily watering
- Two LED strips with timer and dimmer
- Thick 1.5mm BPA-free PET dome and base
- Labels and tools included
- Enlarged drainage holes
- Costs more than tray-only kits
- Large footprint needs indoor space
- Light adds wiring and a controller
Patigrow is the most complete box here. You get a 60-cell tray, a 4.07 inch dome with two adjustable vents, a base tray, a capillary mat, a support stand, two LED strips with a controller, twenty labels and two tools.
The capillary mat changes daily routine. Water sits in the base and wicks into the cells, which is how the design carries a crop from germination to transplant.
The dome and base are 1.5mm BPA-free PET, noticeably heavier than thin budget domes, and 56 LED beads across two strips give timer and brightness control.
Owners rate it 4.3 stars from 857 reviews, focusing on less daily watering and a package that needs no extra purchases before the first sowing.
Best for beginners with no equipment
If you own no light, no heat and no trays, this covers the whole setup in one box. The trade is floor space, at 11 by 16.6 inches per unit.
What to watch
It sits well above the cost of plain tray kits, and the light plus controller is wiring you place rather than just plug in. One unit also covers fewer cells than the Gardzen 5-set.
10. BlumWay 2-Pack 80-Cell Kit with Domed Grow Light – Best for Strong Root Growth
BlumWay Seed Starter Tray with Grow Light, Humidity Dome, 2 Pack 80 Cells
- Dome mounted light reaches every cell
- Timer and five brightness levels
- Deep 1.96 inch cells build roots
- 9cm dome gives vertical room
- USB or plug-in power
- Light strips add cost and complexity
- ABS parts may discolor with UV exposure
BlumWay pairs two 40-cell trays with light strips mounted under the dome, so light and humidity share one enclosure. Cells are 1.96 inches deep, among the deepest in this group.
That depth is the draw. A longer soil column means more root run before transplant, which matters for tomatoes, peppers and squash you intend to grow on.
Controls cover three lighting modes, three timer settings from 3 to 12 hours, and five brightness levels. Power comes from USB or a plug-in adapter.
Roughly 830 reviews at 4.5 stars point to the same combination of adjustable dome light and deep cells as the reason to recommend it.
Best for transplants you intend to grow on
Deep cells plus a tall 9cm dome mean seedlings stay domed longer, which reduces the leggy growth you get from reaching for light in a short cover.
What to watch
The light is the expensive and fiddly part. If you already own a grow light, a plain tray kit with more cells does the same job for less.
11. Ryscam 48-Cell Flexible Silicone Tray Kit – Best for Gentle Transplanting
- Silicone bottoms pop seedlings out with roots intact
- 4.33 inch lid holds humidity well
- Base rim contains water
- Dishwasher safe and reusable
- Labels and tools included
- Cells are small
- Some lids do not fit the tray
- Handles a few dozen seedlings not hundreds
The Ryscam design solves the transplant problem rather than the germination problem. Flexible silicone cell bottoms flex and release a seedling with the root ball and most of its soil attached.
That avoids the two worst outcomes of a rigid plastic cell, where you either tear the stem reaching in or shear the roots on the way out.
Grooves in the silicone base improve drainage and aeration, and the base tray has a raised rim that holds water without spilling. The lid and dome stand 4.33 inches tall.
With 657 reviews averaging 4.5 stars, the flexible bottoms are the reason cited most often. The main complaints are small cells and occasional lid fit.
Best for delicate roots
Root crops and fussy herbs benefit most, and so does anyone who has lost seedlings during up-potting. It is also dishwasher safe, which simplifies sanitizing.
What to watch
Forty-eight cells is a modest count, so this is a kitchen-scale tray. A small number of owners report lids that do not fit properly, so check the fit on arrival.
12. VPQZUPG 10-Pack 120-Cell Kit – Best for Many Seed Varieties
10 Pack Seed Starter Trays, 120 Cells with Humidity Domes and Base Trays
- Ten separate trays for ten varieties
- Low cost per starter
- Four vent holes allow staged airflow
- Base trays keep the shelf dry
- Clear trays and domes for easy checks
- Twelve cells are small
- Basic plastic with no extras
Ten individual 12-cell trays is the whole idea here. Each takes a different variety, so a tomato, a pepper and eight chillies run side by side on one shelf.
Each dome carries four ventilation holes, more staged control than most budget kits offer. You open them gradually as the canopy develops rather than stripping the cover.
Drainage holes sit in each cell with matching base trays underneath, and clear plastic lets you check moisture and root colour without lifting the lid.
Owners rate it 4.6 stars from 221 reviews, with cell count and cost per starter as the recurring positives and small cell size as the limitation.
Best for a long seed list
When you buy one packet each of fifteen varieties rather than 200 seeds of one, tray count matters more than cell count. This pack gives you ten separate homes.
What to watch
This is a basic plastic build with no light, heat or self-watering, and the cells are small. It is a sowing station, not a long-term seedling home.
How to Choose a Seed Starting Tray With a Lid?
Match cell size to the crop. This is the decision that matters most and the one most roundups skip. Microgreens and lettuce want shallow, wide cells because you harvest early. Brassicas, peppers and eggplants want roughly 1.5 inch square cells. Melons, squash and pumpkins want the deepest cells you can find, because they go root-bound first.
Check the vent, not just the lid. A dome with no vent is an all-or-nothing cover. Adjustable tabs, a vent dial, or holes of different sizes let you reduce humidity gradually, which is the difference between a seedling tray and a box you open twice a day.
Confirm the base tray is included. The most common complaint across forum threads is a cell tray that arrives with a lid and no reservoir, leaving you watering from the top into the crown. Every kit here except the SOLIGT set includes a base, and that set is a lid-and-base upgrade for trays you already own.
Think about footprint before count. The 1020 flat, 10 by 20 inches, is the standard greenhouse and rack size. The Burpee 72-cell kit sits in that footprint, and five Bonviee 12-cell trays combine to cover it.
Decide whether you need a light or heat in the box. A dome holds warmth, which is often enough. A heat mat covers the same problem from below and is why many growers skip domes entirely.
Factor reuse into the cost. Thick plastic lasts multiple seasons, thin ones crack in a season or two. A higher upfront cost spread over four or five sowings is usually cheaper, which is why the greenhouse seed starting kits we compared leaned toward heavier construction.
How to Use a Domed Seed Tray, Day by Day
Day 0, sow and cover. Fill each cell with damp seed starting mix, press the seed in, label the tray on the outside, then set the cell tray into its base and put the dome on. The medium should be uniformly moist, not dripping.
Days 1 to 5, leave it alone. This is the stage where beginners check too often. Lift the dome and you dump the humidity the tray spent five days building, and the surface dries unevenly. Watch through the clear plastic instead.
At the first sprout, open the vent. As soon as you see the first green tip, move from fully closed to cracked or partly vented. This is the single most important step, and skipping it is the usual reason seedlings develop damping off.
Over the next three to five days, step ventilation up. Increase from a crack to half open to fully off as true leaves appear. Water from the base tray at this point rather than pouring over the top.
From two to four weeks, move them on. Seedlings can stay in the cells roughly three to four weeks, but the truer signal is the first set of true leaves plus roots circling the cell walls.
How to Clean and Reuse Seed Starting Trays Between Seasons
Reuse only works if the tray is actually sanitized. Damp organic residue in a warm plastic cell is a mold incubator, and it carries damping off pathogens into the next sowing.
Start by clearing the cells completely of old medium, roots and debris, which is faster with a stiff brush than by soaking. Then wash the tray, dome and base tray in hot water with dish soap, paying attention to the vents and the inside of the dome.
Rinse with a dilute disinfectant solution, then let everything air dry completely before storing. Dry is the important part, because a stacked closed tray traps the moisture that grows algae.
One more step worth adding: leave new plastic trays in a ventilated room for a day or two before you sow. Gardeners have reported a strong chemical smell from freshly opened bulk packs, and airing them out is a simple fix.
Troubleshooting: Algae, Mold, Damping Off and Leggy Seedlings
Green film on the tray floor. That is algae, and it means the surface stayed wet and the light was low. Improve airflow, open the vents earlier, and let the surface dry slightly between waterings.
Fuzzy growth on the dome or mix. That is mold, and humidity plus poor air movement causes it. Remove the dome during the day once seedlings are up, and never leave a cover on continuously, the most common complaint about the thick domes here.
Seedlings collapsing at the soil line. Damping off is a fungal disease that hits thin, over-watered seedlings under a sealed dome. Prevention is the only real cure: water from below, remove the cover at first sprout, and thin crowded cells.
Long pale stems leaning toward the window. Leggy seedlings need more light or a taller dome. The BlumWay and SOLIGT domes are tall enough to reduce this, and moving a light closer fixes the rest.
Roots circling the cell wall. Root-bound seedlings have run out of soil. Pot them up into a larger cell or a cup rather than leaving them, because stunted roots never catch up.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best seed starting trays with lids?
For most home gardeners the best all-round choice is a domed kit that includes the cell tray, a base tray and a vented cover in one box. A 40-cell tray with adjustable vents gives the best balance of cell depth and seed count, while a 12-cell tray is easier for beginners and better for larger seeds. Thick-walled plastic lasts more seasons than thin plastic, so durability is the second thing to look at.
Do I really need a humidity dome when starting seeds?
A dome earns its place for slow or fussy seed, and for cuttings, because it holds warmth and humidity around the surface of the mix until the seed coat softens. Fast-germinating seed usually does not need one, and a heating mat covers the temperature side of the same problem. If you keep the dome on after sprouts appear, you invite mold and damping off.
When should I remove the lid from a seed starting tray?
Remove the lid at the first sign of a sprout. Crack the vent first for a few days, then open it wider, and take it off entirely once true leaves appear. Removing the cover on schedule is the single most important step in using a domed tray, because a sealed humidity level on a young seedling is the fastest route to damping off.
How long can seedlings stay in a seed starting tray?
Most seedlings can stay in their cells for about three to four weeks after germination. The more reliable signal is the plant itself: once you see the first set of true leaves and roots circling the cell wall, pot the seedling up. Growing on a small cell longer than that risks root-bound plants that never fully recover.
Can you reuse seed starting trays between seasons?
Yes, and reused trays are where the cost savings really come from. Clear out all old medium, wash the tray, dome and base in hot soapy water, sanitize with a dilute disinfectant solution, and let everything dry completely before storing. Thick plastic trays typically survive several seasons this way, while thin trays tend to crack and warp in direct sun.
Can I use plastic wrap instead of a humidity dome?
Yes, and it works. Tape a loose sheet of plastic wrap over the tray and you get the same trapped humidity, at almost no cost, which is why growers repurpose lidded pans and plastic tubs for exactly this. The limitation is that wrap has no vents, so you must remove or loosen it by hand the moment you see a sprout, otherwise the humidity level stays too high.
The Verdict on Seed Starting Trays With Lids in 2026
After working through all twelve, the MIXC 120-Cell 10-Pack is the best overall choice in 2026 because it combines adjustable vents, drainage holes, a watertight base and the largest review base in this group. The Gardzen 200-Cell 5-Set is the pick for volume, and the Bonviee 12-Cell 5-Pack does the same job for less when you have only a few varieties.
Whichever you choose, the tray is the easy part. Remove the dome at the first sprout, water from the base, and pot on at true leaves. If you are planning a run outdoors afterwards, a polycarbonate cold frame gives hardened-off seedlings a sheltered place to wait.