Microgreen Trays

Which trays are best for growing microgreens at home?

The best trays for you will depend on how many people you are feeding and how frequently you want to eat microgreens. For a family of 2 using 1010 trays will let you plant a greater variety of greens while saving space. For larger families with kids growing a few 1020 trays per week of favorites like pea shoots and broccoli microgreens is a great start for adding more vegetables to your diet. 

Always choose a heavy-duty reusable tray made from food-safe plastic for ease of cleaning and peace of mind. 

How many trays do I need?

You will need enough trays to have one set growing and another germinating at a time. Ideally having one extra set as well for those weeks that you want to grow more. If you plan to eat three trays worth per week a 10 pack would be just right for you. 

If you will be growing for market it is best to have at least 4 sets of trays; one germinating, one growing, one ready to harvest, and one waiting to be cleaned. 

Do I need both trays with holes and trays without holes?

Yes, when growing microgreens you will need to have trays with holes to grow in and trays with no holes for bottom watering and stacking. The only time this does not apply is if you will be growing in a flood and drain system like our Automated Grow Rack. 

How do I clean my microgreen trays?

If you are using our heavy-duty, reusable trays: 

• You will start by removing all of the growing media and roots left over from harvest. These can be fed to livestock or added to your compost. 
• Spray the trays off using a hose on a higher pressure setting. 
• Wash the mostly clean trays in hot soapy water or run them through your dishwasher. (Just remember to turn off the heated dry function)
• Rinse your trays with clean water and allow to air dry.
• For added sterilization, you can use H2O2 or a mild bleach solution. 

Should I use shallow trays or deep trays?

For most microgreens, our shallow 1 ¼ inch trays are perfect for saving on growing media and making your plants easy to harvest. 

For tall-growing crops like pea shoots, sunflowers, and wheatgrass our deep 2.5 inch trays give your crops a little more support and space for longer growing times. 

What Size of Microgreen Tray Do I Need?

5X5 Grow Tray- These microgreen trays are ⅛ the size of the heavy-duty 1020 tray. This convenient size works great for subscription microgreen sales and individual sales, as well as small quantities of herbs for home use. The 5x5s are designed to fit (8) within a 1020 2.5” tray. Also available in shallow style, with and without drainage holes.

1010 Shallow Microgreen Tray W/ and W/out Holes- This microgreen tray is half the size of the 1020 tray. Same style and durability as the 1020 with the same uses. Two of these shallow trays fit nicely inside a shallow 1020 tray for time savings while watering. Got less growing space? Nest (1) 1010 with holes with (1) 1010 no holes as the bottom tray for watering. Also designed for use in a flood and drain system.

1010 Shallow Mesh Microgreen Tray- This microgreen tray has a flat mesh bottom. Two (2) of the 1010 mesh shallow trays fit in a 1020 shallow microgreen tray without holes for bottom watering or nest (1) 1010 mesh in (1) 1010 Shallow Microgreen Tray without holes for bottom watering. Also designed for use in a flood and drain system.

1010 Deep Microgreen Tray W/Holes- This microgreen tray is 2.5” deep and half the size of a 1020 tray. It is designed to nest (1) in a 1010 Deep Microgreen Tray W/out Holes or nest (2) in an Extra, Heavy-duty 1020 2.5” deep tray W/out holes.

1020 Shallow Mesh- This mesh 1” deep microgreen tray has small holes throughout the entire tray allowing for superior drainage. These are great for varieties that benefit from top watering, ie. peas, sunflowers. They drain so easily that water pooling isn’t an issue. Peas and sunflowers have strong enough stems to handle top watering, not recommended for all varieties. Bottom water with a Shallow 1020 Microgreen W/out Holes or use directly in a flood and drain system.

1020 Deep Mesh- This 2.5” mesh microgreen tray is designed for both microgreens and propagation. It nests perfectly into the 1020 2.5” Deep No Hole Trays for bottom watering or works well in a flood and drain system.

1020 Shallow Microgreen Tray W/ & W/out Holes - These trays are the most popular for microgreens growers, and they come in bright colors! The no-hole style has 36 small holes allowing for drainage as well as bottom watering. They are perfect for any and all varieties. The shallow tray with holes nests perfectly into the shallow tray without holes for the bottom-watering of microgreens.

1020 Extra Strength 2.5” W/ & W/out Holes- The 1020 2.5” W/Holes are great for varieties that do better with more soil media or for propagation. The 1020 2.5” without holes is perfect for use as a blackout dome and bottom-watering. The 1020 Deep W/holes nests into the 1020 Deep without holes for bottom-watering sprouted microgreens. 

Click here to read What Trays Do You Need for Microgreens and Propagation.

Want to learn how to grow microgreens?

We have compiled all of our best resources from our Microgreens Blog into a single resource for your convenience. If you are just starting out and growing microgreens at home for yourself, start with our Microgreens 101 resource.  

Are you ready to step up your growing game or start a microgreens business? Check out our Ultimate Microgreen Growing Resource Guide for information on all steps of the process, from what lights to use to how to deal with mold-prone seeds.