This is a really simple way to keep track of the seeds you’ve started indoors without having to prepare plant tags or labels each time you plant. Instead, you label your planting tray like a spreadsheet with rows and columns and use it over and over again.
Here’s a short video demonstration:
Supplies
- I use 10×20″ trays. My local garden nursery gives away any trays and pots that customers return to them (and they recycle the rest), so I get what I need each spring.
- A 4-cell 2″ soil blocker works perfectly with this size of tray. One tray holds 50 (2″) soil blocks.
- Permanent marker.
Planting Notes
- Using a permanent marker, label your tray in rows and columns, just like a spreadsheet.
- Each tray gets a unique number (for example: Tray #1).
- A 10×20″ tray accommodates 5 rows (named A to E) and 10 columns (named 1 to 10).
- I keep notes on everything I plant so I can monitor which seeds are most successful at harvest time.
Using this labelled tray system, I note the seed name and source, the tray number, and which cells the seeds were planted in (from A1 to E10).
For example, if I plant 5 broccoli seeds in blocks A1, B1, C1, D1, and E1, my note would look like this:
That’s it! Easy.
P.S. If you want to see how a soil blocker works, I demonstrate it here.
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This is such a simple, yet perfect way to keep track of the seeds! I love you process!
Debbie
It has certainly made this step a lot simpler for me.
I found the soil block cube system at Lee Valley Tools as well. Available online or in the store (Burlington ON).
They seem to available at many more stores than they were just a few years ago. Gardening is taking over the world. Woot!