How to Choose the Best Trays for Growing Microgreens
Microgreen trays may look simple, but they influence nearly every stage of production. Tray size determines growing area and seed requirements. Depth affects media use and root space. Drainage changes how water moves through the crop. Strength matters when wet media and mature shoots must be lifted, stacked, carried, and cleaned repeatedly.
The best microgreen tray is not necessarily the deepest, cheapest, or most colorful option. It is the tray that fits your crops, shelving, watering method, harvest process, and production volume.
Start With Tray Size
The 1020 tray is a common reference in microgreen production, but actual dimensions and growing area can vary by manufacturer. Do not assume every product labeled 1020 has precisely the same usable surface. Measure the inside growing area when calculating seed density or comparing yields.
Smaller trays, including 1010 and 5x5 formats, can be useful for home growers, variety trials, chef samples, subscriptions, and customers who want to grow one small crop at a time. A small tray lets you test seed without committing an entire production tray.
Commercial growers often prefer standardized sizes because they simplify rack planning, lighting, irrigation, and recordkeeping. Whichever format you select, use the same model during controlled trials so tray differences do not distort results.
Shallow vs. Deep Microgreen Trays
Shallow trays use less growing medium and can be easier to handle. They are often suitable for crops harvested young, particularly small-seeded varieties with modest root systems.
Deeper trays provide more media volume and root space. They may be helpful for larger or longer-growing crops, but they also use more media, add weight, and increase the amount of material handled after harvest.
Choose depth by crop and process rather than assuming one tray is best for everything. Broccoli, radish, pea shoots, sunflower, cilantro, and beet do not behave identically. A commercial operation may benefit from standardizing on one primary tray while keeping another depth for specific crops.
Trays With Holes and Without Holes
A tray with drainage holes allows excess water to move away from the root zone. When nested in a solid tray, it can support bottom watering: water is added to the lower tray and absorbed through the openings.
A solid tray can serve as the reservoir beneath a perforated tray, protect shelving, and contain water. It can also be used as a cover or stacking component when appropriate for the crop.
Many growers therefore use trays in pairs: one perforated growing tray and one solid bottom tray. Make sure the pair nests as intended and can be separated without damaging the crop.
Mesh trays have many openings and can work with grow mats or systems designed for that structure. The choice between mesh and conventional drainage holes depends on media, root behavior, cleaning, and watering.
Why Tray Strength Matters
A tray that bows or twists can create uneven water depth, shift media, damage roots, and make carrying a mature crop difficult. Thin disposable trays may appear economical but can become expensive if they crack, require frequent replacement, or cause crop loss.
Reusable, extra-strength trays may cost more initially but can provide better support over repeated production cycles. Evaluate handles, sidewalls, corners, nesting, and rigidity. Test whether staff can lift and move a fully watered tray safely.
Durability does not eliminate the need for inspection. Remove damaged trays from food production when cracks, deep scratches, or other defects prevent effective cleaning.
Match Trays to Racks and Lights
Measure shelf width, depth, vertical clearance, and load capacity before ordering trays. Account for airflow, fan placement, light fixtures, irrigation components, and the space needed to remove a tray without striking the shelf above.
Plan the number of trays per shelf and the number of crop cycles per week. A rack that physically holds many trays may not provide the access or airflow needed to manage them well.
Greener Harvest Seed Co. offers Bootstrap Farmer trays and kits, including multiple 1020 and 5x5 options. Compare product dimensions and features with your existing equipment before purchasing.
Consider Cleaning and Food Safety
Tray design affects how easily soil, roots, and organic material can be removed. Tight corners, damaged surfaces, and complicated structures can require more labor to clean.
Build a documented tray-cleaning process using products and concentrations appropriate for your operation. Cleaning removes soil and debris; sanitizing is a separate step performed according to product directions and applicable procedures. Store clean trays where they are protected from contamination.
Color-coding can help separate uses or production zones, but only if every employee understands the system. Document the meaning of each color instead of relying on memory.
Calculate Total Tray Cost
Compare trays by cost per useful cycle, not only purchase price. Include expected lifespan, breakage, replacement frequency, cleaning labor, shipping, storage, and crop loss caused by poor performance.
For a commercial grower, consistency has value. Standard trays make seed-rate calculations, yield comparisons, shelf layouts, and employee training easier. If you change tray models, treat the change as a production variable and retest your process.
Build a Practical Tray System
A useful starting system includes compatible perforated and solid trays, a format suited to your rack, and enough duplicates to maintain rotation while used trays are being cleaned and dried. Smaller trays can support product testing without disrupting full-scale production.
The right trays will not solve every growing problem, but they create a stable platform for moisture management, root development, lighting, harvesting, and recordkeeping. Choose them with the same care you give your microgreen seed, and they can support thousands of small, repeatable decisions across the life of your operation.