7 Best Hydroponic Trays for Growing Microgreens

Anyone who’s tried to move a flimsy, water-logged tray of soil and seedlings knows the frustration of a sudden crack and a mess on the floor. When it comes to growing microgreens, your choice of tray is more than just a container; it’s the foundation of your entire operation. The right tray saves you time, money, and headaches, letting you focus on producing a beautiful, consistent harvest.

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Choosing the Right Microgreen Growing Trays

The first decision you’ll face is whether to use trays with drainage holes or without. This choice directly dictates your watering method and workflow. Trays with holes are designed to be nested inside a solid tray, allowing for bottom-watering. This is the preferred method for microgreens as it keeps moisture off the delicate stems and leaves, significantly reducing the risk of mold and damping-off disease.

Solid trays, without holes, serve a dual purpose. They act as the reservoir for bottom-watering when paired with a holed tray, and they can also be used on their own for certain hydroponic methods where a growing medium like a coco coir mat is used. Having a mix of both types gives you maximum flexibility. For a beginner, a set of ten holed trays and ten solid trays is a fantastic starting point that covers nearly every microgreen variety you’ll want to grow.

Ultimately, the goal is to create a system that is efficient for your setup. If you’re growing on a single shelf, you can manage top-watering carefully, but if you have multiple stacked shelves, bottom-watering is almost essential for speed and consistency. Investing in a matched set of holed and solid trays from the start establishes a professional, scalable workflow, even on a small hobby farm.

Key Features in a Quality Hydroponic Tray

Not all plastic is created equal, and the differences become obvious after just a few cycles of use. A quality tray is an investment that pays for itself in longevity and ease of use. Look for trays made from BPA-free, food-grade polypropylene (PP) or polystyrene (PS) plastic, ensuring no harmful chemicals leach into your crops.

Durability is the most critical factor. Flimsy, thin-walled trays will crack when carrying the weight of wet soil or when being twisted to remove a root mat. A good tray should feel substantial and have some flex without being brittle. The industry standard size, the 1020 tray (roughly 10 inches by 20 inches), is ideal because it fits perfectly on standard wire shelving and under common grow lights, making it easy to build an efficient vertical system.

Finally, consider the small details that make a big difference in daily use. Look for trays with wide rims or lips, which make them easier to carry without disturbing the soil. Good stackability is also key for storage; trays should nest together neatly without sticking, saving precious space in your greenhouse or storage shed.

Bootstrap Farmer Trays: A Heavy-Duty Choice

If you are serious about growing microgreens for more than just a single season, Bootstrap Farmer trays are the answer. These are built like tanks, made from extra-thick, food-grade, BPA-free plastic that is designed to withstand years of constant use. You can carry one of these trays, fully loaded with wet soil, by the corner with one hand, and it won’t buckle or crack. This level of durability is a game-changer, eliminating the common frustration of broken trays and spilled soil.

The key benefit here is long-term value. While the initial cost is higher than standard nursery trays, they will likely be the last trays you ever need to buy. This aligns perfectly with a sustainable hobby farm ethos: buy it once, buy it right. They come in shallow and deep versions, with and without holes, offering a complete system for any microgreen crop you can imagine, from shallow-rooted cress to deeper-rooted peas.

This is the tray for the committed grower. If you plan to produce microgreens consistently for your family, a farmers’ market, or local restaurants, don’t waste your time with anything less. The upfront investment pays for itself in reliability and peace of mind.

True Leaf Market Kits: Excellent for Beginners

Starting with microgreens can feel overwhelming, with questions about seeds, soil, and trays. True Leaf Market kits are designed to remove that initial friction by bundling everything you need into one package. These kits typically include high-quality trays, pre-measured soil pucks, and select seed varieties that are known for being easy to grow, like basic salad mix or spicy mustard.

The value of these kits isn’t just in the components, but in the curated experience. They take the guesswork out of the equation, allowing you to focus on learning the process of seeding, watering, and harvesting. The included trays are of good quality—a significant step up from flimsy big-box store options—and provide a solid foundation for your first few dozen harvests. They offer a gentle introduction to the concepts of bottom-watering and blackout domes.

This is the perfect starting point for the curious beginner. If you’re not yet sure if microgreens are a long-term project for you, a True Leaf Market kit provides a low-risk, high-reward way to get your hands dirty and learn the fundamentals with proven components.

Vivosun Seedling Trays: The Best Budget Pick

For the hobbyist who is experimenting with a wide variety of crops or needs a large number of trays without a significant upfront investment, Vivosun offers a compelling budget-friendly option. These trays are functional and get the job done, providing the standard 1020 footprint that fits well into common growing setups. They are readily available and often sold in multi-packs, making them an economical way to scale up quickly.

The tradeoff for the lower price is durability. These trays are thinner than premium options and will not withstand the same level of abuse. You’ll need to handle them with two hands when they’re full, and they may become brittle and crack after a season or two of heavy use and sun exposure. However, for someone just starting out or for less demanding uses like starting seeds indoors before transplanting, their value is undeniable.

This is the right choice for the budget-conscious experimenter. If you need to maximize the number of trays you can buy for your dollar and are willing to handle them with a bit more care, Vivosun trays are a practical and economical solution.

SunBlaster NanoDome Kit: All-In-One System

The SunBlaster NanoDome Kit takes the concept of a growing tray and elevates it into a complete, self-contained propagation system. This kit includes a standard 1020 tray, but its key features are the high-dome lid and a specially designed T5 fluorescent grow light that sits securely on top. This creates a miniature greenhouse environment, perfect for germination and early growth.

This all-in-one approach is brilliant for those with limited space or who want precise environmental control. The dome maintains high humidity, which is crucial for getting seeds to sprout, while the integrated light provides optimal, full-spectrum light without the need for a larger, more complex setup. It’s an incredibly efficient system for a kitchen counter or a single shelf in a garage, ensuring your microgreens get the perfect conditions from day one.

This system is ideal for the tech-savvy grower who wants to optimize germination. If you love dialing in variables and want a clean, compact, and highly effective setup for starting seeds of any kind, not just microgreens, the SunBlaster kit is a fantastic investment.

Garland Heavy Duty Trays for Maximum Durability

Garland trays are another top-tier contender in the heavy-duty category, offering a fantastic alternative to other premium brands. Made from recycled polypropylene, these trays are exceptionally rigid and robust, designed specifically for the rigors of a commercial nursery but perfectly suited for the serious hobby farmer. Their defining feature is their stiffness; they exhibit almost no flex, which is ideal when moving heavy, saturated trays around.

This rigidity also makes them excellent for use as a solid bottom tray, providing a stable, level base for multiple smaller pots or cell inserts in addition to microgreen flats. The plastic is thick and UV-stabilized, meaning it won’t become brittle or degrade when used in a greenhouse or outdoors. They are built for longevity, easily handling the cycle of planting, harvesting, and aggressive cleaning.

Choose Garland if you prioritize rigidity and stability above all else. If your workflow involves carrying trays long distances or if you use your trays for a variety of tasks beyond microgreens, their robust, inflexible construction makes them an outstanding and reliable choice.

Johnny’s Shallow Tray: For Short-Root Crops

While a standard-depth tray works for everything, a specialized shallow tray, like the one offered by Johnny’s Selected Seeds, can optimize your process for certain crops. These trays are about half the depth of a typical 1020 tray. This design offers two distinct advantages for microgreens with shallow root systems, such as arugula, cress, or mustard.

First, you use significantly less growing medium. Over hundreds of trays, this reduction in soil or coco coir usage translates into real cost savings and less material to handle. Second, the shorter sidewalls make harvesting much easier. You can get your knife or scissors lower and closer to the soil level, resulting in a cleaner cut and longer stems, which improves the final product’s appearance and weight.

This is a specialized tool for the efficiency-minded grower. If you find yourself growing large quantities of short-rooted microgreens, incorporating shallow trays into your system will save you money on soil and time during harvest.

GSC Self-Watering Tray: For Easy Hydration

The GSC Self-Watering Tray is a clever solution for the time-strapped grower. This system features a reservoir tray, a planting tray insert, and a wicking mat that sits between them. You fill the bottom reservoir with water, and the mat draws moisture up into the growing medium, providing a constant, steady supply of water to the roots without any daily effort.

This "set it and forget it" approach is perfect for anyone who travels, has an inconsistent schedule, or simply wants to reduce daily chores. It nearly eliminates the risk of both underwatering and overwatering, as the soil only draws up the moisture it needs. This consistent hydration can lead to more even growth and healthier plants, especially for thirsty crops like peas or sunflowers.

This is the tray for the busy farmer who needs automation. If you can’t check on your microgreens every single day, or if you want to ensure they have perfect moisture levels over a long weekend, this self-watering system is an invaluable tool.

Tray Care for Long-Lasting Microgreen Harvests

Your trays are a long-term investment, and proper care will dramatically extend their lifespan. The most important step is cleaning and sanitizing them thoroughly between each crop. After harvesting, scrape out all remaining soil and root matter, then wash the trays with soap and water to remove any physical debris. A stiff brush is your best friend for this task.

For sanitization, a simple solution of diluted white vinegar or food-grade hydrogen peroxide is highly effective at killing any lingering mold spores or pathogens without resorting to harsh chemicals like bleach. A quick soak or a thorough spray-down, followed by a rinse and air dry, is all that’s needed. This step is non-negotiable for preventing disease from carrying over to your next crop.

Finally, proper storage is crucial. When not in use, store your trays clean, dry, and out of direct sunlight. UV radiation is the primary cause of plastic becoming brittle and cracking over time. Stacking them neatly in a shed, garage, or basement will protect your investment and ensure they are ready to go for many seasons of productive growing.

Ultimately, the best microgreen tray is the one that fits your budget, your scale, and your growing style. Whether you choose a budget-friendly multi-pack or a heavy-duty tray built to last a lifetime, selecting the right foundation is the first step toward a simple and productive harvest. The right tool doesn’t just hold the soil; it makes the entire process more enjoyable and successful.