I don’t like tear apart flat inserts for seed starting! Given their flimsiness, its really tough to get more than a season of use out of them: there just isn’t a great way to consistently pop the seedling out without tearing the bottom of the 6-cell to pieces! I also find myself damaging fragile root systems as I inevitably end up needing to poke the bottom of the cells. The end result is a pile of plastic in the trash.
Van Wingerden Int’l Nursery, based Mills River, NC, had the same problem. According to them, “too much focus had been given to nurturing the top of the plant.”. Aart Van Wingerden, the founder of the nursery, wanted a better alternative for the hidden (but crucial) portion of the plant below the surface. He couldn’t find a durable, effective alternative so he decided to make one. The Winstrip Tray was the result, and over the past twenty years or so they have built a great reputation for a variety of reasons.
As mentioned above, the creation of the Winstrip had origins in making a flat tray insert that would encourage healthier seedlings with less root circling and greater aeration. Root circling is an inefficient use of a seedling’s limited biological resources which can result in stunted growth in the seedling stage and beyond. Unchecked root circling can also prevent good drainage and can even lead to root rot and other disease. Finally, circling roots can displace so much space that the seedling may not get much water to begin with! The Winstrip’s open design not only encourages good root zone aeration but also ‘air prunes’ roots before they start circling. Air pruning (the apical tip of a root dehydrates and dies, encouraging lots of fine, fibrous side branching) results in a more evenly dispersed root system that is very effective at absorbing water and nutrients.
Despite the atypical look of the Winstrip, they are incredibly easy to use. Simply lay them on a flat surface to fill, brush off the excess and drop them from 4-6″ to settle the soil and top off if necessary; all that’s left is to plant the seeds. The dimensions of the 72 cell Winstrips that we carry are designed to fit into a standard flat tray although they work even better set atop wire racks. For farmers with more automated seed sowing systems, these trays are compatible with vacuum seeders and the like, and can be nested for non-stick, space efficient storage.
In addition to being better for plants, Winstrips are better for the environment. They are manufactured from a high quality extruded polypropylene plastic that is UV resistant, resists breakage and can be reused year after year. Some of our farm customers have reported that they’ve been using the same trays for 10 to 15 years. This ultimately reduces both costs for the grower and waste in the landfill.
We are excited to carry Winstrips at Fifth Season Gardening Co. They epitomize our philosophy of providing products that are great for plants, people and the planet and we hope you’ll give them a try.
Note: While Winstrips come in several designs, we currently only stock the 72 cell (10″x20″) tray.
April Campbell says
Do you ship your wins trips can’t find these anywhere here in Michigan
Umberto DiLeo says
Will you be selling more of the Winstrip trays?
Amanda says
I love the four trays i bought from you earlier this spring. I am hoping you will soon sell the other cell sizes besides a 72. I think they work perfect for starting all my herbs but would like a few with bigger cells to start things like tomatoes and peppers next year.
Thank you
Amanda
Stephanie says
Hello,
We are doing research in hydroponics and have been using a Styrofoam tray but need a tray with different dimensions. What we are working with is a space that is 39cm Wide x 59 cm Long x 3.5 cm Deep and need a tray that will fit that size or be slightly smaller.
Can you tell me what size your Windstrip trays are?
Thank you,
Stephanie
Pierce says
Hello! Do you still carry these?
ashley says
We have the 162-cell trays available. They sell for $12.99.
Jennifer Aron says
I am interested in purchasing 72- cell windstrips if you have them available… Thank you!
ashley says
Hi Jennifer, We only have the 162-cell trays.
Ryan says
Hello I would like to know if you have still have the 72 count winstrip trays?
ashley says
We are only able to get the 162-cell trays at this time.
Jennifer says
Are you still selling the 162?
Thanks!
ashley says
H Jennifer,
It looks like we have a very few of the 162 cell trays left in the company.
Ben says
Hi,
I am interested if you have the 72cell winstrip trays…
ashley says
Hi Ben, Unfortunately we have sold out of all of our remaining Winstrip trays. Wish they would produce some more!
Grant Bartlett says
Hope this message finds you well.
I was scouring the web looking for the elusive Winstrip 72 Tray and came across your site. I know its a long shot, but I was wandering if you have any in stock.
If not, can you point me in a direction of someone who might have some or fill me in on why these things are so hard to come by?
Thanks,
Grant B.
Till Next Time Farms
ashley says
Hi Grant, We are sold out of Winstrip trays, unfortunately. The even worse news is that they are no longer being manufactured, which is why you can’t find them anywhere. We are bummed out too, because they were great!
Janna Siller says
Hello! Do you carry winstrip trays and can you ship them? Thanks
ashley says
Hi Janna, I wish we did still have Winstrip trays. They stopped making them, unfortunately.
Andrew says
https://www.neversinktools.com/products/winstrip-trays?variant=13673103032365
Never sink farm in ny has now started to re manufacture the trays.
And will soon carry more sizes other than the 72
Jay says
I use soil blocks for melons and cucumbers. My main goal is to keep from disturbing the roots in any way. My experience has been that the less curcubit roots are disturbed, the better they do during transplant and production.
Could you please let me know if and how these seed trays minimize transplant shock for transplants with sensitive roots?