How to Start Growing Your Own Transplants on a Shoestring Budget
By Jonathan Dysinger and John Dysinger
Updated on
Show Transcript
0:00In this video, we're just going to quickly go over the barebones absolute minimum to get started growing your own
0:06transplants. So, I think the bare bones would be some kind of tray. This is just
0:14a concrete mixing tray you can buy at Lowe's or Home Depot that you can put your dry potting mix in and wet it. So,
0:24you need a tray. You need a water source nearby. Something that you can just wet
0:31the mix down. We find even with our um when we use plug trays,
0:42we want the soil moist when we put it in. Otherwise, it's very hard to get it moist.
0:49Yeah. So that and then I think a huge key is having a table at the right
0:57height. And that could be as simple as just uh you know a folding table that
1:05you use um blocks, concrete blocks or something to get it at the right height.
1:12The point is you don't want to have to be bending over. You want something, you know, for me, even a little bit higher
1:19would be better, but if you have different people doing it, you got to compromise a little bit. But just something at a good comfortable working height for seating.
1:31Um,
1:33and then you just have to decide whether you're going with plug trays or soil blocks. Um, if you're going with plug
1:42trays, then you just have your trays and and and that might be a good way to start if you just are really on a budget
1:50cuz even soil blockers, these are not too expensive, but the standup ones that that actually you can do some volume with, those are a few hundred. Yeah.
1:59So, you can always start with this and then upgrade later. But and when you when you do any kind of
2:07plug trays, ideally every plug has a little dibble in it.
2:13And so, you know, this is nice to have something like this. But for bare bones
2:22starting out, you can just use like a pencil eraser or something. just the end of a pencil to to just put a little
2:30dibble in each one that the seed rests down in.
2:37Um yeah, I mean it I think for bare bones for bare bones and that would get you started.
2:43Go from there. Yeah. Great. Well, I hope that was helpful and until next time, happy growing.
2:50[Music]
You can start growing your own transplants with almost nothing: a concrete mixing tray from a hardware store, a water source, a table at comfortable working height, and either plug trays or a handheld soil blocker. Use a pencil eraser to dibble seed holes in plug trays. The total startup cost can be under $50 — upgrade to professional tools later once you know the system works for you.
One of the most common barriers to growing your own transplants is the assumption that you need an expensive propagation setup to get started. You don't. The barebones minimum is simpler and cheaper than most people think.
My dad, John Dysinger, started propagation at Bountiful Blessings Farm with basic tools and upgraded over time as the operation grew. Here's the absolute minimum you need to get your first transplants in the ground.
What Do You Actually Need?
A Mixing Tray
You need somewhere to wet your potting mix before filling trays or making blocks. A concrete mixing tray from Lowe's or Home Depot works perfectly — they're cheap, durable, and big enough to mix a meaningful batch. Put your dry potting mix in, add water, and work it until it's evenly moist.
This step matters more than people realize: potting mix needs to be moist before you fill your trays. If you try to fill plug trays with dry mix and water them afterward, it's extremely hard to get the mix evenly saturated. Pre-moisten it in the tray and you'll have a much easier time.
A Water Source
Nothing fancy — a hose nearby is all you need. You're wetting the mix in the tray and watering your seeded trays afterward.
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A Table at the Right Height
This is the one thing people tend to skip, and they pay for it with a sore back. You don't want to be bending over to seed trays — you'll be doing this for hours over the course of a season.
A folding table works fine. If it's not tall enough, set it on concrete blocks to bring it up to a comfortable working height. For most people, that's around waist height or slightly above. If multiple people will be using the station, you'll have to compromise on height, but getting it roughly right makes a big difference in how sustainable the work feels over time.
Plug Trays or a Soil Blocker
This is your one real decision at the starting-out stage.
Plug trays are the lowest-cost entry point. Buy some trays, fill them with pre-moistened mix, and you're ready to seed. For making seed holes in the cells, you don't need a specialized dibble tool — a pencil eraser pushed into each cell creates a perfectly sized depression for a seed to rest in. That's the bare-minimum dibbling tool, and it works.
A handheld soil blocker is the next step up. As we discussed in our article, How to Grow Healthy Transplants on Your Market Farm, soil blocks produce healthier transplants than plug trays. Handheld blockers start around $35 — not free, but not a huge investment either. The professional standup versions that let you do real volume are a few hundred dollars, so save those for when you know the system works for you and your production justifies the upgrade.
Either way, you're in business for well under $50 of startup cost.
What Can You Skip for Now?
Drop seeders and vacuum seeders — nice to have for volume, but you can seed by hand to start.
Professional standup soil blockers — upgrade when your volume justifies it.
Grow benches and heating mats — helpful but not essential. A sunny window, a simple cold frame, or even a covered porch can get you through your first round of transplants.
Concrete greenhouse floors and overhead hose trolleys — those are long-term propagation house investments. You're not there yet, and that's fine.
The point is to start. Get your hands in the mix, seed some trays, grow some transplants, and learn the rhythm of propagation. You can upgrade every piece of the system later as your skills and revenue grow.
The Takeaway
Don't let equipment costs stop you from growing your own transplants. A mixing tray, a water source, a table at the right height, and some plug trays or a handheld soil blocker — that's all it takes to get started. Use a pencil to dibble your seed holes. Pre-moisten your mix. And upgrade to professional tools when the business supports it.
Every successful market farmer started somewhere simple. The propagation setup at Bountiful Blessings Farm today didn't appear overnight — it was built piece by piece over years as the farm grew. Yours can be too.
Frequently Asked Questions
A concrete mixing tray (\~$10), plug trays, pre-moistened potting mix, and a pencil for dibbling seed holes. Set everything up on a table at comfortable working height. Total startup cost can be under $50 with no specialized tools.
No. Plug trays are the lowest-cost entry point and work well for beginners. Handheld soil blockers (\~$35) are a worthwhile upgrade when you're ready, since soil blocks produce healthier transplants. Professional standup blockers are a larger investment best saved for when your production volume justifies it.
Dry potting mix is very difficult to saturate evenly once it's packed into small plug cells. Pre-moistening the mix in a tray before filling ensures every cell gets consistent moisture from the start, which leads to more uniform germination and healthier seedlings.
Roughly waist height or slightly above — you shouldn't need to bend over while seeding. A folding table on concrete blocks is a cheap solution. Getting the ergonomics right matters because you'll spend many hours at this station over the course of a growing season.