About this product
Full description
The one you end up buying two or three of. Windowsills are where most indoor growing actually happens — kitchen sills, radiator shelves, cabinet tops, greenhouse racking — and the standard-issue plastic tray is nearly always the wrong shape for the space. Too deep, too wide, too short, or with edges that catch on the frame. This is the slimline propagation tray that solves that problem: shallow enough to see into, narrow enough to fit standard UK window sills, and available in four sizes so you can match the tray to the space you actually have.
Made by Garland, a long-established British manufacturer based in Worcester. Supplied to us through our partners at AllotMate, who curate practical, well-made kit for gardeners and allotmenteers who'd rather buy once than replace often.
What makes them work
The design is built around the reality of indoor growing on a limited footprint:
- Slimline profile — the shallow depth (roughly 4-5cm) sits comfortably on standard windowsills without blocking the sash or catching on the frame. Deep enough for cell trays and small pots, shallow enough for airflow
- Four sizes for four jobs — Mini fits a couple of small pots or a single cell tray, Small suits herbs and microgreens, Medium accommodates a full 24-cell propagation insert, Large gives you a full seed tray plus space around it for potting up
- 100% recycled polypropylene — injection moulded from post-consumer recycled plastic. Recyclable again at end of life through kerbside collection where accepted
- UK manufactured — made in Worcester, not imported. No air miles, and quality control you can rely on
- Tough construction — the same material Garland use for their commercial propagation kit. Won't crack around the edges after a few weeks or warp in a sunny window
- Easy to clean — smooth surfaces wipe down with a damp cloth between crops. No fiddly corners for compost to lodge in
When you'll reach for one
These earn their keep across a wide range of indoor growing tasks:
- Under seed trays and cell inserts — catches drips, stops soil scatter, protects windowsill paint from staining
- Indoor microgreens — the shallow depth is ideal for continuous microgreen production on a kitchen counter
- Windowsill herb collections — basil, parsley, chives and coriander pots grouped together with drainage catchment
- Cutting propagation — fill with perlite or horticultural grit for taking softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings
- Chilli and tomato starts — the warmth of a south-facing sill combined with a shallow tray gives excellent early germination
- Houseplant repotting — a self-contained potting station on a kitchen counter that keeps the mess contained
- Overwintering tender plants — grouping small pots of pelargoniums, gingers or tender herbs on a bright indoor shelf
- Utility protection — underneath any indoor plant that occasionally drips, catches muddy boots at a back door, or protects surfaces during craft projects
Choosing between the sizes
If you're not sure which size suits you, here's the honest summary:
- Mini (£3.25) — for a couple of small pots or a single small cell tray. Suits narrow kitchen sills and shelves. The right choice for one or two herbs or a small microgreen crop
- Small (£4.40) — the everyday useful size. Fits a mix of pots and one small propagation tray. Good starting point for anyone new to windowsill growing
- Medium (£5.35) — accommodates a standard 24-cell propagation insert with a little space around it. The size most committed windowsill growers end up with
- Large (£10.85) — suits conservatory shelving, greenhouse benches, and wider windowsills. Room for a full 40-cell seed tray plus space for a watering can or dibber alongside
Most gardeners who take propagation seriously end up owning two — a smaller one for herbs and a larger one for seed trays. Measure your windowsill before ordering: window widths vary considerably between older and newer houses.
Looking after them
A few small habits keep these trays working well for years rather than seasons:
- Wipe clean with a damp cloth between different crops or when switching from cuttings to seed starting — helps prevent damping-off from spreading between batches
- Rinse well after using with anything sticky or resinous (like propagation gel or root hormone powder) so residue doesn't build up in the corners
- Air dry before stacking for storage — wet trays trapped together grow moulds and mineral deposits over time
- Stack for storage — the slimline profile means several trays nest inside each other in a very small footprint
- Recycle at end of life — polypropylene (PP, recycling code 5) is widely accepted in UK kerbside collection. Check your local council if unsure
About Garland
Garland Products are a family-run British manufacturer based in Worcester, making practical horticultural kit for the home and commercial market since 1972. Their range includes propagators, seed trays, cell inserts, watering cans, plant pots and greenhouse accessories — all built to a standard that stands up to daily use rather than to catalogue photographs. We stock their trays and propagation kit because they consistently do what they need to do, at a fair price, and without air miles.
About AllotMate
AllotMate curate practical, well-made tools and equipment for gardeners and allotmenteers who'd rather buy once than buy often. We work with them through a direct fulfilment arrangement, which means your order ships from their warehouse to your door — same Garland trays, slightly faster delivery, and consistent stock levels because they handle their own inventory.
Specifications
- Sizes: Mini, Small, Medium, Large (four variants)
- Material: 100% recycled polypropylene, injection moulded
- Depth: approximately 4-5cm (slimline design)
- Colour: charcoal / dark grey
- Made in: United Kingdom (Worcester)
- Recyclability: 100% recyclable at end of life (PP / code 5)
- Use: indoor windowsill growing, propagation, drip catchment
- Made by: Garland
- Supplied through: AllotMate
- Manufacturer code: G28
A note on size selection: window widths and shelf depths vary considerably between older and newer houses. Measuring your windowsill or shelf before ordering saves the disappointment of a tray that's a centimetre too wide. The Mini and Small sizes tend to suit kitchen sills in older houses; Medium and Large work better in conservatories, greenhouses and modern kitchens with deeper worktops.
What's included
Medium or Large)
Care and use
- Wipe clean with a damp cloth between different crops
- Rinse well after using with propagation gel or root hormone powder
- Air dry before stacking for storage