Plug and Transplant Production for Organic Systems

Since the 1980s, most seed germination has been done in plug trays; by 1998, 81% of annual seedlings were grown from plugs.(1) A plug is a containerized transplant with a self-enclosed root system.(2) The advantages to growing seedlings from plugs are many: less time and labor to transplant, reduced root loss, more uniform growth, faster crop establishment, and increased production. There are disadvantages, too. Much more attention has to be paid to scheduling and to cultural practices. While labor is decreased, mechanization and the need for specialized, well-trained workers increases.