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Seed starting pellets comparison 2026

The best seed starting pellets, compared.

Top pick: Weciau (30 mm, pack of 60) Best value: Lawei (30 mm, pack of 200) – Lowest unit price among named coir packs with a stated count and at least 25 reviews, about 8p a disc at about £15.99, on a different product from the top pick. Updated 21.10.2026.

A seed starting pellet is a dry disc of growing medium, usually coconut coir and sometimes peat, that you soak until it swells, sow into, and plant on as a plug. People in the UK buy seed starting pellets to start herbs, vegetables and flowers on a windowsill or in a greenhouse without keeping a bag of compost. The differences that change the basket are a stated dry diameter, a wrap you can live with, and a medium that matches the bag. England has announced a retail peat ban more than once, but as of 19 that ban is not an Act in force. Which column should decide the basket is set out in the [seed starting pellets buying guide](/hub/herb-seeds/seed-starting-pellets/sub/seed-starting-pellets-buying-guide). Paper-wrapped coir discs, such as e-pots and, are the straightforward windowsill type. Meshed coir discs, by the listing and by the reviews, transplant as a block, but the sleeve may need slitting. Rooting cubes, hydroponic sponges, mini greenhouses and wood plugs are not this category.

A seed starting pellet is a dry disc of growing medium, usually coconut coir and sometimes peat, that you soak until it swells, sow into, and plant on as a plug.

Weciau (30 mm, pack of 60)

Best overall

Weciau (30 mm, pack of 60)
6.8/10∼ £10

26 products checked · 54 hrs invested · +18,200 readers

7 of 7: Best seed starting pellets compared

Swipe for more

1-2 of 7
Best overall
Weciau (30 mm, pack of 60)
e-pots (36 mm, pack of 100)
GROWEASY (36 mm, pack of 24)
e-pots (36 mm, pack of 20)
GOTVUGE (30 mm, pack of 100)
Best value
Lawei (30 mm, pack of 200)
Mr Fothergill's (35 mm refill)
6.8/10
9.1/10
8.2/10
7.5/10
7.0/10
7.9/10
3.5/10
∼ £10
∼ £17
∼ £8
∼ £8
∼ £12
∼ £16
∼ £9
4.5(2)
4.4(134)
4.2(56)
4.2(26)
4.1(141)
4.1(35)
3.2(8)
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The best seed starting pellets in detail

Weciau (30 mm, pack of 60)

Rank 1

Weciau (30 mm, pack of 60)

∼£10

Our view

Weciau lists 60 coir pellets at 30 mm dry, each about 10 mm thick, wrapped in non-woven fabric, at £9.99, about 17p a disc. The star line is 4.5 from two ratings, and the file has no review text, so there is no UK comment on swell, roots or mould to weigh. The bullets say the mesh lets you transplant the whole block and that the medium supplies equal nutrients, without a feed analysis or a composting standard number. The indoor field says indoor, and the title names vegetables, herbs and flowers. A bestseller rank on the captured page is not a trial of germination. Buy it only if a 30 mm mesh disc at this count is what you wanted and you can return a pack that does not swell. Do not treat two stars as a reason to put it ahead of packs that have written reviews.

Pros

  • 60 coir discs at 30 mm for about £9.99
  • Non-woven wrap named on the listing
  • Title includes herbs and an indoor use field
  • About 17p a disc where the count is stated

Cons

  • 4.5 from only two ratings and no review text
  • Nutrient claim has no analysis
  • Biodegradable mesh has no standard number
  • Expanded height is not stated

Best for: You want a mid-size indoor pack of 30 mm meshed coir and you accept a star line with no comments.

Less suitable: You want written UK reviews before you buy, or a 36 mm paper disc for larger herb seed.

Specifications

Model
Weciau (30 mm, pack of 60)
Brand
Weciau
Price
∼£10
Customer rating
4.5/5(2)
Medium
Coir
Dry diameter
30 mm
Pack count
60
Wrap
Non-woven fabric
Nutrients
Claimed
Unit price
17p
Pack weight
350 g

Common questions

Does the file include review comments?

No. The listing line is 4.5 from 2 ratings. Praise and complaint themes are not in the file, so the stars are not evidence of swell or roots.

What wrap does the title state?

Non-woven fabric. The bullets call it a biodegradable non-woven mesh and do not cite a standard.

Are herbs named?

Yes. The title includes vegetables, herbs and flowers, and the indoor field says indoor. Expanded height is not stated.

e-pots (36 mm, pack of 100)

Rank 2

e-pots (36 mm, pack of 100)

∼£17

Our view

The e-pots 100-pack is 100 coco coir pellets, 36 mm dry, wrapped in FSC paper, listed at £16.99, about 17p a disc, with 4.4 from 134 amazon.co.uk reviews. That is the largest written sample in this set. Reviewers describe a soak of a few minutes, less mess than module trays, roots through the base, and potting on with little damage. One saw cosmos up in three days, and others used the discs for onion seed, herbs and jasmine. The listing says the fibre avoids harm to bogs and that the packaging is plastic-free, without printing the words peat-free, and this ASIN does not repeat the nutrient-free sentence from the 20-pack. The complaints are specific: some pellets only reached about 1 cm and felt hard, expansion was uneven and some fell apart, and one review says the netting is around the sides only so coir washes out. It is the top pick here when you want a 36 mm paper-wrapped coir disc with a large review count and you will set aside any disc that stays hard.

Pros

  • 100 discs at 36 mm in FSC paper, about £16.99
  • 4.4 from 134 amazon.co.uk reviews
  • Reviewers report fast soaks and potting on with little root damage
  • Maker is Geo Emporium and the origin field says United Kingdom

Cons

  • Some discs swell poorly, stay hard, or fall apart
  • Wrap may leave the base open so coir washes out
  • About £16.99 is the highest shelf price in this set
  • This listing does not repeat the 20-pack line that coir has no nutrients

Best for: You want the largest reviewed 36 mm coir pack in this table and you will check that each disc has actually swollen.

Less suitable: You need the cheapest disc, a guaranteed expanded height, or a pack of only twenty.

Specifications

Model
e-pots (36 mm, pack of 100)
Brand
e-pots
Price
∼£17
Customer rating
4.4/5(134)
Medium
Coir
Dry diameter
36 mm
Pack count
100
Wrap
FSC paper
Unit price
17p
Pack weight
640 g

Common questions

Do reviews agree on how far these pellets swell?

No. One UK review says they only reached about 1 cm and felt hard. Another says they expanded quickly into solid cylinders. Another says expansion was uneven and some fell apart.

What do reviews say about the wrap at the base?

One review says the netting is around the sides only, so coir falls out when you soak them. Another describes a fine mesh that forms a small bag.

Does this listing say the coir has no nutrients?

This listing does not say that. The separate e-pots 20-pack does. Do not copy that sentence across.

GROWEASY (36 mm, pack of 24)

Rank 3

GROWEASY (36 mm, pack of 24)

Our view

Across 56 amazon.co.uk reviews at 4.2 stars, the GROWEASY pack is 24 paper-wrapped coir discs, 36 mm across and 5 mm thick when dry, listed at £7.99. Reviewers use them for tomato and flower seed on a windowsill and then plant the plug out, and one buyer reported germination in a little over a week when watering from below. Another said this larger disc was easier for bigger seed than a smaller brand used at the same time, and that the dry discs take far less cupboard space than a bag of compost. The listing says the pellets give delicate seedlings the nutrients they need, which is not a feed analysis, and it does not print the words peat-free even though the material field is coir. Wet discs can fall apart in the hand, one buyer found them less than half the size they expected, and one reported mould on the surface after the pellets were set up and watered. For a first tray of about two dozen plugs it is a usable small pack if you water from below and accept that expanded height is not stated.

Pros

  • 24 coir discs at 36 mm dry for about £7.99
  • 4.2 from 56 amazon.co.uk reviews
  • Paper wrap named on the listing
  • UK reviews describe windowsill sowing and planting out with little root disturbance

Cons

  • Some discs fell apart when handled wet
  • One review reported surface mould after watering
  • Expanded size smaller than some buyers expected
  • Nutrient sentence has no feed analysis

Best for: You want a small 36 mm coir pack for one windowsill of herbs or flowers and you will water from below.

Less suitable: You need a pack of a hundred or more, or a listing that prints both peat-free and a nutrient analysis.

Specifications

Model
GROWEASY (36 mm, pack of 24)
Brand
GROWEASY
Price
∼£8
Customer rating
4.2/5(56)
Medium
Coir
Dry diameter
36 mm
Pack count
24
Wrap
Paper
Nutrients
Claimed
Unit price
33p
Pack weight
130 g

Common questions

Does the listing say you can start herbs in these pellets?

Yes. The listing names vegetables, herbs and flowers, indoors or outdoors. Expanded height is not stated.

What wrap does the listing give?

Paper. The special-feature field also says biodegradable. No standard number is in the file.

Does the listing say the coir already contains feed?

Yes. It says the pellets provide delicate seedlings with the nutrients they need. There is no feed analysis.

e-pots (36 mm, pack of 20)

Rank 4

e-pots (36 mm, pack of 20)

Our view

The e-pots 20-pack is 20 coco coir discs, 36 mm dry, wrapped in FSC paper, at £7.99, which is about 40p a disc and the highest unit price in this set. The amazon.co.uk line is 4.2 from 26 reviews, and the five UK texts in the file mostly say the pellets started seedlings as expected, with one buyer reordering. The listing states that coir contains no nutrients, so you add feed yourself, and it contrasts the fibre with digging peat bogs without using the phrase peat-free. One reviewer compared a dry disc to a £2 coin and found them smaller than expected, another said the paper casings were thicker and stiffer than other brands, and one sits the pellets in soil in a pot because they wobble. It suits a short sowing of larger herb seed if you will support the plugs and feed later. It is a thin sample if you wanted dozens of UK comments before you spend the money.

Pros

  • 36 mm coir in FSC paper, pack of 20, at about £7.99
  • Listing states that the coir contains no nutrients
  • Plastic-free packaging claimed on the listing
  • UK buyers report a usable start, including one reorder

Cons

  • About 40p a disc, the highest unit price in this set
  • 26 reviews, with five UK texts in the file
  • Stiff casings and wobbly plugs reported
  • Dry discs smaller than some buyers expected

Best for: You want a short run of 36 mm coir discs and you will add your own feed.

Less suitable: You are sowing a whole season, or you wanted a listing that already claims nutrients in the disc.

Specifications

Model
e-pots (36 mm, pack of 20)
Brand
e-pots
Price
∼£8
Customer rating
4.2/5(26)
Medium
Coir
Dry diameter
36 mm
Pack count
20
Wrap
FSC paper
Nutrients
None stated
Unit price
40p
Pack weight
88 g

Common questions

Does this listing say the coir contains plant food?

No. The bullets say coir does not contain nutrients and that you can add your own. That sentence is not on the e-pots 100-pack.

What are the pellets wrapped in?

FSC paper. The listing also says the packaging is plastic-free. It does not print the words peat-free.

Do UK reviews mention how the pellets stand?

One UK review says they can be wobbly and puts them into soil in a pot for support. Another found the dry discs smaller than expected.

GOTVUGE (30 mm, pack of 100)

Rank 5

GOTVUGE (30 mm, pack of 100)

∼£12

Our view

GOTVUGE sells 100 discs titled as 30 mm coir pellets at £12.20, about 12p each, with 4.1 from 141 amazon.co.uk reviews. Several verified UK reviews say the bag is labelled peat, not coir, and call the description misleading, so you should open the packet before you treat the title as the medium. Other buyers still report tomatoes and other seed germinating after a soak, and they like the small storage compared with loose compost. The same UK texts say the swollen pods are smaller than Jiffy pellets they knew, that the pods are hard to keep upright, and that pea roots could not get through the mesh, with one buyer describing deformed seedlings. One first attempt produced nothing. If the bag in your hand says peat and that is what you meant to buy, the reviews describe that product. If you ordered coir, the title and the bag are in conflict and this comparison does not resolve it with a lab test.

Pros

  • 100 discs at about £12.20, about 12p each
  • 4.1 from 141 reviews, with several germination reports
  • Compact dry discs compared with a bag of compost

Cons

  • Several UK reviews say the bag says peat while the title says coir
  • Mesh described as too tight for pea roots
  • Swollen pods smaller than Jiffy pellets some buyers knew
  • One review reported no germination on the first attempt

Best for: You will read the bag on arrival and you are sowing small seed in a large batch.

Less suitable: You need the listing and the packet to agree that the medium is coir.

Specifications

Model
GOTVUGE (30 mm, pack of 100)
Brand
GOTVUGE
Price
∼£12
Customer rating
4.1/5(141)
Medium
Title coir, bag peat
Dry diameter
30 mm
Pack count
100
Wrap
Mesh (reviews)
Nutrients
Claimed
Unit price
12p
Pack weight
530 g

Common questions

Do UK reviews agree that these are coir?

No. Several verified UK reviews say the packaging says peat, not coir, and call the description misleading. This page does not treat that as a lab test of the fibre.

What do reviews say about the mesh?

One UK review says pea roots could not get through the mesh. Another says the outer case was too tight once the medium expanded.

How do buyers describe the size?

Several UK reviews say the swollen pods are smaller than pellets they were used to, including Jiffy pellets. The dry diameter on the title is 30 mm.

Lawei (30 mm, pack of 200)

Rank 6

Lawei (30 mm, pack of 200)

∼£16

Our view

Lawei lists 200 compressed coco coir discs, 30 mm across and 13 mm high when dry, at £15.99, about 8p a disc, which is the lowest unit price in this set where a count is printed. The amazon.co.uk line is 4.1 from 35 reviews. One UK reviewer described a dry disc about 1 cm tall that swelled to a pouch about 4 cm tall, used the pods for wildflower, lawn plugs and autumn lettuce, and counted 203 discs in the bag. The listing names herbs, vegetables and flowers and says you can plant the whole disc, but it does not name the wrap. That same reviewer found the netting fiddly to remove, said it does not biodegrade particularly well, and thought it could hinder roots if left on. The discs arrived in a plastic bag with no instructions. It is the best value pack here when you will sow a large number of small seeds and you are willing to slit or remove the net. Skip it if you only wanted a couple of dozen paper-wrapped 36 mm discs.

Pros

  • 200 coir discs at about £15.99, about 8p each
  • Dry size stated as 30 mm by 13 mm
  • 4.1 from 35 amazon.co.uk reviews
  • One UK review describes a swell to about 4 cm and a count of 203

Cons

  • Netting is not named on the listing and was described as awkward to remove
  • One UK review says the discs arrived in a plastic bag with no instructions
  • That reviewer said the netting does not biodegrade well and may hinder roots

Best for: You are sowing a season of small seed and you will check the net before you plant out.

Less suitable: You only need a couple of dozen 36 mm paper discs for a herb windowsill.

Specifications

Model
Lawei (30 mm, pack of 200)
Brand
Lawei
Price
∼£16
Customer rating
4.1/5(35)
Medium
Coir
Dry diameter
30 mm
Pack count
200
Wrap
Netting (reviews)
Unit price
8p
Pack weight
1090 g

Common questions

What size does the listing give for a dry disc?

30 mm across and 13 mm high. One UK review described a dry disc about 1 cm tall that swelled to a pouch about 4 cm tall.

What do UK reviews say about the sleeve?

One reviewer said the netting was fiddly to remove, did not biodegrade well, and could hinder roots if left on. The listing itself does not name the wrap.

Does the listing include instructions in the box?

Not stated. One UK reviewer said the discs arrived in a plastic bag with no instructions.

Mr Fothergill's (35 mm refill)

Rank 7

Mr Fothergill's (35 mm refill)

Our view

Mr Fothergill's 35 mm plantable pellet refill is listed at £9.49, and the file does not state how many discs are in the pack, what they are wrapped in, or whether the organic materials are coir or peat. The amazon.co.uk line is 3.2 from eight reviews, with three UK texts. One buyer said an earlier pack germinated well and transplanted without much root disturbance. Two of the three said this refill did not expand as much as they expected, and one said the pellets that came with the matching planter set swelled much more, so they added compost. At 180 g for the package you cannot work out a fair unit price. It is a refill for someone who already owns that planter and will check the swell against the original discs. It is a weak first buy if you need a named medium and a known count.

Pros

  • Named seed brand, 35 mm dry, at about £9.49
  • One buyer reported good germination on an earlier pack
  • Listing covers indoor and outdoor use, including balcony pots

Cons

  • Pellet count, wrap and coir-or-peat status are not in the file
  • 3.2 from eight reviews
  • Two UK reviews say the refill swelled less than expected
  • No unit price is possible without a count

Best for: You are refilling a Mr Fothergill's planter and you will compare the swell with the discs that came in the set.

Less suitable: You want a stated count of coir discs, or this is your first pack of seed pellets.

Specifications

Model
Mr Fothergill's (35 mm refill)
Brand
Mr Fothergill's
Price
∼£9
Customer rating
3.2/5(8)
Medium
Not named
Dry diameter
35 mm
Pack weight
180 g

Common questions

How many pellets are in the pack?

The file does not state a count. At 180 g for the package there is no unit price.

Does the listing say the pellets are coir or peat-free?

No. It says organic materials. Coir, peat and peat-free are not named.

What do the UK reviews say about expansion?

Two of the three reviews say the refill did not expand as much as expected. One buyer added compost. One buyer said an earlier pack germinated well.

How we compared

Scores use the seven amazon.co.uk listings kept for this comparison, the prices and star lines on those pages, and the UK review notes for the same ASINs. Shelf date 19 October 2026. This is not a germination trial and not a laboratory test of the medium. A star rating does not prove the fibre. Weights sum to 100. The highest score is the top pick. The lowest pence per disc among named coir packs with a stated count, at least 25 reviews, and no peat-label deduction is best value, on a different product.

1

Amazon stars

40%

Stars are scaled as (stars / 5) × 40. The e-pots 100-pack is 4.4 from 134. Weciau is 4.5 from two ratings, so the star line alone cannot carry that row.

2

Review evidence

20%

100 or more reviews score 20, 50–99 score 16, 25–49 score 12, 10–24 score 8, 3–9 score 4, and 1–2 score 0. The e-pots 100-pack and GOTVUGE clear 100. Weciau has two ratings and no review text.

3

Listing clarity

20%

Five points each if the listing names a medium (coir or peat, not only organic materials), a dry diameter, a pack count, and a wrap. Mr Fothergill's refill misses the medium, the count and the wrap.

4

Value

15%

Pence per disc where the title states a count: under 10p scores 15, 10–20p scores 12, 20–35p scores 8, and over 35p scores 5. A missing count scores 4. Lawei is about 8p. The e-pots 20-pack is about 40p.

5

UK review sentiment

5%

Themes in the UK review texts score up to 5. No review text scores 0. A title that UK reviews contradict on coir versus peat is deducted 12. A small review set that repeatedly reports weak expansion is deducted 6.

Independent review
Last updated: 21.10.2026
8 sources checked

Seed starting pellets buying guide

Choose the medium, the dry diameter and the wrap before the word biodegradable. A 20-pack for one windowsill and a 200-pack for a season are not the same purchase, and a coir title is not a lab result.

What is a seed starting pellet?

A seed starting pellet is a dry disc of growing medium, usually coconut coir and sometimes peat. You set it in a tray, add water, and wait until it swells into a plug. You then sow, and later plant the plug on. In the UK the usual job is herbs, vegetables and flowers on a windowsill or in a greenhouse, so you do not have to store a bag of compost. Paper-wrapped coir discs, such as e-pots and GROWEASY, are the straightforward windowsill type.

Best for

  • A windowsill of herbs, where a small 36 mm coir pack is enough
  • A season of small seed, if you will keep the dry discs dry and check the net

Not ideal for

  • A first buy when the listing does not name the medium or the count
  • Anyone who needs peat pellets to be illegal, or a disc with a feed analysis

Mistakes to avoid

  1. 1

    Buying sponges, cubes or a greenhouse kit

    Those are not seed starting pellets. A pellet is a dry disc you soak into a plug. A seed bomb already holds seed. If the listing is a sponge, a cube or a mini greenhouse, it is a different product.

  2. 2

    Trusting the dry photo for wet height

    Expanded height is rarely stated, and reviewers disagree. Some discs only reach about 1 cm and feel hard. Water from below, drain so the plug is moist rather than soggy, and set aside any disc that does not swell.

  3. 3

    Leaving a tight net on, or assuming every disc contains feed

    A GOTVUGE review said pea roots could not get through the mesh. A Lawei reviewer said the netting may hinder roots if left on. EN 13432 is industrial composting, not a home compost bin. Only the e-pots 20-pack states that the coir contains no nutrients. Do not copy that line onto other ASINs.

What to weigh up

Medium and the bag

High

Prefer a listing whose material field is coir if you want to avoid peat. e-pots names coco coir or coconut fibre. GROWEASY and Weciau name coir. None of the seven listings prints the words peat-free. e-pots contrasts the fibre with digging peat bogs, which is not the same as that phrase. GOTVUGE is titled as coir, and several verified UK reviews say the bag says peat and call the description misleading. Open the packet.

Diameter, wrap, count and price

High

Dry diameters here are 30 mm, 35 mm or 36 mm. A seller size guide puts small herbs and lettuce toward a smaller plug and larger herbs such as parsley toward about 36 mm. That is seller guidance, not an RHS trial. e-pots and GROWEASY name paper. Weciau names non-woven fabric. Lawei's listing does not name a wrap, and a UK review mentions netting that was fiddly to remove. A tight mesh has blocked pea roots in a GOTVUGE review.

Which option suits you?

Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.

One windowsill of herbs

You want a small 36 mm coir pack for one tray, and you will water from below. GROWEASY is 24 paper-wrapped discs at about £7.99, with 4.2 from 56 reviews. Wet discs can fall apart, and one buyer reported surface mould.

A season of small seed

You care about pence per disc and you will check the net before you plant out. Lawei is the best value here: 200 coco coir discs at about £15.99, about 8p each, with 4.1 from 35 reviews. The listing does not name the wrap.

You will read the bag

You want the listing and the packet to agree that the medium is coir, and you want a large written review file. The e-pots 100-pack is the top pick: 36 mm coco coir in FSC paper, at about £16.99, with 4.4 from 134 reviews. Some discs stay hard.

Common questions about seed starting pellets

Which seed starting pellets are the top pick?
The top pick is the e-pots 100-pack: 100 coco coir discs, 36 mm dry, wrapped in FSC paper, at about £16.99. It scores 91, the highest here, with 4.4 from 134 amazon.co.uk reviews, the largest written sample in this set. Reviewers describe a short soak and potting on with little root damage. Some discs stay hard, swell unevenly or fall apart, and one review says coir can wash out of an open base. Set those discs aside. Best value is a different pack, Lawei, 200 discs at about £15.99.
Which pack is best value?
Best value is Lawei: 200 coco coir discs, 30 mm dry, at about £15.99, about 8p a disc. That is the lowest unit price here among named coir packs with a stated count and at least 25 reviews. The listing is 4.1 from 35 reviews. One UK reviewer described a swell to about 4 cm and counted 203 discs. The listing does not name the wrap. That reviewer found the netting fiddly and said it may hinder roots if left on.
How much do seed starting pellets cost?
On these seven amazon.co.uk listings the shelf price runs from £7.99 to £16.99. GROWEASY, 24 discs, and the e-pots 20-pack are both £7.99, about 33p and 40p. Weciau is 60 at £9.99, about 17p. Mr Fothergill's refill is £9.49 with no count, so there is no unit price. GOTVUGE is 100 at £12.20, about 12p. Lawei is 200 at £15.99, about 8p, and the e-pots 100-pack is £16.99, about 17p. These are the prices on the listings, not a live re-check.
Are peat pellets banned in England?
No. Peat pellets are not illegal on amazon.co.uk. Defra announced a 2024 amateur peat ban in England on 27 August 2022. That date was not the date of an Act. The RHS said on 19 October 2025 that the legislation had stalled. A Defra letter of 29 January 2026 says the government will legislate when parliamentary time allows. None of these seven listings prints the words peat-free. You still read that claim on the packet. Goods must match their description under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 11.
Do coir pellets already contain plant food?
Not as a rule. The e-pots 20-pack says the coir contains no nutrients and that you add feed yourself. GROWEASY says the pellets give delicate seedlings the nutrients they need, with no feed analysis. Do not copy either sentence onto the other packs. The e-pots 100-pack does not repeat the no-nutrients line. The RHS keeps seed compost low in nutrients because a strong feed can harm seedlings. Weciau and GOTVUGE also claim nutrients without an analysis. If you need a known feed, these listings do not give you one.
What dry diameter suits herbs?
Stated dry diameters here are 30 mm, 35 mm or 36 mm. Seller guidance, not an RHS trial, puts small herbs and lettuce toward a smaller plug and larger herbs such as parsley toward about 36 mm. Expanded height is rarely stated, and reviewers disagree on how far a disc swells. A 20 or 24 pack suits one windowsill. A 100 or 200 pack suits a season only if you keep the discs dry. Basil sown indoors from March to July wants about 20°C, then a 7.5 cm pot.
When is a seed bomb the wrong substitute?
A seed starting pellet is an empty plug you sow into. A seed bomb already holds seed. That comparison is seed bombs. Buy pellets when you have your own herb seed and you will soak, drain and sow. Buy a seed bomb for a thrown or pressed mix, not a tray of plugs. Sponges, cubes and greenhouse kits are a different product. Do not trust the dry photo for wet height, and do not sow into a waterlogged disc. Drain coir so it is moist rather than soggy.

Our verdict

The top pick is the e-pots 100-pack at about £16.99. It scores 91, the highest here: 100 coco coir discs, 36 mm dry, in FSC paper, with 4.4 from 134 reviews. Some discs swell poorly, stay hard, or fall apart, so you set those aside. Best value is a different product, Lawei at about £15.99, 200 discs at about 8p each, the lowest unit price among named coir packs with a stated count and at least 25 reviews. Skip the e-pots 100-pack if you only need twenty discs. Skip Lawei if you wanted a couple of dozen 36 mm paper discs and you will not deal with netting.

Best overall
Weciau (30 mm, pack of 60)

Weciau (30 mm, pack of 60)

View offer
Best value
Lawei (30 mm, pack of 200)

Lawei (30 mm, pack of 200)

Lowest unit price among named coir packs with a stated count and at least 25 reviews, about 8p a disc at about £15.99, on a different product from the top pick.

View offer

Editorial

Peter F. - Editor
Editor
Herb seedsamazon.co.uk listingsUK growing

Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.

Updated: 21.10.2026
8 sources checked

Guides to seed starting pellets

Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.

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Sources

Public UK sources named below. amazon.co.uk prices, stars and review counts on these seven listings were read on 19 October 2026. Page updated 21 October 2026.

  1. GOV.UK: sale of horticultural peat to be banned, 27 August 2022 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  2. RHS: retail peat-free note, 19 October 2025 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  3. DEP2026-0072, letter of 29 January 2026 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  4. RHS: peat-free seed sowing (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  5. RHS: coir questions answered (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  6. RHS: grow your own basil (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  7. Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 11 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  8. CAP Code 11.1, environmental claims (retrieved 19 October 2026)

Expert source (DIY & tools): Lee Burkhill (Garden Ninja) (external profile) – public expert commentary used as a research source, not as a contributor to our pages.

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