The 8 cell seedling trays provides enough room for a new seedling to grow to transplanting size. You might be able to germinate your seed directly in the Proptek trays, however this might give you a number of blanks, where a seed did not germinate. Transplanting from the 8 cell seedling trays would insure a tree in every Propket cell. However, transplanting would also raise your cost both in trays and labor.