In terrestrial restoration, the use of nurseries has been highly successful for producing material for restoration. Similar techniques are now being applied to seed-based seagrass restoration. For the majority of seagrass species, there are still many knowledge gaps that need to be overcome, to enable large-scale cultivation and successful transplanting. For successful large-scale restoration, we need to produce robust seedlings that can survive once transplanted into the marine environment. This research explores nursery-based approaches to determine optimal grow out times of Nanozostera muelleri seedlings in the nursery and the best age to transplant the seedlings to improve survival success. This research also explores how long seeds can be stored before germination and viability declines. Understanding these key questions are essential for establishing nursery seedling production protocols that provide a reliable source of restoration material that allows for upscaling seagrass restoration to ecologically relevant scales. This will make an important contribution to establishing successful restoration programs for this species in Australia and this knowledge has important implications for similar programs globally.