New plug plant trainers arrived!!!

[OliveOil]

Another idea stolen from the lovely SS... my 2 trainers arrived today... what shall i sow????

[OliveOil]

[tricia]

Yes, mine arrived  too  :) but I won't be using them till January when I start the new season by sowing celeriac and aubergine in the warmth of my propagator.

They are my birthday pressie, so I couldn't use them till after my birthday in January anyway  :P. Gordon sent for them early to make sure they didn't sell out when everyone here rushed to buy them after SS extolled their virtues  ;D ;D.

Tricia

[supersprout]

:-[ :-[ ::) ;D
mine are busy with overwintering lettuce, chicory and choy sum in the greenhouse, and waiting for the turnip rooted chervil to come up on the windowsill. Carrot Parmex and beetroot Boltardy will go in in clusters as soon as I get a minute!
don't like to see an idle plant trainer ;)

[OliveOil]

I think i'll give the chickory a miss - none of us like it and they are growing like giants on the lotty keeping the weeds out :-)


Will do the beetroot, ailsa craig onion, lettuce, sage for the windowsill, basil and some chives i think!

I cant believe how small they are - so neat and tidy!

[OliveOil]

Oooo SS -  do you know where you can get those round holed trays that Nick used - they looked really robust but i cant seem to find them anywhere!

Also - do you plant your plugs direct or do you then pot on to harden off and then plant out?

[supersprout]

Hi OO, so chuffed you're pleased with the modules ;D those trays@Barnsdale were nice, weren't they?
Nearest I found were these
http://www.lbsgardendirect.co.uk/product.asp?pf_id=ECO6285&recno=19

I let the seedlings get a tad rootbound on windowsill or g'house*, take them outside during the day for a few days, leave the tray outside for a few more, then plant the plugs direct into the beds - faffless ;) and they plop into a dibber hole perfect. One more reason to rave about the design


I don't firm in, just water in (and mesh for a couple of weeks - birdies twink the seedlings out again grr)

Haven't grown brassica (apart from orientals) by this method - if the dibber hole is good and deep, up to the seed leaves, and the soil is firm, AND the mesh is on, firming may not be necessary. I can feel an experiment coming on :P

Oh I did try planting out tomatoes direct, rather late in the season. Not sure they would work transplanted directly, they seemed very unhappy for a few weeks then took off - too late - so I'm gonna pot up once maybe. Maybe into those very trays!

I think i'll give the chickory a miss - none of us like it

lol I never learn - none of us like it either ::) but it's so pretty!

*some plants sat in their modules for two months+ this season :-[ - although they were a little stunted (squash) they made up for it once they went in to the soil. The ideal is probably 4-6 weeks, but I'm still learning!

[tricia]

do you know where you can get those round holed trays that Nick used - they looked really robust but i cant seem to find them anywhere!

I've always found them at Poundstretcher at £3 for the 18 size tray (including the pots!!).

Beetroot - when can you plant them out SS? Gordon planted some out a few weeks ago that he had started in modules in his conservatory - not really expecting them to do much so late in the season.

Tricia

[OliveOil]

Hi tricia - the trays we are talking out were like a flexible rubber (almost)... would easily last 10 years plus! 

SS - I think i might be cheeky and email barnsdale about those trays.  The link you put up kinda look like them but not sure how robust they would be at £3/5 pack...

Have all sown up... kale, carrots, spinach, lots of lettuce and salad mixes, sage, chives... have actually labelled and dated them this time - its gotta be a first LOL

[supersprout]

OO if you do find out where to get them trays, I'd be interested in knowing :)

tricia, I don't know when those beet will get planted out! :-[ :P

I sowed some in late September, and they are outdoors and plumping up slowly. The ones sown now will go in the greenhouse, and I'll see how they do. It may be that they won't go out til March under cloches, or I might decide to plant them in a pot in the g'house in Dec or Jan for early baby beet. I'm experimenting with extending the growing season, nothing to lose but a few seeds ::)

Next year I'll sow carrots in September outdoors, under fleece, and see what happens 8) Carrot Parmex sown this month are already sprouting under cloches. Why not?

[OliveOil]

SS - Nick has been emailed - I'll keep you posted ;D

[OliveOil]

YAY the salad has sprouted!

[supersprout]

almost as good as the incubator eh ;) :D

[OliveOil]

HAHA - thats NOT funny!  Though if anyone can kill something in a seed tray it will be me!  Watch this space for 'Plug trainers for sale' LOL