root trainers

[jock_edin]

Hi all out there, I was talked into purchasing an amount of root trainers as these I was told are the bee's knee's. I am just about ready to use the first of them on 3 sets of seeds and none mention these for starting off. I am starting Cucumber, Sweet Corn and Courgette are they any better than the tried and tested 75mm pots.
                       Yours Willie

[jock_edin]

[tim]

For corn, yes.

[sandersj89]

I have been using them this year for the first time, I was given 2 sets as free samples and have bought 4 further sets.

So far I am very pleased with them. I have used them for broad beans, sweetpeas, brassicas, lettuce so far. I will be using them soon for french beans, runner beans, sweet corn soon.

As a comparrison I sowed braod beans from the same packet in both root trainers and pots. Germination was about the same time but come planting out the root trainer plants were stronger and now look much healthier than the pot grown beans.

The key factor is the depth of the root trainer I believe. Als disturbance when removing the plant is minimal.

One other advantage is they take up far less room than pots!

Jerry

[SpeedyMango]

I'm trying them for the first time this year too.

They are doing well so far. My broad beans came on a treat.

Remember to give them a good soaking before planting out though - if you open the "books" when they're a bit dry the earth just crumbles away, defeating the object of not disturbing the roots. Whoops...

[moonbells]

I've had them for a couple of years.  Sweetcorn grows very well in them, as do runner beans, French beans and courgettes. However the proximity of the cells does mean that the runners tend to tangle up badly, and if you're not around to untangle them daily, the plants inevitably get damaged while you separate them.  I didn't get many French climbers last year thanks to this. The runners recovered. This year they'll go in a seed tray of individual square pots, and I'm tempted to put green sticks in the pots too!

Rootrainers also grow great sweet peas.

moonbells

[jock_edin]

Thanks for all the positive replies, going out to start them off. in for a penny in for the pound as they say.
                           good luck this year
                                           willie

[tim]

When I said 'corn' I was, of course, referring to the options in the question.

Apart from sweet peas & beans, I don't think that much is to be gained in their use. And you are committed to 28 or so cells - often too many. And they are very brittle.

As to snarled up roots - interesting, because the cells are designed to allow air pruning of the roots. Maybe they had been standing in or over water, allowing the roots to meet at the bottom

[Derek]

Thanks Tim...you have prempted my question.

They do look very brittle to me and I have refrained from buying because of this.... I was wondering if there were stronger ones available.

Derek

[moonbells]

Hmm when I said tangled beans I meant the tops not the roots!

I am tempted to use loorolls or halved kitchen rolls for biodegradeable alternatives, which are even better since you don't even have to try and open them - just plant straight into the soil. Worked with the parsnips...

moonbells

[sandersj89]

Tim,

Don't worry about the number of cells too much. For bulk sowings light broad beans that is fine. But I also use a set of root trainers to grow 4 different brassicas for example.

A row of each in the trainers with a name lable at the end of the row and they are fine.

I also use them for 2 varieties of sweet peas for instance, half the tray for one, half for the other and a labe at each end.

I have not found them brittle as yet, though this is their first season, they may get worse with time we shall see.

Over all I am very pleased with them. Nice healthy plants, good root systems and reduced use of  bench space.

Jerry

[tim]

Sure - they are great - but not a necessary expense for most things, I reckon?