Hi all, have been saving the loo roll tubes, any advice as to how to use them for leeks, etc. Not sure about amount of soil, seed depth and so on. Have tried searching but to no avail.
Thanks
TonyM
Just planted my leeks in them, filled 4/5 with compost, 3 seeds each for thinning and then a light covering of compost, someone told me to do it like this, seems about right
I've sown Leeks, Peas and Carrots in loo roll inards and they turned out no different to those sown in pots and trays, so I will not be using them this year. ;)
Leek seeds in loo rolls is a bit of a waste of greenhouse space. At planting time the leeks are placed in the ground individually and with their roots 'washed' as they are planted. Best bet is to sow seed in a tray and leave them in that tray until planting out time. Thin if you wish.
I just sow my leeks in a pot (ice cream tub last year) this year 2 plant pots, did them today, I found the extra depth, compared to a tray, helped a bit. When the time comes I put the whole lot in a bowl or bucket and wash them apart berfore planting. Seems to work, Peas in the ground or guttering. Broad beans in the ground or modules.
I do/have used loo rolls for sweetcorn (not supposed to like root disturbance).
Jeremy
Why is the the washing method applied? I've heard of root cutting and never understood why that is done, I'd use both methods if it will improve growth. :-\
Trimming the roots is supposed to slow down length growth. Not trimming them is supposed to make for better exhibition leeks. Personally I never have.
Mine tend to get trimmed as I teas them apart :)
In my case the washing is simply to get the soil out so that you can gently tease the roots apart allowing you to plant individual leeks.
The varietes I've planted are Startrack (early -though it stands all winter for me) and Musselbrugh Improved.
Jeremy
A perennial topic (search on 'loo roll'!), one of the most recent is at http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,57/topic,16333.0
Plant seeds (especially those you want to space widely, or leave roots undisturbed - I have had good results with lettuce/chicory, beans, sweetcorn, parsnip) to same depth as in a normal plant pot, leave them alone, and they rot away. I don't use for leeks, just bung naked roots in holes and they do fine.
Don't worry about standing collars or mould on the rolls, all will disappear in time once planted out. Now all I need is a dibber just larger than a loo/kitchen roll whittled from a piece of dowel or spade handle to be plant perfect ::).
My loo roll carrots went very well last year but this year I'm making the holes deeper and filling with compost before I plonk the rolls into the holes. Why? Claggy, solid clay soil. See below...
(http://www.assap.org/execimages/Mike/carrot.jpg)
;D
Mike
I love the photo Mike!!! ;D
great photo really sells the point about length of root run
a picture is def. worth a thousand words mike, point taken! Lovely start to the morning lol ;D ;D