Rootrainers

[darrenc]

Does anybody know if the traditional 5inch rootrainers fit into the new Rootrainers compact trays?

[Monika]

Hello Darrenc,
Yes, the old style 4-cell rootrainer insides fit the new compact rootrainer frames. There are just fewer of them!

[darrenc]

Thanks for that Monika.

[Weed]

I have often looked at root trainers and they appear to be so flimsy...now I have big and awkward hands and I can't envisage them lasting five minutes... perhaps I am wrong

[Colin_M]

I have often looked at root trainers and they appear to be so flimsy

I know what you mean. The plastic used for the modules is thin and flexible. However mine are in their 4th season and still going strong.

Ironically, the part that has been a problem is the clear plastic lid. Once seedlings have emerged, I use this to stand the frame in, making watering from the roots-up easier. Unfortunately, one of my lids has a crack in it, so I can't do this any more.


Colin

[Monika]

Yes, Colin, I have some about 6 years old. I think I must have bought them when they first came out. Even when the "hinge" breaks at the bottom of the book-like row, they are still perfectly usable, just a bit more fiddly to set up when empty. They seem very expensive but they do make sowing and planting things like sweet peas, French beans, runner beans and broad beans so much more reliable. I use the tall ones for the above veggies and the lower ones for things like beetroot and a few select brassicas. I only use the transparent top as top but have bought some trays (like seed trays but without holes, all very reasonable from JSB Plastics) where I stand them in.

[Geoff]

I thought the idea was that the roots were air pruned to make them divide, don't they grow out into the trays if you do it this way? Or do you soak them then take them back out?

[Colin_M]

do you soak them then take them back out?

Yes. For plants that need to be in them for a while, you've obviously got to water them.

It just seemed daft appying this from the top, so I stand them in an inch or so of water for 10-20 minutes then remove the excess. My thinking was that this would help encourage the downward growth of the roots.


Colin

[darrenc]

Dear Weed, Have a browse on their website rootrainers.co.uk you will find all the info you need.