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Marigold123

Joined: 06 Feb 2005
Posts: 224

Posted: Sun Feb 20, 05 3:09 am Post subject:

I tried a 'no dig' vegetable plot once, where you are supposed to sow everything in specially airated cups, (polystyrene - or paper/card is obviously better), that have had special cuts made in the sides to offer better airation and encourage the roots to come to the edge of the pot.

This is supposed to help the roots to establish more quickly when you transplant them - you carefully unpot them and plant the whole root ball in a hole made with a bulb planter, much quicker than digging a hole, and the right size and shape. You leave a bigger distance between the groups of plants than you would between individual seedlings, 6 inches or so, I think, as you are planting in rough rows of groups, rather than straight lines.

It was quite successful, but I found that with the peas you had to be careful not to leave them in the pots too long, as if they grow too tall and start to produce tendrils you never seem to get as strong a plant after you've transplanted.

I've not used the guttering technique myself, but it's probably better than this method, for peas at least. I wonder whether it would be useful for other veg seedlings?

Guest

Posted: Sun Feb 20, 05 9:14 am Post subject:
I read somewhere that thte guttering should have holed drilled in the bottom for drainage, but not everyone seems to mention this. I should think that as the peas will germiante fairly quickly this might be unnecessary. I always sow my peas direct outside now, with much better results - stronger, healthier plants, more vigorous growth.

Nanny

Joined: 17 Feb 2005
Posts: 4520
Location: carms in wales

Posted: Sun Feb 20, 05 3:26 pm Post subject: peas

i wondered about the drainage................

never been a problem as i always elevate one end ever so slightly so that any excess water seems to drain away....

i have never used it for any other seedlings.i would imagine you could providing the plant didn't need to establish a really deep root system in a hurry

i do my broad beans in loo rolls and also my runner beans....i wonder if the runners could go in to guttering? i grow them onto frame work as well as the peas so in theory it could work i suppose

Sarah D

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 2584

Posted: Sun Feb 20, 05 6:33 pm Post subject:
I would think the runners would not do well in the guttering - they are very deep rooted, and there just wouldn't be enough room.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sun Feb 20, 05 7:17 pm Post subject:
The idea of the guttering is to germinate the seeds and plant out quickly. If there are holes drilled in then any roots may hinder the planting out as the compost & seedlings are slid out in one go. Not tried it yet so do those that do drill holes in the guttering? I agree that it may not be very suitable for beans, but we tend to plant less bean plants than peas.

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Tue Feb 22, 05 2:01 pm Post subject:

selfsufficientish wrote:

Incidently many herbs do not like to transpanted either, which would have been nice to have know before I planted my corriander last time. It bolted an went to seed in a matter of weeks. Parsley is another one ledgend had it that if you transplanted parsley bad luck would befall your household for the next year.

Coriander does that anyway... which brings me to another top tip to share...

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