I have never used what I believe are known a "root trainers" - I have
previously just used seed trays with cells in.

Do people use the seed trainers? - I can see it would be an advantage to be
able to open them to remove the root balls of various seedlings. (I've just
transplanted some tomatoes into 3" pots and for some reason struggled a bit as
the damp compost came away from the seedlings as I removed them from the
ordinary plastic seed cells - must have been the compost as I have not had the
problem in previous years)

So: do people use them - are they worthwhile - do you use good quality ones
which can be used year after year - or just get thin cheap ones which can be
thrown once used?

(I can see an advantage in growing seeds in coir - as I guess there will be
less root disturbance when transplanted - do people do this much?)

"Judith in England" wrote


I have never used what I believe are known a "root trainers" - I have
previously just used seed trays with cells in.

Do people use the seed trainers? - I can see it would be an advantage to be
able to open them to remove the root balls of various seedlings. (I've
just
transplanted some tomatoes into 3" pots and for some reason struggled a bit
as
the damp compost came away from the seedlings as I removed them from the
ordinary plastic seed cells - must have been the compost as I have not had
the
problem in previous years)

So: do people use them - are they worthwhile - do you use good quality ones
which can be used year after year - or just get thin cheap ones which can
be
thrown once used?

(I can see an advantage in growing seeds in coir - as I guess there will
be
less root disturbance when transplanted - do people do this much?)


Yes, used them for many years. Eventually they do break along the hinge but
if you are careful they last many years. I use them for seed sowing of
beans, tomatoes, chillies, all brassicas, most things actually. They come in
different lengths so I use the 7 inch for runners and the 5 inch for most
other things.
--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK

On Tue, 17 Mar 2015 17:27:40 -0000, "Bob Hobden" wrote:

"Judith in England" wrote


I have never used what I believe are known a "root trainers" - I have
previously just used seed trays with cells in.

Do people use the seed trainers? - I can see it would be an advantage to be
able to open them to remove the root balls of various seedlings. (I've
just
transplanted some tomatoes into 3" pots and for some reason struggled a bit
as
the damp compost came away from the seedlings as I removed them from the
ordinary plastic seed cells - must have been the compost as I have not had
the
problem in previous years)

So: do people use them - are they worthwhile - do you use good quality ones
which can be used year after year - or just get thin cheap ones which can
be
thrown once used?

(I can see an advantage in growing seeds in coir - as I guess there will
be
less root disturbance when transplanted - do people do this much?)


Yes, used them for many years. Eventually they do break along the hinge but
if you are careful they last many years. I use them for seed sowing of
beans, tomatoes, chillies, all brassicas, most things actually. They come in
different lengths so I use the 7 inch for runners and the 5 inch for most
other things.


Many thanks = I will give them a go.