Homemade Root trainers!

[veggiechicken]

Its no good asking me as I've never seen, used or handled one. But I'm very interested in these opinions!

[Alison]

I'm with Zazen on this one, they're really easy to fill. I tend to do mine in their frame over on my big plastic potting tray, some spills out as I'm not that tidy about it so I scoop it up and put it back in the top. When they're full they're really stable as they're a nice neat block.

[VirginVegGrower]

it's not that hard honestly, fit them all together, squash them all in, then throw handfuls of compost on top, and bang it on the table a couple of times to go down, then throw another couple of handfuls on, bang it again. Push the seeds in, water, top up any ones that aren't fully composted up.

well, that's how I do it.
and that's my how-to for the year done :0

Please can someone explain why they have problems filling up root trainers? Me and VVG were stood in a garden centre today trying to work out why people were having problems and if you have the books, the frame and something to stand them on [the lid is dual purpose] they fill easily, and hardly spill any soil when you take the roots out and we just cannot understand why people are having problems with them. The are almost perfect!

They are one of the best designs for affordability and innovation I've ever seen. I'm not sure why folk are struggling either unless they are buying a cheap copy. The Rootrainers are about 8-9 pounds for a pack. You get a frame which I stand in a gravel tray. You fix the two sides together, which have male/female type connection fastenings. If you get every one of them together then they do not come apart. I fill them with compost and as Taff, bang them in the gravel tray, on the deck. Pop seed on top, more compost, water and pop the lid on. They last longer than my cheapie Wilko black pots.
You have got to ensure their lockable bits are pushed together correctly, but it's not hard to fathom. Yes we did stand looking at them and wonder why they are considered tricky.

[Bigmallly]

The only way folk will have trouble with them is if they do not fill the cradle with books, then they "can" pop open.

[VirginVegGrower]

it's not that hard honestly, fit them all together, squash them all in, then throw handfuls of compost on top, and bang it on the table a couple of times to go down, then throw another couple of handfuls on, bang it again. Push the seeds in, water, top up any ones that aren't fully composted up.

well, that's how I do it.
and that's my how-to for the year done :0

I like them, apart from the bit where you have to push the last row in, it's always a bit tight
My roots from peas and beans and sweetcorn have grown in the past like the picture BM put up.

My technique for this is to put all but two up one end, another the other end and push my last one in between those two ends. Goes in much easier that way, than trying to push the last one up an end.
That completes my how to for the year also xxx

[Bigmallly]

My technique for this is to put all but two up one end, another the other end and push my last one in between those two ends. Goes in much easier that way, than trying to push the last one up an end.
That completes my how to for the year also xxx

Or push it in the middle.............

[zazen999]

I always put the middle one in last.

But it still doesn't explain why people are having problems, unless as you say - they are cheap copies or they haven't got the frame. Perhaps we will never know.

ETA: snap. again. this is getting weird.

[VirginVegGrower]

Twilight Zone...

[veggiechicken]

Progress report!

The experimental broad bean has reached the bottom of the experimental pseudo "root trainer" and the shoot is about to reach skyward. I have suspended the whole thing in a jam jar so lets see what happens to the roots now.


Bean sown 6th March

[Bigmallly]

Guess I need to go to Specsavers........

[veggiechicken]

Just your style!

[VirginVegGrower]

Just seen the real deal at the Edible garden show and for those who have proper Rootrainers they are now selling replacements singularly online.

[veggiechicken]

Pseudo root trainer update

Roots are all heading straight downwards, as one would expect. The root that has emerged into the air is shrivelling.

Broad bean sown 6th March.

[Shadylane]

Brill. Now you just need to design a frame to stand them in. My root trainers are a bit meh. Some of them are a little damaged already after one year and they DO pop open even if you've put them together properly. I suspect they're a cheaper version as I got em off ebay

[veggiechicken]

Thanks! I dislike paying for something if I don't understand the logic behind it that's makes it so expensive!
Today I've been working on pseudo root trainer mark II. Imagine a large yogurt tub divided into 4 vertical, triangular segments, with 2 interlocking bits of plastic so each tub will take 4 seeds. I stabbed the bottom of the cartons with a knife to make 4 triangular flaps which act as drainage holes and to retain the soil whilst filling. Once the roots grow down, the flaps can be opened out for the roots to come out, meet the air and shrivel.
I've planted up 4 of these with Climbing French beans, runner beans, peas and sweet corn. Also 4 normal plant pots each containing 4 of the same seeds as a control.
Watch this space for the next instalment!!