Roots at top of container question

[craftymarie]

I've tried searching for this with no success and got frustrated when I typed roots at top of pot in Google and got a load of dodgy articles come up - didn't think about that

Anyway, does it mean something significant if you can see some bits of white roots at the top of a container of veg? Veg in question are Choy Sum and Tatsoi which were seeds on one of the magazines. Don't know much about these as never eaten them.

These are containers that have been re-potted recently so I don't see how they could be pot-bound already.

Does it mean the roots are looking for more water or food perhaps?

[veggiechicken]

Maybe you didn't replant them deeply enough? Cover the roots with compost and see what happens next

[craftymarie]

OK thank you - that could be the case. I will try that tomorrow.

[Lumpy]

Did you grow anything in the pots before? If so could it be root remains from the previous crop that have been dislodged when you put the new bits in?

[craftymarie]

No, lumpy, they were put in new containers (those hadopot planting bags) with fresh compost. But that's something to be aware of when I do re-use containers.

[vixylix]

I've had this problem a few times with my cucumbers and tomatoes before they're planted out - I put it down to not quite having anough compost in combined with not being deep enough - so when you water them everything basicakly washes around the rootball.

I just put new compost on top and havent had any problems with them continuing to grow or produce

[Bigmallly]

As I'm sure you are aware, compost settles after a while so that combined with shallow planting could account for visible roots on top.

[craftymarie]

Excellent, thanks for all the advice. I'm going to add more compost on today and hopefully that will do the trick. Don't like the thought of losing anything due to silly errors.