Growing in Float Trays

[Markyw]

To be totally honest I am lazy when it comes to growing. I usually forget to water my young plants and they dry-out and I end up having to flood them to get them back to life,

And as for planting carrot and beetroot seeds direct in the ground I have found that the weeds grow faster and then I spend lots of time trying to work out what is a weed or not, and a few weeks later it is time for thinning out and more weeding as the weeds are still growing faster !!!.

So for the last few years I have been starting nearly all my plants in float trays. Float trays were developed for starting tobacco plants they float on the surface of a water filled tank and the roots grow out of the bottom into the water bath.. And yes at some stage you need to feed the water bath.

When I am ready I then transplant them into the ground which is totally weed free so it gives them the best start., I can space them exactly and avoid the thinning out rubbish,
I can forget about watering them for a week of so. And you don't need loads of compost.

I was just thinking if any of you have grown in float trays and if so how do you get on with them.
For any of you who are not aware of these I have added a link which is interesting reading and explains more about them in detail
Starting Seeds in Float Beds | Sustainable Kentucky

Mark

[Ryez]

Hi, thanks for sharing, this is pretty neat! I would love to try it. I wonder if the slugs will have to learn to swim to the seedlings

[Bigmallly]

Some of us were gonna try it but seemed to have gone belly up like most things on here.............

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ber_86279.html

[veggiechicken]

Thanks Mark - and BM for finding my experiment in starting onions sets in water. I'm sure I tried lettuces too but can't find the thread
Do you have a photos of your setup? I may have to try it

[Guest]

Never realised you could do seed, I thought they would rot of with constant water. I do have a flot tray but at the moment all it has in is some cuttings I wanted to root.

[gardening_gal]

I'm not clear on something.

Do you make holes in the float trays before filling with compost or whatever it is you're using?

[roitelet]

The trays look like polystyrene so I would think that they must have holes in them. Polystyrene will float anyway with or with out holes.

[Markyw]

Hi GG the problem is you are unable to get float trays in the UK so you need to make your own. I will try to add some pictures on how my set-up works but I don't fill the holes with compost but use an old drinking bottle top filled with some compost







Hope the pictures have been attached OK I have others on showing you how to make your own

Mark

[gardening_gal]

Thanks for the pics. I do actually have a couple of polystyrene cell trays that I've had for years and never used. I'm thinking I might give this a go. I just wasn't sure if I should put a hole in the bottom of each cell.

Your plants look really healthy Mark.

[Bigmallly]

Hi GG the problem is you are unable to get float trays in the UK so you need to make your own.

These would do the job & are as cheap as "chips"..............

[Markyw]

A little tip the ones that you get plants in from the garden centre don't work, you need to make sure they float when full of moist compost, otherwise they sink and become aquatic plants

Plus they have a flat bottom and they still get root bound, you need to train the roots to grow into the water that's why I use the tops of small water bottles due to their shape.

You also need to add a wick this also stops the compost dropping into the water bath, I have used coconut mating before this works well but this year I am using just rolled up corrugated cardboard inserted in the bottom .

Good luck Mark

[Markyw]

I hope that this picture helps a bit more on how my set-up works,
The one on the left is made from an old suitcase, I can pack it up and chuck it in the shed in the winter as it does not take up much space. I also get two areas to grow in so I can adjust my feed depending what is growing in which tray.

The one on the right has been made to fit inside one of my heated propagators so I can get a lid on it, It is very good for starting chillies or other plants that need heat and humidity.

I hope the picture helps.