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San Diego

here's a roots question. This is my third year growing and I have noticed root differences. I start my plants in 8 inch high clear containers so I can see the roots when they sprout. Some plants have a main tape root that hits the bottom of my container and some do not. The ones that do not, have many smaller roots appear. Is there an advantage to one over the other? And does it really matter which type of roots a plant has, especially if it is a "hot" seed that produces big pumpkins? Jim

4/29/2003 6:21:51 PM

Canton,Mass

You hit on a point that I've been concerned about when starting seeds indoors. The seeds that send down that taproot that bottoms out against the container bottom have been comprimised to some degree.Last year,in order to reduce "bottoming out" I started them in carboard tubes about 14" long packed with potting soil.I precut the tubes and re-taped them so that I could split the tube open and transplant them. The problem I encountered was that the side roots grew into the sides of the cardboard container.Next year I'm going with a wider tube(maybe 8" diameter ) but made out of PVC so the roots don't grow into it.This year I started them all outdoors because I didn't get seeds until late.

4/29/2003 9:00:37 PM

syracuse, ny

in any event this sounds like a good environment for
'root-boundedness'.
i think the old 4" peatpot with holes punched all around it, with no barrier to the roots so they can protrude as they wish, is the best way to go....see a Joel Holland video! yes, as soon as you try to separate the container they're in, the tips of the roots get pulled or torn off...
since the very tip is where the main growth is occurring,
any damage there, i think anyway, is a bit of a setback.'pal

4/30/2003 1:23:19 PM