From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Canada

Ok How many of you start your plants in large peat pots
and once you see the roots comeing threw the pots
plant them directly outside and into the patch without
removeing them from there peat pots?

like does these peat pots break down fast to allow the roots
to go threw them? ive never used them before but am thinking this is something i may try next year just so i dont have to stress the plants by going from smaller parts to larger then into the patch.

p.S how large can these pots be purchased? 6" x 12" ? or can you only get them in the 4"x 6" deep pots? these are the biggest ive seen thats why i am asking

thanks in advance
dave

5/8/2004 3:46:18 PM

Mastic Beach, New York

Dave..i had that problem..the plant push up thru the soil and i had roots coming thru the walls of the peat pot before the plant even greened up,so i asked my local grower what he use's and told me 1 gallon ice cream container ...i use 1 gallon plastic pots...look in my diary from last year.. also look in "the how to section" Jack Larue did a article on it.

5/8/2004 5:38:53 PM

Topsfield, Ma.

4" peat pots are the largest I've been able to find. I always peel the pot away when planting to avoid any chance of roots getting bound up. Some roots always get boogered.
Just gotta have the patch ready for transplanting early!
Duff

5/8/2004 7:18:37 PM

Commack, NY

See the problem with peat pots is that the roots stick to the pot. so if you peel it away, you run the risk of ripping roots apart. YOu might not even know you did it. My first year i used peat pots, and i noticed that when i dug up the stump at the end of the year, there was still ALOT of the peat pot left. the Ice cream container method works great!

Scott

5/8/2004 7:25:41 PM

The whole purpose of using peat pots is so that you don't have to disturb the roots when you transplant. It sort of defeats the purpose if you're planning on ripping the sides off when you transplant.

5/8/2004 7:56:30 PM

Puyallup, WA

What I believe is being reported by those who use peat pots is that the pots do not "disintegrate" as we have been told.
I do not use peat pots for this reason.

5/8/2004 8:03:50 PM

Montoursville, PA

Peat Pots are a hoot......They burn nicely and that is what I did with all that were left in this place.

For pumpkins I use half gallon ice cream containers as can be seen on my diary.

For tomatos I use foam cups working clear up to milk shake size for lots of roots and a big start.

For most other stuff I use market packs just like the mass merchandisers except that I time my plantings so the roots do not get root bound.

I let others use the peat pots and wonder why things are not going right. :)

5/8/2004 8:40:47 PM

Liverpool , England

Peat pots are not made for pumpkins..they are for other smaller veggies and flowers which don't have such a huge root system. Try it ya self...plant out one in the peat pot and watch it slowly die, choked to death cos it can't get it's roots out of the pot.....been there, done that, got the T-shirt.

5/8/2004 8:45:53 PM

Sequim, WA

I've been using peat pots for as long as I've been growing AG's and never had a problem. Sure the roots are coming through the side of the pot sometimes before the cotyledons break the soil surface, but that's exactly why I use them. Those roots penetrate the pot. The only time I've seen any problems is when they are allowed to dry out. Keep them damp and the sides are easily penetrated by growing roots. I do score the sides and bottom of the pot at planting time, but that's it. The key is getting them into the soil quickly after germination and keeping the pot moist.

5/8/2004 9:52:03 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

1 gallon coffee cans to start...transplant to 3 gallon pots and lotsa lights.

5/8/2004 10:11:24 PM

Kenyon, Mn.

Got all ours set out today, I used the 2 pound 7 oz. folgers coffee cans(plastic), upside down, held them sideways, popped the bottoms(what"was" the tops) off and them beauties slid right out, real clean transplanting, roots had just barely touched bottom with the first true leafs fully exposed.See diary, would of used the Ice cream containers Doc, but the Doctor told me thats a no-no...Guess I never told him I'm a coffee addict!! I never found any GOOD use for peat pots...of any size.

5/8/2004 10:18:21 PM

San Diego

I use 1 gallon spring or purified water bottles. The plastic is clear so I can observe the roots. Pre-cut them, tape together, work great for easy transplant. The main tap root hits the bottom the day the plant emerges from the soil. In 2 days after that, the container has roots everywhere and it's tansplanting time. Jim

5/8/2004 11:38:45 PM

Deer Park WA

I use "shaved" 6" peat pots and coordinate germination/first true leaf/transplanting to where if done properly the entire 6" peat pot is removed with NO root damage.

5/9/2004 2:50:28 AM

Saegertown Pa.

I've always used pet pot's I have never had a problem with them, I just plant them in the garden. At the end of the year I have never found any thing left of them.

5/9/2004 7:14:07 AM

[email protected]

It sounds like the quality/condition of Peat pots is variable by region or manufacturer. I've never used these for Pumpkins. I've seen "issues" with other plants. All this controversy is evidence that the rate of compression, thickness & binder are quite different by manufacturer. I guess this is one of those areas where thorough pre-season testing is in order. Then once a winner is found, stick with it.

Or just use another method as we do. Ice cream tubs were cool last year until I saw the roots. The container was not deep enough. This year we used 6" Sewer & Drain cut inot 12" tall pots. At day 4 from emergence, the tap root had just made the bottom & hadn't yet curled more than an inch. Probably more elaborate than necessary. But they'll last forever & cost $1.96 for the brass piano hinge. No other expense was incurred since the pipe was lying around a friends place & he wanted to "make it go away". I think it took 20 minutes to make 2 & we have the parts for 6 more now littering the catch all behind the garage.

5/9/2004 8:51:39 AM

Western Pa.

I agree with Quinn, I've always used peat pots with no problem. (You can't argue with Quinn's success!)At planting, I peel the sides off, but if I feel any resistance, the bottom stays on. Only problem appears when YOU leave them too long in the pot and don't get them out in the garden!
p.s. Doc's information isn't ALWAYS right!

5/9/2004 8:56:15 AM

Montoursville, PA

The elimation of stress or resistance is the object. Peat is no longer a resistance if it is not there. The bottom of the pot no longer turns the roots inward if the pot is deep enough.

The straight sided paper ice cream half gallon container is more or less approaching excellence. They are excellent if you get to the patch within eight to ten days from the day you planted the seed.

Any reusable tool or pot brings with it the responsibility of absolute cleaning and sterilizing in years to come. I still like the throw away pot, for this reason alone. No professional greenhouse reuses any pot today. When I was a kid they all did. What they saved did not pay for what they got by improper sterilization. Takes time too!

5/9/2004 9:11:12 AM

Atlanta, Georgia

I had great success with the peat pots here in Germany but they must be soaked in warm water very long beforehand and then they break down quickly and the roots seem to come thru them as easy as thru other soil.

I will be trying the peat pots again wrapped in saran wrap or plastic and keep them in 85 degree water for my test patch plants starting tomorrow. I'll let you know how this works.

I believe that this method won't matter as much if the roots come out of the peat pots before planting time since the roots will be protected by the moisture between the saran wrap and the pots.

We'll see...
Michel

5/9/2004 9:23:48 AM

Atlanta, Georgia

Forgot to mention that I poke holes in the bottom of the peat pots after they are soaked.
Doesn't seem to make much difference though because I see as many roots or more coming out thru the peat pot as thru the holes I punch...
Michel

5/9/2004 9:25:28 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

1-3 gallon containers of *any* type will work just fine if it has a bottom that can be removed, lots of room too if you're delayed getting your plants out. I prefer firm plastic or metal coffee cans and/or pots as I find paper containers get too loose and flimsy with any type of appreciable moisture exposure. Those Folger plastic containers Mr. Bumpy and I use slide right off the soil easily, especially if you grease the inside wall with PAM cooking spray.

5/9/2004 12:30:26 PM

Indiana

the thing that pisses me off about peat pots is how quickly they dry out. When they dry out the roots cant go through them, and then the just go round and round the pot. 16 ounce plastic cups with a hole drilled in the bottom for me.

Tom

5/9/2004 5:39:29 PM

Mill Creek West by god Virginia

i am new at this but i used 5pound butter bowels turned upside down with the lid for bottom and the old bottom cut off plenty of room for the roots and slick enough to let plant slide into its new home he he!burrhead

5/10/2004 12:39:44 AM

Liverpool , England

Bowels!...Jeeze man I hope ya mean bowls

5/10/2004 5:01:11 AM

Kenyon, Mn.

Geez, brother Burrhead, 5 lb. butter bowls...And they think MY cholesterol is HIGH!!HaHa :0}

5/10/2004 7:34:40 AM

I had the idea this winter (I know I told you about it Tom, remember?) to put each peat pot inside a snug fitting plastic pot. That way, they don't dry out as fast, the roots will grow into and through the peat pot, and when you want to transplant, it will still be held together enough to just pull it out of the plastic pot and plop the peat pot into the ground.

5/10/2004 12:25:37 PM

Ontario, Canada.

I use styrofoam coffee cups to sprout the seeds then transplant when the roots are about 1 inch long into 2 Gallons pots. This allows for about two weeks of growth. I had used 4" peat pots be they take up a lot of room in the germination box. I check the plants every 12 hours in the coffee cups for root development.

5/10/2004 2:07:25 PM

Pulaski Tn [email protected]

i used the wee little 2 inch peat pots this year and had tremendous success with them..49 out of 50...

5/10/2004 4:25:24 PM

Ri

just an idea it works for me
Line any pot 1-2 gallon with 2-3 sheets newspaper "i have been fortunate enough to get my hands on containers used for hanging plants at home and garden stores" i use potting material [vermiculite, humus, miracle grow starting media] very little water until the little buggers poke through. With paper dry, lift out of pot and into ground. Watering after third leaf the moistened paper is no prob and the roots continue to do their thing. Peter

5/10/2004 5:20:59 PM

Mill Creek West by god Virginia

damn alun i cant spell,he he bowls!and no phil i dont like butter but my wife makes alot of homemade breads cakes etc so we use alot of butter! burrhead

5/11/2004 1:59:42 AM