Fran Farmer wrote:
On 7/06/2014 4:39 PM, David Hare-Scott wrote:
Higgs Boson wrote:

It is said that you should only sow cucurbits directly as they
resent transplanting. What they resent is root disturbance. You
can avoid this problem and wasting seed by planting in tubes, the
tapered
square-section plastic kind about 12 cm (5 in) tall, that sit in a
rack. They are often used to raise tree and shrub seedlings. Plant one
seed per tube and plant out when the true leaves open. With care the
soil plug with
roots and all will slide out in one chunk and can be planted with no
root
disturbance.

Have never seen this Up Here. Any USA-ians know about product, what
it's called, and where get it?

TIA

HB

They come in round-section and square-section. I prefer square as
the roots don't go round and round. They also come in a fixed tray
with many holes or where each is separate and they sit in a rack. I
prefer the latter as they are easier to handle and to extract the
plug one at a time.

I too prefer the square pots and have many of them and the racks they
sit in from our days of planting out masses of trees in windbreaks. I
like the root pruning feature that is inherent in the design of these
pots 'cos I'm rather prone to forgetting to put things in the garden
before the roots grow through the bottom.

I have hundreds that came with buying tubestock. They are called
that because they come in tubes, perhaps you call them nursery tubes
or forestry tubes.

http://www.arborgreen.com.au/product...mm,-720pk.html


Most hits seem to be in Oz, maybe they haven't made it to the world
yet.

Well isn't that interesting! I can't find any in the US either - the
nearest I can find is the following and it's not what you and I have
and are talking about as it's way too short:
http://www.landmarkplastic.com/ProductView/118/32/104

Too short, the roots need to go down not sideways. Part of the design is to
stop root binding and to give the seedling a head start with some deep roots
as soon as it is planted out. This sort wont do that.


I found some in Italy called "square pot with grid bottom" that are
close; http://www.bamaplast.it/MM_S011_SCHEDA.cfm?id=17

More like it.


Surely tubestock pots would have to be available in the US but Lord
knows what they are called. Hopefully some good google hound will
tell us their US name.

Dunno. I suggest contacting the nearest forestry division or company who
would be most likely to have use of them.

D