someone writes

"Steve Harris" wrote in message
...
Various authors and web sits suggest that sweetcorn be started off in
peat pots because it doesn't like root disturbance. However, Unwin's
seed packet just mentions "small pots".

Is the "root disturbance" just a gardeners myth? or can someone point me
to *authoritive* information?


We plant our sweetcorn in plastic plug trays of 10 x 15 units, where each
unit is about 3 cm square by 5 cm deep, e.g. quite small. After the plants
are about 5" high and the roots are starting to show through the hole in the
bottom of each plug, we stick a pencil up the holes and push all the
seedlings out onto another tray, then plants them in our allotment. We've
never had a problem with root disturbance. Our only problem has been when
the sowing medium gets too damp, then the seeds will rot very easily before
they sprout. Consequently we have found a soil-based medium (e.g. John
Innes #1 or #2) is better than the peat-based multipurpose composts when
first sowing, as the multipurpose composts can be quite wet. We keep a
close eye on the soil and don't usually water at all for the first week or
so, only spraying the plugs a bit on top to keep them damp, if the weather
is very sunny.

Root disturbance isn't usually a problem if you sow into individual pots
or cells, and use plastic not clay. It's easy to tip out the whole root
ball and replant without disturbing

It becomes a problem if you are sowing more than one seed in each pot
and try to separate them. Some plants cope with this, others don't.
--
Kay