I think you're free to choose. I liked removing the netting. Had to do it before the roots go through though. If I let them go too long, then the netting would have to stay. I know I ripped some roots. I don't think that set the plants back, but I don't know.

However, I have stopped using the Jiffy pellets. I bought a seed starter kit containing a heating mat, 1020 tray with dome and 809 inserts (72 cells). I use that one exclusively these days. It's cheaper than buying the Jiffy pellets and with 72 cells I can also afford to put one seed per cell. I start the slower peppers (typically Chinense types) weeks before the faster ones (typ. Jalapenos). I find one tray to be more than enough when I stagger the plants.

...after finding this, I now remove them.

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Wow rdbak! Those pics are very telling.

My class has started many, many seeds in the jiffy pellets. Usually we leave the net on. Of the ones that we have taken the net off we had zero die off. That is with roots sticking out of the net. To date we haven't had any problems, but we don't have any plants that are as mature as yours in the photo. We will be removing the net from now on.

Thank you.

Hi orchardhills,

...and you're welcome. The photo is of a pepper plant (I don't recall which variety) I pulled at the end of last season. I don't think it hurts to remove the netting, but it can hurt if you don't apparently. The other thing I don't like is the netting doesn't seem to be biodegradable. I'm digging these things up from plantings done 2 & 3 years ago.

Good luck to you and the class!

thanks

2008...how time flies.

Here's the images I posted.

I believe that netting is plastic and will never decompose properly. Definitely remove the netting!