peat pods a problem... or not?

10 years ago

It was only after i started a slew of flowers and vegetables in the trays of small peat pods that I came across all the negative comments about them. My germination rate was staggeringly - almost 100%! I think that's because we have radiant heat in front of a sliding glass door facing south. Then we had such a mild spring that I was able to put the trays outside on many days. I have to go out of town for a week so I had to make the hard decision to now plant them out for good. I transplanted 72 poppy seedlings and trailing lobelia in their tiny pods, and a dozen different kinds of tomatoes in their bigger pods, burying them deep because it's really too early. That's when I read all the horror stories about these pods, mainly that the encasing netting does not disintegrate in soil as promised. I lay awake all night wondering if I should go back and cut the netting off and replant everything, but then remembered that the bottoms of the cells have no netting. They're made like a big sausage that's sliced, so the roots would be growing out the bottom at least. Tell me, does anyone have success with these things? I promise not to use them next time, but am i safe this time??

Featured Answer

User

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

I hope I am not too late to tell you to not dig them up. Despite the naysaying here, I promise...no, I guarantee that your plants will be absolutely OK with the netting still on. I have used jiffy7s for years and yep, they have some problems - chiefly drying out...but against all intuition, the nets do not strangle, diminish or interfere with the roots in any way. I did my own qualitative analysis back in the day when trials still amused me and I had the time to do it. Commercial nurseries have used them for years (you must have bought plants which still have the netting on) - the most annoying thing is that the nets do not disintegrate in the soil and will still be there, seasons later (in the compost bin). The main reason I do not use them is down to cost as I regularly sow over 1000 seedlings a year which is a hefty layout.

Do NOT dig them up.

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Comments (10)

rusty_blackhaw
10 years ago
Previous thread about this problem:

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/discussions/1397733/peat-pellet-users-you-might-want-to-look-pics

I suspect the worst problem with roots not growing out of the netted peat occurs when 1) the garden soil is poor quality (i.e. heavy clay) and moisture is uneven, causing the plant to largely confine its roots to the peat.

It sounds like it would be a major effort to dig up all those transplants and remove the netting. Maybe you could save on labor and avoid disturbing the plants by digging down just enough to slice through one side of the netting with scissors to permit roots to escape.
digdirt2
10 years ago
Agree that the damage done now by digging them up to strip the netting (and yes there is netting on the bottom too) would likely only make things worse. Especially with poppies that should be direct seeded only anyway.

The tomato plants you might get away with digging them up as they are tough and recover quickly. Might be worth trying it on a couple of them and see how it goes.

Otherwise just consider it a lesson learned for the future. It always pays to do your homework before doing something new to you. :-)

Dave

PS: best to refer to them by their actual name - peat pellets - to avoid confusion with the peat POTS (that have their own set of problems).
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Candace Seaton
10 years ago
I have used them for many years with no problem at all. It looks funny to yank out a huge dead tomato root in fall and see the tiny pod attached. I always crumble it up into the soil. Relax, they will be fine!
kitasei
Original Author
10 years ago
I have a feeling you are correct. I have been removing the netting as I plant and wondering if I am doing more damage by tearing at the tiny roots that have poked through.
digdirt2
10 years ago
Well it is your choice of course but there is ample scientific and anecdotal evidence about the problems with using them. I can only suggest you do your own comparative study and find out for yourself.

Dave
kitasei
Original Author
10 years ago
I didn't dig the first batch up, but I did remove the netting from the second round, which I was suspecting was traumatizing the fine roots that penetrated them.
User
10 years ago
Well, it's early days in the growing season and life is tenacious enough to overcome setbacks. Not all the time (obviously, or nothing would die), but I would agree, removing the nets is worse than leaving them on...and honestly, it will not be problematic leaving the netting in place.
kitasei
Original Author
10 years ago
What do you think of the idea of my saving the trays and lids and filling them with potting mix next time?
digdirt2
10 years ago
"What do you think of the idea of my saving the trays and lids and filling them with potting mix next time?"

Sure. Why not? Just give it a good cleaning first as you do all seed growing equipment. And if you really believe the peat pellets are fine to use, you'll know one way or another by next time, you can always buy replacement pellets.

Dave
kitasei thanked digdirt2