[bravemurphy]

I have been given a fair few clear plastic pots and am debating putting my chitted sweetcorn seeds in them.

There seems to be some good points about putting seedlings in them but also some bad points.

I don't want to stunt or stop my seedlings growing because of light on the roots.

has anyone used similar and had good results or is this a bad idea?

[Lottiman]

I use the one litre yogurt pots for my runner beans as they are nice and deep,  some of them are clear and some are white it doesn't seem to make any difference in how the seeds grow, and have not had any problems with them in the last two years and I'm using them again this year.

[DD.]

I use the one litre yogurt pots for my runner beans as they are nice and deep,

Per bean?

[BabbyAnn]

I've used plastic drinking cups as mini plant pots for starting all sorts of things, but when it comes to sweetcorn, they really are not big enough - there is a risk that spreading roots hitting the cup sides curl in quite early as they grow, then they end up with a tight root ball even after repotting or planting out.  This means the roots won't spread out to take up nutrients in the soil and the plants generally don't do as well as those grown in bigger pots.

[Lottiman]

I use the one litre yogurt pots for my runner beans as they are nice and deep,

Per bean?

Yes just one bean per pot.

[DD.]

That's a lot of compost for one bean!

I put 35 in one cat litter tray.

[Lottiman]

Might give the tray method a go and see how that works,  And still some in pots and if they all come up well you cant have to many beans can you

[DD.]

I need 128 plants for my rows, so in 1 litre cups that would be a lot of compost!

Years ago I bought a pot of beans off the market, it was about a 6" pot and there were 24 beans in there that had just been grown on the surface. They all transplanted without a problem.

[madcat]

I use waste coffee vending machine cups (OH workmates used to putting them in a separate bin for recycling) as pots (soldering iron holes in the bottom) and they work well for most things - first stage after pricking out for tomatoes, brassicas, sweetcorn start in them ...  and when they crack no-one cries as they head for the bin.  There are about 100 in the cold frame at the moment full of brassicas, sweet peas etc and more in the propogators.  I might have to find some proper plant pots for the next wave of plants!

I have used the clear ones from the drinking water, but they were a little thinner and taller so less robust and stable.  I didnt seem to have a problem with light on the roots, but that might be because they were packed into a seed tray for support and didnt get a lot of light at the roots.

[Goosegirl]

I've used both clear and semi-clear pots before for sweetcorn. I find it useful to see if roots are developing nicely so I can plant them out and haven't found it detrimental. Does light affect root growth?

[gremlin]

I use clear extra tall ones, 120mm high,  for corn.  Works well for me, and it is great fun watching the roots spread through the soil.