[spudlover]

i got 3 root trainer think of growing my sweetcorn in them they 12cm deep.last year i start them off in them and later  i put them in pots.this year i want to leave them in them until i plant them in my plot will this be ok ?

[DD.]

Sweetcorn does not like root disturbance, which is why it's usually transplanted with the roots in a solid ball. I would not have thought root trainers would have been suitable.

However, not having tired it, don't quote me on it. It's just an opinion!

[BabbyAnn]

i got 3 root trainer think of growing my sweetcorn in them they 12cm deep.last year i start them off in them and later  i put them in pots.this year i want to leave them in them until i plant them in my plot will this be ok ?

I find sweetcorn is one of those summer crops that you want to encourage rapid growth from the start and keep the momentum going otherwise they stall and sulk, and that includes their roots and not just the top growth.  Root trainers tend to encourage roots to go down but they are not very wide so I think sweetcorn would soon outgrow the trainer and rapidly use up all the nutrients by the time they are planted out. 

[Thephoenix572]

I used toilet rolls last year and had great crops

[Salmo]

Every article and advert for root trainers says beans and sweetcorn are the crops to use them for. The theory of roots going down to the full 12cm and then being air pruned, so encouraging a branching root system appears to suit sweetcorn down to the ground.

Have you had a bad experience DD? Do tell us more

[DD.]

Have you had a bad experience DD? Do tell us more

Have a read of my post again - but ignore the typo!

[moose]

I've used root trainers for sweetcorn with no problems.

[Agatha]

I've used root trainers for sweetcorn with no problems.

Me too - grew them for someone else several years running, though you really need the deep ones (rootrainers come in two depths).  I'm too mean to fork out for them for myself though, so I use loo rolls instead 

[mumofstig]

I use deep newspaper pots 

[spudlover]

i know that root trainers are not cheap.i got mine at the end of a sale in 2011 at 50p each.i did not know that they was about 8 pound each i got 4 that day. went back a day later all have gone. i did try them last year in the trainers as they got to a size and i put them in 3in compost pots all ok.can i keep them  in the trainers until they are to ready to go in the ground ?

[Salmo]

The theory is that you can keep them in the trainers until planting out. The ends of the roots get air pruned when they reach the end of the trainer rather than going round in circles at the bottom of a pot. Loo rolls/paper pots have the same air pruning effect when the roots poke through the bottom or sides.

[MoreWhisky]

Ive used root trainers for yrs with no problems. I bought them 5 yrs ago and still use same ones so the cost has been brought down, i only use them for sweetcorn.

[spudlover]

thanks whisky i will leave them in. if they do die on me you got to gave me 60 sweetcorn plants LOL

[MoreWhisky]

thanks whisky i will leave them in. if they do die on me you got to gave me 60 sweetcorn plants LOL

IN? you havent started them already have you??

[Lulu]

I have never used root trainers for my sweetcorn, I use normal modules and have always had nearly 100% success on growing them.  When pull them up they don't seem to be a long rooted plant like parsnips etc. I usually plant them in the latter half of April as well, it seems abit early now. Be interested to hear about your results later in the year.