[ISL]

Yep, its a silly question, but every time i've tried to get my plants out of the module trays i have a disaster. What's the best way of getting them out?

Thanks in advance

[Beetroot queen]

I just squeeze and ease 

[simonwatson]

My first time using modules this year. due to the cold start, I planted my onion sets in modules. 225 of them. When it came to planting out, I realised I couldn't get them out with mangling the roots. I couldn't turn it over like a pot to tap them out. I ended up cutting them up into individual pots with scissors to get them out. I've since bought some of those trays that look a bit like modules but where the pots are individual. I did all my brassicas in those and it was much easier.

[8doubles]

If you let them dry out a bit the roots and compost shrink back making the job easier.
Normally a squeeze each side then a prod on the base does the trick.

[BabbyAnn]

If you let them dry out a bit the roots and compost shrink back making the job easier.
Normally a squeeze each side then a prod on the base does the trick.

sometimes, sometimes not LOL - I end up with plant with a rather small root in one hand and the compost welded inside the module.

I water mine well, leave to soak up then use an ordinary (eating) fork to gently slide down the side to the bottom, just slightly under and and then oik the whole plug up and transfer still on the fork to the new pot.  If I've grown things in modules, they tend to get repotted into individual pots to grow on before transferring them to the plot.

[mumofstig]

Push a pencil up through the hole in the bottom.

Anything that is well rooted can just be eased out of the module by lifting gently - they come out roots n all 

[ISL]

Thanks everyone. Squeeze ease and poke it is.

[Beetroot queen]

If you took some of the replies off a gardening forum they would be so very wrong.

Squeeze, ease and poke lol little things please little minds 

It's the hail it's gone to my head

[grendel]

teaspoon.
Grendel

[Auntiemogs]

If it's the smaller modules (6s & 20s) I carefully tip them on their side before I squeeze and prod the bottom, then I'm not fighting gravity. 

[maxibo]

Push a pencil up through the hole in the bottom.

Anything that is well rooted can just be eased out of the module by lifting gently - they come out roots n all 

Yup - I agree with this technique!  Push a pencil/piece of dowling up through the hole in the bottom of the module and - Bob's your Uncle, Fanny's your Aunt it should pop out in one piece.  (That was for you Beetroot Queen  )

[Beetroot queen]

Push a pencil up through the hole in the bottom.

Anything that is well rooted can just be eased out of the module by lifting gently - they come out roots n all 

Yup - I agree with this technique!  Push a pencil/piece of dowling up through the hole in the bottom of the module and - Bob's your Uncle, Fanny's your Aunt it should pop out in one piece.  (That was for you Beetroot Queen  )

Oh deary me, hail gone to your head too 

[maxibo]

Hee hee! No hail here (yet) just horrid rain.  No, shall we say its been a rather trying morning at work and I needed a little lift before the school run <gulps tea> Righto off we go!

[bazial]

Get some Root Trainers ,no problem they split in half with a hinge at the bottom .I have had some for 5yrs now and still ok .

[ConfusedGardener]

I had the same problem last week with the onions I bought in modules, so I found an old fish knife. Then it was easy to slide it down the side, and prize out the compost/onions.