Veg in cell trays??

Hort101

Is it possible to start veg seeds such as carrot and parsnip varieties in cell trays such as these :

http://www.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=http://www.proptek.com/dbfiles/trays/33//192N67N-1.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.proptek.com/pages/trays/index.php?ref%3D192N67N&h=589&w=800&sz=21&tbnid=dKgi50XPvd6vXM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=122&zoom=1&usg=__ycIZcaPGNHLL3QakKG-8cXLii4g=&docid=BrBJ-iLpQSYthM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=GtM4UZuMIeTC7AaIqoGYDQ&ved=0CD8Q9QEwAg&dur=11

Without causing damage to the roots when planting them out into my allotment..?? the ground is wet no and will remain we in my area for another while in wexford.. does any body have any advise on getting an early start on some veg without worrying about the weather??

Supercell

Absolutely fine, I did that last year and had a great crop. I find the bloody slugs like to munch on the smallest plants so getting them a head start away from them is a bonus. Also means you can sow earlier in the greenhouse (if you have one) ready for the warm weather when it eventually arrives. Don't let the carrots get too big though as they don't like being moved and wont grow straight if they are let get too big in the cells.
I'm going to get a start on my own veggies this way this weekend.

Hort101

How long do you think i could leave them in the cells for?? i will be planting them outside as i dont have a green house.

redser7

For carrots and parsnips you'd be better off using loo roll middles. Plant out the whole thing, the cardboard will rot eventually. Works a treat.

Supercell

redser7 wrote: »

For carrots and parsnips you'd be better off using loo roll middles. Plant out the whole thing, the cardboard will rot eventually. Works a treat.

Love it, great idea ! never would have thought of using them, but why not?!, seems like a great idea, going to start saving them now.
Do you just stand them up on a tray first until the carrot is big enough to plant out?

redser7

Supercell wrote: »

Love it, great idea ! never would have thought of using them, but why not?!, seems like a great idea, going to start saving them now.
Do you just stand them up on a tray first until the carrot is big enough to plant out?

That's it exactly. I just check them occasionally to make sure the root is not coming out the end and then plant them out once they are big enough to survive a slug attack. I bore a hole in the soil using a bar, fill it with compost mixed with some fish, blood and bone and pop the loo roll in. Make sure to plant them a wee bit below the surfact level and draw a bit of soil over the top of the loo roll. Otherwise the compost sticking out the top will act like a wick in the air and the whole thing can dry out.
For parsnips I chit the seeds first on a saucer of damp paper. That way I get 100% plants from what I'm sowing into the compost

Hort101

Good ideas redser7.. sounds like you have been at this a while.. do you think i would get away with planting some in cells?? i might just try 10 or 15 and see how they go?

redser7

Nothing ventured nothing gained Supercell said they tried it and it worked fine. But the deeper the 'container' the better. I imagine with those cells you would have to move them out quicker and be very very gentle transplanting them. Because the plants will be smaller they 'might' get gobbled by slugs. The beauty of the loo rolls is that you just put the whole thing in the ground and the plants are that bit bigger and sturdier.

Cardinal Richelieu

Depends too on the size of your modules/cell. One difference you see in Swedes grown in Cells compared to regular grown Swedes is more roots and root hairs.