How long for roots to grow through a peat pot?

[TightenUp]

Title says it all.

started seeds in 48 cell peat pot kit. Now want to pot up to 4 inch pots and worried the roots won't grow through in time for plant out. So does anyone have experience with potting up peat pots into 4 inch pots? if so how long for the roots to grow through?

[dipchip2000]

Tear the bottom out of peat pot and pot up as usual. When potting up be sure to keep top rim of peat pot under surface dirt of new pot. Wind will wick up the water from the new plant and will dry out very easily, Just my experience

ron

[gorbelly]

In my experience, they frequently never do and the plants just end up languishing and dying. I would try to remove the pots or, if that's not possible, poke holes/cut slits in the pots when potting up.

Peat pots managed to kill a bunch of mint I bought at a nursery last year because I didn't know that the degradability of peat pots is wildly exaggerated. Other plants I bought that I divided and for which I therefore had to manually break up the pots did great. Anything that can kill mint...

[Worth1]

The roots grew right through my peat pots no problem and it didn't take long.
But when I plant out I rip the pots off and any roots that are sticking out.
Worth

[Jeannine Anne]

Me too, I have lost a fair bit of stuff over the years leaving them on

[TightenUp]

Thanks all

I'll take everything said into consideration when potting up

[User 636]

My first year trying I got a tomato plant in a peat pot. I was all excited about the biodegradability. After a month my plant looked bad and small. I dug up the plant and saw it had not moved a bit through that pot. Once I ripped the pot off the plant doubled in size and managed to develop some fruit. It was a disappointing venture but I learned a lot.

[dmforcier]

I hate the little buggers and take them off whenever possible. If the roots have grown into them, slice vertically and cut the bottom out so the roots can get loose.

To be fair, there are peat pots and peat pots. Some, such as the ones that Bonnie Plants uses, are really thick. Others are pretty thin and probably aren't an issue. Use your judgement.

Good luck.

[Gardeneer]

I use a spoon to take the seedlings out of starting peat cells, egg carton and pot them up, when they are real tiny. I have used those few times in the past just as vehicle for germinating, not growing in them.

Gardeneer

[kameronth]

I usually pull the tomato plants out of the pots so I can reuse them next year. I cut the bottom of the pot open for my gourds and watermelon.

[oakley]

Like mentioned they are not so great for toms. I went through that. I still have a few sleeves of the pot-up size in the barn when a friend moved south and was going to toss them out.
Nice for summer winter squash and such delicates. I don't always start those but if the weather is ugly i sometimes like to get some going...direct seed also and those catch up but i still do it if i'm antsy. And rip that soggy bottom off and up the sides a bit.

[Kazedwards]

With the smaller 1x1 pots I have always just peeled them off very gently. They rip as I do it. Most the time plants are still small and have few roots growing into the peat. I also start more than 1 plant per cell and separate them when I pot them up. So I don't really have a choice. This is the first year I am potting up to bigger peat pots, opposed to solo cups. I plan on peeling most off when I plant out. If some peat is left I won't worry. I have also seen the occasional plant shoot a root or two through the side of the pot. So it's not impossible.


-Zach

[imp]

If I buy something in a peat pot, I either rip it off at transplanting or put my fingernails through it several places and try to tear off the bottom. And make sure the top is either buried well or torn off/down, well below soil line levels.

I don't care for them myself, but each to their own.

[loulac]

I think all these criticisms of peat pots are perfectly justified. I feel obliged to use some that were given me as a (poisoned) gift and I’ll be happy when they are all gone. There are so many better possibilities : flats of different sizes, using blocks you can make or buy, plenty of suggestions on Tville !

[TightenUp]

ripped off the peat pots before potting up