I'm a beginner, but have used toilet rolls for the past 2yrs with success. 4 cuts at end of the roll then folded in, filled with soil and seed. The roots will eventually come out the end and I plant the entire thing in the ground.
I sow middle of May for planting after frosts. I sow in 3" approx plastic pots that are left over from garden centre purchases of small plants. If I leave them too long, being runners, thet will tend to twist together. The compost sometimes falls of the roots but it doesn't seem to affect them at all; provided that I water them in well.
I also sow some in the ground as insurance.
location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand. "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
I have used root trainers for may years, it's true the plastic is thin and will tear but if you are careful they will last years. They come in two sizes, one longer than the other so if you think that they are too small look out for the long type.
Same here @Allotment Boy some have come adrift on the hinge but it makes no difference they sit tightly in the frame so still usable. This will be my 12th year with them.
Agree, buy the long ones.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
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I sow middle of May for planting after frosts. I sow in 3" approx plastic pots that are left over from garden centre purchases of small plants. If I leave them too long, being runners, thet will tend to twist together. The compost sometimes falls of the roots but it doesn't seem to affect them at all; provided that I water them in well.
I also sow some in the ground as insurance.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."