Soil Blocker or not?

[R2elk]

I did not know that I could do that. I thought slicing through the roots would kill the plant. So I will remember that for next year. I live in northern Minnesota, and just buy tomato and pepper plants from the garden store. My pepper plants have not grown well in many years, and I always suspected they were root bound when I bought them. That is why I was looking at the soil blockers - to avoid plants that were root bound.

The object is to only cut the roots in about 3 places and only the outer roots. If we are talking about a 6" diameter pot, cutting 3/4" deep is plenty.

I start all my plants from seeds because the local stores do not carry the varieties that I need. I have a short growing season so the longer growing season plants that the local stores tend to carry won't work for me.

For a short cool season bell pepper, I grow King Arthur bell peppers. They do really good early on and in the fall but slow down during the hottest part of the summer. I have also been able to grow them in pots for peppers during the winter.

Good luck.

 

[gtaus]

I start all my plants from seeds because the local stores do not carry the varieties that I need.

What I have noticed is that our local garden stores, and even the nurseries, have really cut back on the variety of plants they offer. For example, this year all I could find in pepper plants were Banana Peppers and Jalapeno Peppers - nothing else. So I have been seriously considering starting my own plants next year. Which is why I am asking about those soil blockers which caught my attention on a YouTube video.

But, no matter what method I start my plants, I think next year I'll have to give it a try. Thanks for your feedback.