Root Trainers

After receiving some sweetcorn plants from Derek I was impressed with the root trainer pots ("Rootrainers") that he had used so I went and got myself a set straight away. They consist of a set of black plastic sleeves that fold together into long square pots suitable for sowing seeds of plants that need a good root run - I've used them in the picture below for my replacement sowing of dwarf French beans. They come with a plastic propagator cover. 

Rootrainer pot with healthy French bean seedlings; strong roots go all the way to the bottom

I'm usually wary of this sort of thing as they seem a bit faddy but I have to say I'm impressed. They are easy to handle, and the shape of the pot encourages the roots to grow really healthily and straight down rather than spiralling round. They can be opened up, as in the picture, when ready for planting, and it is much easier than normal pots to avoid disturbing the roots. Recommended.

Harvesting (and funny carrot picture)

There's nothing quite like bringing home a basket of fruit and veg at this time of year. I popped to the plot on my runabout bike which is an elderly Raleigh Estelle with a basket on the front. I may have picked rather too much as the ride home was a little tricky. You don't see Bradley Wiggins trying to stop potatoes flying onto the road as he goes along.

Basket of delights. Slightly too heavy for an elderly bicycle

Included in the basket are new potatoes, carrots, peas, French beans, onion, garlic and a rather nice cucumber. This is my second ever cucumber, which I hope is as nice as my first ever cucumber, which I picked a few days ago. That is another satisfying allotment feeling, trying something for the first time and finding out it's really rather good.

My first ever cucumber

Finally, as promised, the obligatory funny-looking carrot shot:

Funny looking carrots: The allotment staple.