I went to a gardening class this weekend and learned about soil blocking. Have you heard? Soil blocking is a method used to start seeds without using any kind of container. Using the soil blocker pictured above you compact the blocks with soil and then push the lever down. Then out pops four compacted blocks of soil (they look like pieces of chocolate cake). There is an indention at the top of each block to place your seed and cover it with soil. I'm definitely going to try this next year because it's suppose to be healthier for your plants (more oxygen to the roots) and there's no need to transplant you just place the block in the ground when your ready. The 2" model above is $29.95.
Another great tip I learned was to sprinkle cinnamon and sand on the top of your blocks to prevent damping off disease.
Have you heard of this method? Have you tried it?
I bought a couple of soil blockers this year and will be giving them a try soon. My only disappointment so far is that you have to make a "recipe" for the right soil and it's a bit expensive for the home gardener and the items aren't easy to obtain. I had to special order 3 ingredients alone! Did your class specify a mix that was easy?
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up to the Barn Hop!
The recipe they gave was: peat moss, lime, sand, fertilizer, soil and compost. I guess I didn't realize it had to be a certain kind of mix. I must have tuned that part out.
ReplyDeleteMy parents are using soil blockers for all their seeds this year. They've done maybe thousands by now!! My dad said his thumb is giving him trouble from all the soil blocker things he's made. :)
ReplyDeleteThey're hoping to grow enough food for their needs, our family, and also to sell at farmer's markets. We're planning to help them as much as we can.
I hope your seed starting efforts do well!
Joy - Wow thats a lot of planting! I'd love to hear how they thought it worked for them vs using cups or peat pots
ReplyDeleteThey much prefer the soil blocks to anything they've ever used before. They're following Eliot Coleman's methods, and really find it the best way they've ever tried!
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