It blows my mind that people finally got into this technique when I was trying to promote it two years ago and people called me crazy. Glad people have come around!
Hey Kristen, I just started using soil blocks this season as well. I also ordered the same 2 pack from Lee Valley here in Ontario! A flat bottom bin works great to load the blockers, but you made the bowl work, lol!! I have only used the plain seed starter mix for mine. The best thing I have found with soil blocks is the amount of blocks you can make in a small tray! Game changer for starting seeds in my small space! Thanks for sharing your experiment, Hope your feeling better! Happy growing!
I just started using soil blocks myself. Thanks for trialing different mixes. I'm using the Lisa Mason Ziegler recipe. I've noticed, if the soil is too dry, when you make the blocks, the corners lift up. I do 3 parts mix to 1 part water. You don't need to water the first day of sowing because of the water you added. Really packing the blocks helps them hold together too. Use a tool like a butter knife to scrape off the bottom/sides to keep them flat. I'm going to test the Vermont Fort Vee compost next. Got it from Target. I had statice germinate in 12 hours. Thanks for sharing. Glad your'e on the mend.
From my experience you need to leave space between your soil blocks so that when you are bottom watering, the water can get to every block. I found a great coconut coir mix called Coco Earth and sifted it so that the bigger stuff was left out, and added perlite and green sand and the blocks have not crumbled at all.
Nice video! One thing to note - unless you’re also going to use this mix to pot up later, there’s really no need to add fertilizer. Your seed starting mix can be as simple as coir + perlite.
Great video! I too started soil blocking this year.I use Vermont Fort Vee. You have to use a flat bottom container...cat litter box?? You also have to push that stuff in there!! Make sure your bottom is flat, when you put the blocks on your tray, or they will fall when you water them.Its an art I am still trying to master.
Fyi just to let everyone know to think about fungus gnats! I found to use Ecos dish soap, with Pro-mix! Just a little in the hot water to moisten the soil! So far I haven't had any problems! Good luck everyone!
I appreciate your experimentation video. I'm still experimenting myself. I also have the same blocker kit as you. (It kills my palm when I make a lot of these, so I've wrapped the handle with a sponge.) I also use a high-walled flat container so I can push the soil blocker down into the soil (rather than scooping). I also use super tall paper pots by using a wine bottle (I learned the technique from You Can't Eat the Grass channel). This worked really well for my sweet peas and other seeds that grow deep roots faster than stems and leaves.
Thank you, Kristen. I found this so illuminating. I have grown plants and flowers from seed for years but never tried soil blocking and was am going to give it a go this season. The DIY potting soil I use all the time is made with coconut coir so it is great to see that it works well. I am wondering if it really is worth the effort over just growing in flats or other seed starting containers.
Good to see you, Kristen. Very informative video. Sorry to hear you and your family were sick. Glad it wasn’t serious. Hope the girls are sleeping better and adjusting to their new surroundings. Looking forward to spring. Had a wonderful 60 degree F Saturday. Got to work outside for a bit. Snow almost all melted. Then….3+ inches of snow Sunday and in the teens today in New England. Forecast saying 50 Thursday and 57 Friday….crazy!
I use 1 part jiffy seed starter to 1 part compost manure. Add water enough until you can make a snowball with the mud. When you squeeze the mixture some water can squeeze out
I use a Basket from the. Dollar Tree store. It needs to have holes on the sides and the b Bottom. Then I got a flat tray that can hold about a 1/2 inch Of water I put the basket. On the tray. The blocks are in the basket. So when I water? I put the water on the tray. If I have too much water. I can lift the basket out of the tray. And pour off the water. Then I can use. Clear plastic To Cover my basket. That serves like a dome lid. Then I put My seads in. Cover with the p Clear plastic Put it under the grow light. Wait for the seeds to sprout. Then take off the plastic. The plastic wrap helps to keep condensation like A. Mini greenhouse
I put my seeds in the soul blocks in the basket and then cover with the plastic. Sorry for the confusing post. I was trying to use the microphone to record my reply. That is why the punctuation is off and some words are capitalized. Next time I will use the key board.
I am going to try little paper pots this year. Will be biodegradable, so i can just transfer the whole little pot right into the ground and I think will have less transplant shock. Last year I did milk cartons..I might try putting some of the little pots inside a milk carton so they touch, taping up the carton and setting it outside. I want to see if this makes it easier to get the seedlings out of the carton. I love gardening and I love trying new things. Thank you for your videos I enjoy your content!
How did it work out for you? This will be my first year doing winter sowing and initially wsbted to use newspaper pots or toilet rolls. Now I am thinking of soil blocks but may wait a year and see if I can get away without buying another thing.😅
Hi Kristen, so sorry you and your family have been sick and hope you all have a speedy recovery with no side affects. This is going to be my second year using soil blocks and they work great. I even tried them in a tote for winter sowing as an experiment the first year. The 3/4 inch kind of disintegrated and all ran together. The soil blocks are designed to have space between them for air pruning. You commented that you thought they should be closer together, but I was thinking farther apart. You want space between them to get the air pruning effect. Using soil blocks makes for a much healthier plant ready to put into the ground without transplant shock.
Thank you so much! I need to throw some blocks together & don’t want to be fussy - so nice to see there’s flexibility…. Just need a fine mix with some good nutrients, something for water retention & something for air!
I put my soil in a bigger square Rubbermaid container. Perfect for when I'm soil blocking and I already have the soil in a closed container to store when I'm done. 🙂
Hi Kristen, I love all your content. Thank you for sharing this video/experiment. I’ve contemplated using just my seed starting mix to do soil blocks but thought it would just disintegrate. So happy to know now and I’m going to give it a try today. Glad you are feeling better. My household is fighting Covid right now 😓. Take care and thanks again!
This was great! I usually just use potting soil to start seeds. I'm going to try the coconut coir mix this year. I pronounce it the same way you do :-) Thanks again!
Girl, I just want the recipe though. Where can I find that? I appreciate the experiments, but I’m not taking notes as I’m watching and I’m trying to rewind to figure out how to mix up the one that worked the best and it’s just left me confused.
I hope all went well for you and your family! I don't know if you watch Nicole from the Flower Hill Farm, she has a bunch of tips that you may find useful.
i finally found a lower zone gardenner. thank you. some say we are zone5 a or b, but a woman that owns a nursery for many years says don't kid yourself; we are zone 4. and actually is that the right way to say it? are we lower or higher because on a map when you look at the map we are higher up. anyway i am in northern wi on the upper mi border. i will be watching your videos.
Glad you’re all feeling better 💖. I’m recovering from shoulder surgery and about to enlist my children and seed starting because I’m beginning to panic that I’m going to be too far behind.
It blows my mind that people finally got into this technique when I was trying to promote it two years ago and people called me crazy. Glad people have come around!
Hey Kristen, I just started using soil blocks this season as well. I also ordered the same 2 pack from Lee Valley here in Ontario! A flat bottom bin works great to load the blockers, but you made the bowl work, lol!! I have only used the plain seed starter mix for mine. The best thing I have found with soil blocks is the amount of blocks you can make in a small tray! Game changer for starting seeds in my small space! Thanks for sharing your experiment, Hope your feeling better! Happy growing!
I just started using soil blocks myself. Thanks for trialing different mixes. I'm using the Lisa Mason Ziegler recipe. I've noticed, if the soil is too dry, when you make the blocks, the corners lift up. I do 3 parts mix to 1 part water. You don't need to water the first day of sowing because of the water you added. Really packing the blocks helps them hold together too. Use a tool like a butter knife to scrape off the bottom/sides to keep them flat. I'm going to test the Vermont Fort Vee compost next. Got it from Target. I had statice germinate in 12 hours. Thanks for sharing. Glad your'e on the mend.
From my experience you need to leave space between your soil blocks so that when you are bottom watering, the water can get to every block. I found a great coconut coir mix called Coco Earth and sifted it so that the bigger stuff was left out, and added perlite and green sand and the blocks have not crumbled at all.
TFS!! I just recently received my 2 inch soil blocker, thought I'd try it 1st! Now your video helps before I got started!
Nice video! One thing to note - unless you’re also going to use this mix to pot up later, there’s really no need to add fertilizer. Your seed starting mix can be as simple as coir + perlite.
Great video! I too started soil blocking this year.I use Vermont Fort Vee. You have to use a flat bottom container...cat litter box?? You also have to push that stuff in there!! Make sure your bottom is flat, when you put the blocks on your tray, or they will fall when you water them.Its an art I am still trying to master.
Fyi just to let everyone know to think about fungus gnats! I found to use Ecos dish soap, with Pro-mix! Just a little in the hot water to moisten the soil! So far I haven't had any problems! Good luck everyone!
Thanks for the tip!
I appreciate your experimentation video. I'm still experimenting myself. I also have the same blocker kit as you. (It kills my palm when I make a lot of these, so I've wrapped the handle with a sponge.) I also use a high-walled flat container so I can push the soil blocker down into the soil (rather than scooping). I also use super tall paper pots by using a wine bottle (I learned the technique from You Can't Eat the Grass channel). This worked really well for my sweet peas and other seeds that grow deep roots faster than stems and leaves.
Your content is always clear and useful. Thank you!
You’re so welcome!
Thank you, Kristen. I found this so illuminating. I have grown plants and flowers from seed for years but never tried soil blocking and was am going to give it a go this season. The DIY potting soil I use all the time is made with coconut coir so it is great to see that it works well. I am wondering if it really is worth the effort over just growing in flats or other seed starting containers.
Starting my soil blocking this week so glad you did this it's been confusing looking into it all.
Good to see you, Kristen. Very informative video. Sorry to hear you and your family were sick. Glad it wasn’t serious. Hope the girls are sleeping better and adjusting to their new surroundings. Looking forward to spring. Had a wonderful 60 degree F Saturday. Got to work outside for a bit. Snow almost all melted. Then….3+ inches of snow Sunday and in the teens today in New England. Forecast saying 50 Thursday and 57 Friday….crazy!
You can get lime and peat moss all year round at the feed store😊👍
I use 1 part jiffy seed starter to 1 part compost manure. Add water enough until you can make a snowball with the mud. When you squeeze the mixture some water can squeeze out
I use a Basket from the. Dollar Tree store. It needs to have holes on the sides and the b Bottom. Then I got a flat tray that can hold about a 1/2 inch Of water I put the basket. On the tray. The blocks are in the basket. So when I water? I put the water on the tray. If I have too much water. I can lift the basket out of the tray. And pour off the water. Then I can use. Clear plastic To Cover my basket. That serves like a dome lid. Then I put My seads in. Cover with the p
Clear plastic Put it under the grow light. Wait for the seeds to sprout. Then take off the plastic. The plastic wrap helps to keep condensation like A. Mini greenhouse
I put my seeds in the soul blocks in the basket and then cover with the plastic. Sorry for the confusing post. I was trying to use the microphone to record my reply. That is why the punctuation is off and some words are capitalized. Next time I will use the key board.
I am going to try little paper pots this year. Will be biodegradable, so i can just transfer the whole little pot right into the ground and I think will have less transplant shock. Last year I did milk cartons..I might try putting some of the little pots inside a milk carton so they touch, taping up the carton and setting it outside. I want to see if this makes it easier to get the seedlings out of the carton. I love gardening and I love trying new things. Thank you for your videos I enjoy your content!
How did it work out for you? This will be my first year doing winter sowing and initially wsbted to use newspaper pots or toilet rolls. Now I am thinking of soil blocks but may wait a year and see if I can get away without buying another thing.😅
What an interesting and creative video to test different soil! Another excellent clip from you Kristen! Yay! :) xx
Hi Kristen, so sorry you and your family have been sick and hope you all have a speedy recovery with no side affects. This is going to be my second year using soil blocks and they work great. I even tried them in a tote for winter sowing as an experiment the first year. The 3/4 inch kind of disintegrated and all ran together. The soil blocks are designed to have space between them for air pruning. You commented that you thought they should be closer together, but I was thinking farther apart. You want space between them to get the air pruning effect. Using soil blocks makes for a much healthier plant ready to put into the ground without transplant shock.
That is a really good point about the air pruning, I guess I'll have to try it both ways this year and see what works best.
Thank you so much! I need to throw some blocks together & don’t want to be fussy - so nice to see there’s flexibility…. Just need a fine mix with some good nutrients, something for water retention & something for air!
Thanks for sharing! This is my first season soil blocking so I appreciated the tips
Thank you for sharing this experiment. Excellent 👍 hope you & your family feel better soon
I put my soil in a bigger square Rubbermaid container. Perfect for when I'm soil blocking and I already have the soil in a closed container to store when I'm done. 🙂
Hi Kristen,
I love all your content. Thank you for sharing this video/experiment. I’ve contemplated using just my seed starting mix to do soil blocks but thought it would just disintegrate. So happy to know now and I’m going to give it a try today. Glad you are feeling better. My household is fighting Covid right now 😓. Take care and thanks again!
Oh no! Hoping it’s mild and wishing you a speedy recovery!
Great info. Cheers from Ottawa, Canada🍁
This was great! I usually just use potting soil to start seeds. I'm going to try the coconut coir mix this year. I pronounce it the same way you do :-) Thanks again!
Awesome! Let me know how it goes and if you like it as much as I do.
Love this. Thank you for doing this
This was awesome! Thank you!
Girl, I just want the recipe though. Where can I find that? I appreciate the experiments, but I’m not taking notes as I’m watching and I’m trying to rewind to figure out how to mix up the one that worked the best and it’s just left me confused.
She put the links in the video description box
Thank you!
I hope all went well for you and your family! I don't know if you watch Nicole from the Flower Hill Farm, she has a bunch of tips that you may find useful.
i finally found a lower zone gardenner. thank you. some say we are zone5 a or b, but a woman that owns a nursery for many years says don't kid yourself; we are zone 4. and actually is that the right way to say it? are we lower or higher because on a map when you look at the map we are higher up. anyway i am in northern wi on the upper mi border. i will be watching your videos.
Try mixing the ingredients when dry, then add water.
That's a good point!
Try packing the blocks a little harder.
Have you ever tried using biochar in place of vermiculite or perlite
Just joined your channel
You need a flat tray or container. The bowl is too small.
Yes! I was definitely regretting using a bowl as I was filming the video.
Glad you’re all feeling better 💖. I’m recovering from shoulder surgery and about to enlist my children and seed starting because I’m beginning to panic that I’m going to be too far behind.
Seed starting mix should be soilless
use your hands 🦄
LOL. "organic compost". No one ever explains that one. I cold compost here and don't have anything that would be 'ok'