I watch a lot of gardening UA-cam. (And also garden a lot fwiw) What i really appreciate is you getting to the point in a timely fashion. Ill be checking out some of your other content! How does this work out for larger soil blocks?
Thank you so much for watching, and for the feedback. If you use the same recipe for the larger 2” blocks, the second batch on is about $.10 per block. 🙂
I love soil blocking; the first year, I followed a recipe similar to yours but found that compost, coco core, and perlite produced the same results without the additional cost. I also switched to a microgreen tray as if it was much easier to bottom water through the mess than draining excess water from the tray. I also get most of my trays from the bootstrap farmer; they make great stuff!
Yes!!! The Bootstrap Farmer microgreen trays are the perfect size for the 3/4 blocks, and if you get both the ones with the holes and without, you can bottom water.
I'm afraid of soil blocking because I think I'll kill a plant by watering and having it fall apart. Thank you for this breakdown of costs. I already have trays, so I'll probably just stick to what I use for now. Great video!
I’ve used both methods, and I tend to stick with cell trays and individual pots vs soil blocks. I really like soil blocks but the process is very messy, because it has to be gotten wet. It’s essentially like making mud pies like you did as a kid, and the mix has to able to hold together, so it’s important to get it right.
Depends on the plant! Ideally I like to transplant when they are 3-5 inches in the garden, but have found I can sneak many of them out earlier. 🙂 Faster growing plants I would up-pot if they are 3-5 inches and if it is not time for them to go out.
There are multiple sizes of soil blocks, or you can make your own. I start a lot of seeds in the small soil blocks. After germination, I make 2x2 soil blocks and put the small soil blocks inside the big ones, using a dibble that makes a perfect size stamp. You can also start seeds in larger soil blocks and leave them for longer, it just depends on when they are going into the garden. I start all my peppers and tomatoes in soil blocks but do transplant a lot of them into 4" pots as I give a lot of them away and sell some online. I usually leave them in the soil blocks for about 6 weeks. I also 3d printed a soil block maker and made super tall soil blocks. I start my peas and beans in those and transplant them into the garden within the first week of sprouting. Just make it easier to space them and not have any gaps from direct sowing. I do this with carrots as wel; start them in soil blocks and plant them really fast after they germinate, then there is no need to thin them later since they are spaced perfectly.
Thank you for this!! I’ve been curious if it was worth it. Can you please do some follow up videos on when the plants get larger in the blocks and are ready for transplant or potting up?
You pup is adorable!
I watch a lot of gardening UA-cam. (And also garden a lot fwiw)
What i really appreciate is you getting to the point in a timely fashion. Ill be checking out some of your other content!
How does this work out for larger soil blocks?
Thank you so much for watching, and for the feedback.
If you use the same recipe for the larger 2” blocks, the second batch on is about $.10 per block. 🙂
I love soil blocking; the first year, I followed a recipe similar to yours but found that compost, coco core, and perlite produced the same results without the additional cost. I also switched to a microgreen tray as if it was much easier to bottom water through the mess than draining excess water from the tray. I also get most of my trays from the bootstrap farmer; they make great stuff!
That’s great to know! Thank you so much for sharing. 💚🌱
Yes!!! The Bootstrap Farmer microgreen trays are the perfect size for the 3/4 blocks, and if you get both the ones with the holes and without, you can bottom water.
I'm afraid of soil blocking because I think I'll kill a plant by watering and having it fall apart. Thank you for this breakdown of costs. I already have trays, so I'll probably just stick to what I use for now. Great video!
I’ve used both methods, and I tend to stick with cell trays and individual pots vs soil blocks. I really like soil blocks but the process is very messy, because it has to be gotten wet. It’s essentially like making mud pies like you did as a kid, and the mix has to able to hold together, so it’s important to get it right.
Thank you! Question regarding soil blocking- do they need to be transplanted earlier, and do you transplant directly to the garden?
Depends on the plant! Ideally I like to transplant when they are 3-5 inches in the garden, but have found I can sneak many of them out earlier. 🙂
Faster growing plants I would up-pot if they are 3-5 inches and if it is not time for them to go out.
There are multiple sizes of soil blocks, or you can make your own. I start a lot of seeds in the small soil blocks. After germination, I make 2x2 soil blocks and put the small soil blocks inside the big ones, using a dibble that makes a perfect size stamp. You can also start seeds in larger soil blocks and leave them for longer, it just depends on when they are going into the garden. I start all my peppers and tomatoes in soil blocks but do transplant a lot of them into 4" pots as I give a lot of them away and sell some online. I usually leave them in the soil blocks for about 6 weeks.
I also 3d printed a soil block maker and made super tall soil blocks. I start my peas and beans in those and transplant them into the garden within the first week of sprouting. Just make it easier to space them and not have any gaps from direct sowing. I do this with carrots as wel; start them in soil blocks and plant them really fast after they germinate, then there is no need to thin them later since they are spaced perfectly.
Thank you for this!! I’ve been curious if it was worth it. Can you please do some follow up videos on when the plants get larger in the blocks and are ready for transplant or potting up?
@@921gabibunn thanks so much for watching! I surely can do that. 😊💚🌱
Were you using a toothpick to plant your seeds?
Yes! A wet toothpick helps to grab them and aluminum container eliminates static.