The BEST Way to Start Fast Growing Seeds (A Complete Guide to Soil Blocking)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 เม.ย. 2023
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Soil blocking is a great way to grow and reduce the use plastic, and get healthier seedlings in the process! In today's episode we will talk about how to make your own soil blocks, the benefits of soil blocks, and how to make the correct soil for soil blocks. Happy gardening!
Make your own soil blocks, pick up your own soil blocker at: migardener.com/products/migar...
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I've used soil blocks for years and swear by them. I have the 1 1/2 inch, 2 inch, 4 inch, and mini block size units. Elliot Coleman, the guru of gardeners, has discussed soil blocks in all of his vegetable gardening books. He recommends using different soil block sizes depending on the vegetable or herb. You can also multi sow seeds in these soil blocks. For example, radishes, you can sow four seeds per block. This will increase your harvest. The benefits of these blocking units are limitless. Thank you, Luke, for offering these wonderful tools. And at a reasonable price, no less.
Good advice, thanks for sharing! I'll have to check out the teachings of Elliot Coleman & see what he says about soil blocking.
Charles Dowding plants some vegetables in groups and they seem to benefit quite well.
@@dustyflats3832 I 'multi sowed' Leeks indoors in February 'Charles Dowding style', they're doing great I transplanted them outdoors two weeks ago! 😀
I’ve got problems with flowers germinating. I don’t know whether it’s the mix or the seeds. I use filtered Fox Farm coco loco and compost. Blocks in 1020 trays on heats mats and covered with humidity domes. Any suggestions
My mix is 1 part sifted potting soil, 1 parts peat or coco/ 1 part compost from the chicken run, 1 part perlite. My plants love it
This is great, especially if you're growing large quantities of vegetables.
For small backyard gardeners, such as myself, I like to make paper pots from old newspapers. You get all of the same pros and none of the con's.🤗
Absolutely no danger of transplant shock because the whole thing goes into the ground. Plus it air prunes just as well as a fabric pot does. I just open the bottom and stick it in the ground. 🤗
It’s like making mud pies as a kid!!!
Hi Luke, could you do a video on watering soil blocks, how to clean the soil blocker maker. Also i saw they sell screens for micro greens that you can use for the blocks. Are they nessasary in your opinion ? Thanks so much for all your great tips !!
Yes, would love to know more about how to use them as well!
Just helped clean your pond the other day with Put's. Always love and appreciate your content brother!
Just got my soil blocker yesterday! So excited to use it.
Thank you Luke! I Love this!
I'll watch this on the computer rather than my phone. 😉☺️
Blessings!💚
Luke, thanks for this WHOLE video! I appreciate a few trusted and vouched for ads by you. Similar zones, similar wants! Thank you so much for ALL that you all do! Don't let the Debbie downers ruin it. The free content is priceless and a few ads a year? Get over it. This certainly didn't feel like you were pushing it on us, or even selling it. Just educating those who may not have known about it. Which is wonderful!
Just ordered one from you. Thanks for the opportunity! ❤️
Soil Blocking... That is for someone that is planting a lot... not someone that is hoping that the five cherry tomatoes that germinated & lasted for the last 3 weeks inside will grow... nice illustration of what could be used on a farm, so, I should Thank you for Expanding what Could Be in my future, So... Thank You :-) I do Love your videos :-)
So walking is good for a small gardener or a bigger gardener, it just depends on the type of plants are growing and how many of them you are growing. 😊
Definitely wanting to do this in the future! Thank you, Luke.
I do something similar with paper containers, like toilet paper tubes, bar soap boxes, cardboard egg carton cells, and paper cups. I've successfully started and transplanted carrots this way. You can also make biodegradable cups out of newspaper.
Well I’m sold! I’ve always wanted a soil blocker but now that I have benefits I wanted it even more. I ordered mine. Can’t wait to use it! I also second the request for more information on how to use it, the dos and donts.
Thanks been blocking about 10 years now wouldn’t have any other way😊
I'm going to be using soil blocks for the first time this season. I built my block maker out of 2.5" pvc. Can't wait to get my hands dirty again.
I just purchased a soil blocker from your website. Thanks so much!!
Tip from a knucklehead … make sure the pressure plates are sitting UNDER the little metal tabs on the inside of the housing unit lol. :)
I bought the 4-block the day it came out because of seeing your eyes light up when you were talking about it. You got me excited to try it too! I made sure to shop around and look at prices before placing the order cuz well, to be honest- I'm really cheap! LOL. But yours was the best deal, and then made sure to also get some more seeds at the same time that I didn't actually need. =P
Hope you enjoy it! I know we really love hours and it will make a big difference in your garden, I think!
Never heard of soil blocking! Mind blown!🤯
Just got mine today! Excited for a fun Saturday project! Thanks Luke! :)
Rock on! Happy gardening.
Awesome! Love it!
I ordered one it arrived today. Can’t wait to use it. Thanks for sharing. Take care, see ya :)
What size did you order and how’s it working for you?
Excellent video!
Thank you! Very helpful!
Thank you!!!!!!! I am going to definately check out that app as I have been selling plants for 3 years now from home
You should! I have been on it and I love it.
You’ve basically just convinced me to soil block! I haven’t bought any traditional plastic cells yet, so nothing’s been wasted or anything. Though it sounds like it might be a good idea to still have some, for the crops you mentioned that it doesn’t work as well for.
Your little guy will love making soil blocks next yr fir you😅❤
Thank you Luke! I have been wanting to soil block, but was nervous about them staying together until I plant outside.
I've had the same thoughts,
Probably best to find pots that match the shape of the blocks, once the plant has enough roots they should stay together when transplanting like everything else.
However it's likely alot better then the starting pods ppl sell.
I don't even use the peet or starter pods because I noticed they like to mold inside of pots and cups once transplanted into soil.
I'm guessing because they hold water longer than the soil so you end up watering when the soil is dry like usual, problem is the pods stay wet longer making mold issues a big problem that most won't notice unless they really pay attention.
Using enough moisture in the mix is the big key in them holding together. I bottom water them in the tray, and as the roots grow, they help to hold the block together. I use Luke's recipe for seed starting mix (in a video a few weeks ago), and it works great for blocks. One other benefit not mentioned, is that germination is often faster. I started tomatoes in both blocks and plastic 2.5" pots, just to see and all my blocks have germinated. The pots are barely starting.
Soil blocks are the way to go. It’s what we used at one of the largest organic vegetable farms in northern Michigan.
Wow! That is so cool to know!
@@MIgardener right?! Aren’t you selling them to? I’d like to buy one for my home garden
Thank you! That was helpful.
Thank you! Glad it helped!
Sold! I just purchased both size blockers from your store! I'm excited to 'experiment' starting things not normally started in pots such as carrots. First I'll be trying blockers out on cucumbers & squash because they grow quickly! Will also save time from not having to wash & sterilize some of those plastic pots!
For watering, use a watering can with a narrow spout, so you can bottom water trays without disturbing the blocks. I also spritz the top with water (1-2x/day) until the seeds germinate. To clean the blocker, just rinse in warm, soapy water and dry after each session of use.
How did you find it? I’m looking in his store but don’t see it.
@@jenniferwalters579 I think I had just put 'soil blocker' into the search box on the Migardener website. Maybe he sold out of them? Normally it says 'sold out' though under the item. I hope you are able to buy one, good luck!
@@marleneschoeneck3276 But Luke says to it blocks in a tray WITH holes, so watering from below doesn’t seem to make sense.
@@janeburns8789 I guess it depends on how you manage it. You don't want them sitting in water. I put about 1/4" in the bottom of my solid trays, and they soak it all up in about 30 seconds. If they sat in water, they would fall apart. You can just spray them, too.
coincidentally ordered a blocker today. years of minecraft will finally pay off
Haha I love it!
This is a neat idea but I still like my boot strap farmer cells and trays. They are sturdy and will last forever, the cells air prune, I don't have to worry about the block degrading and falling apart as I water, and it's really easy to bottom water. They are expensive but if I never have to buy trays or cells again then they will pay for themselves.
I make my own seed starter mix with well sifted home made compost and leaf mold. I make soil blocks out of it and put them in wooden trays I made. Zero plastic involved and zero dollars spent (except for the wood to make the trays but they should last many many years).
Great prices for the soil blocks. I got my 4-block for $45 before seeing this.
im an agriculturist for years but its my first time today to hear about soil blocks. this im sure can work ,im tried of buying seedling trays. Where can i get the soil block tool for crops like chilli and tomatoes size?
So you just got them in so I suspect that’s why you have cell packs or you had cell packs to use up. It will take a lot of muscle to fill that greenhouse. I have a blocker and haven’t used it yet, but I’ve heard others say it can be hard on the hands.
I’ll try it on the brassicas today.
So you used seed starting mix-Brand?, fertilizer, and vermiculite.
Lol, I’ve seen so many mix ingredients I guess I will toss something together.
NOT to be confused with "sunblocking". 😉
Can you use a simple/ generic seed starting mix? Thank you!
Great
At least for my seed starting mix (that I make myself), it doesn't bind well enough to make blocks. I use my potting mix which has compost that helps the blocks keep their shape. At the end of the season I can dig around my bed and find cubes still stuck together, so maybe I've packed them a little too tight.
What's a good size tray for the 8 square blocker?
Reminds me of making sand castles as a kid. I wonder if a little clay and sand might help the blocks stay together even better.
It totally is like making soil blocks!
Don't you cover the blocks with plastic wrap or a humidity dome until seeds sprout? You don't mention it
If you are growing tomatoes with the soil blocks is it best to put them in a larger container if they start to break down before transplanting time?
I wondered the same thing! We have a rather short growing season so our tomatoes and peppers need at least a 10-week start time (12 weeks is better) before going outside.
How do you water soil blocks in a1020 tray since they have higher walls and you can't tip them up to drain off extra water?
After sowing in soil block do you place the tray under lights and use a heat mat?
Do flowers seeds germinate quicker in blocks or seed tray? How damp should the blocks be kept?
Hey! Looks great- one question: is it TOO compact for seeds to do their thang?
It is not! I switched to soil blocks this year and I've had *better* germination! The roots are so much happier and tbh it's just so much easier to do overall. I freaking love it. Definitely watch a ton of videos (Regenerative Gardening is an excellent straightforward resource) to get familiar with what differences to expect but once you get used to it it's super easy. And if a seed doesn't sprout, the soil isn't wasted. You can just take out the seed and throw the mix back in the pile for later use.
Hey Luke! Question: Will roots grow into adjacent soil blocks? The blocks appear to be right up against each other. Is there a little space between blocks that I'm not seeing? Thank you!
They don't tend to. Unless the blocks gets mashed/broken. Once the roots hit air, they get shy and retract or don't grow toward air. You'll need to expect to transplant once seedlings get 2 or 3 pairs of "true leaves" (not incliding first baby leaves).
And if they do, really easy to gently shake & separate & plant. Good question. Let's grow!
@@heirloomn.heritage7004 Thank you! Good luck with your garden!
How do you water soil blocks? And how often?
For day-to-day watering needs, I water from the bottom. The cool part is you can see when they need water so much easier than with plugs. I keep a gentle fan on to prevent/reduce algea growth, and I've found I need to water every 2-3 days. With soil blocking, you need to let them semi-dry out, both to promote root growth and also keep algea at bay. It's a little different with 3/4" mini blockers (you don't want them to dry out), so I spritz the tops after planting seeds but then I bottom water and only wet the tops to keep it moist ... especially if I have surface planted seeds.
Can you use a spray bottle?
@@lashawnstv94 While waiting for seeds to sprout and when they're in their just-sprouting phase, absolutely. Once I see the true leaves fully formed, I'll stop. I still rely mainly on bottom watering, but it does help to spray the tops when just starting them out. I got mine at a big box store.
@Nora, watering can, mister, watering head (gentler than a regular hose sprayer, more holes)on hose works. Also solid tray bottoms as Luke pictures. Depending on air humidity, air circulatilon, you'll learn to observe the soil change colors, from moist black to drier grey. Mist/water to keep moist, but not soggy or standing water. If any excess water, tilt tray & drain off.
@@heirloomn.heritage7004 thank you very much. One more question - are fungus gnats less attached to the dirt blocks
Question: I like to up-pot my tomatoes into yogurt containers with holes drilled in the bottom. I suppose you would lose the air pruning benefits at that point, but can you up-pot soil blocks into regular containers? I am mostly interested in trying this for ease of transplanting. I hate fiddling with the tiny plastic cells. Thanks!
Yes, That would work perfectly.
Yes, you can up pot the soil blocks into traditional pots but you are correct that you would lose the air pruning. There is a smaller soil blocker that makes 20 blocks, each 3/4 inch square that works for many smaller seeds. I have used this in the past as I could fit lots of seeds on my heat mat. They were very easy to pot up into 2-4 inch pots, if needed. Unfortunately, since I moved, I don’t know where that soil blocker went to so I’m back to using the traditional cell packs.
@@kaylakitty3814 Thank you that is great info!
I like to upcycle free containers into pots too. I use a wood burning tool from the craft store { of course extreme caution when using so a fire doesn't result & caution around children & pets & remember to unplug when not in use}, I use the wood burning tool to melt a hole{s} in the plastic containers, soldering iron might also work to melt. For me it's been easier and safer than whenever I've used a drill, sometimes my drill has broken/split my containers.
What if you put a square soil block into a slightly larger round container: wouldn't you still get air pruning? (I have not done it)
What do you do with blocks that don't germinate any seeds, so you reuse them or compost them?
Once in a while potting/seedling mix from big-box stores gets contaminated with herbicides so I will give it another chance and if it fails again, ditch it somewhere away from plants you want to keep. t
💚🌞
where do I buy such devices?
where do you get those trays ti put the soil bblockerrs in?
My favorites are from Bootstrap Farmer. They aren't cheap but super sturdy and last. They also have the mesh tray inserts for blocks, so they aren't on an uneven bottom.
Try a local nursery supply store, they come in different sizes to meet your needs. Holes or no drain holes.
Do the roots get intertwined?
Nope! :)
What big box store do you get 48 cell trays for $2 at?! Sounds like an absolute steal.
Lowe’s has them :)
Yes I just bought several from lowes. I was so suprised they were only $2 I thought it was a mistake so i grabbed several 😂😂😂
I have experienced really poor germination when I tried using soil blocks. How do I get a good germination when using soil blocks?
I have the opposite - nearly 100% germination, and more quickly than my pots in the same tray. I would try spraying them lightly with water to start, then bottom water them to keep them moist. They do dry out a bit faster. I probably water mine once a day. The water spritzing I do twice a day, as needed, and stop once they germinate.
Did you use a humidity dome and bottom tray? U have to keep them moist and water them in using a fine mist sprayer.
Most likely because moisture wasn’t retained. You need to just mist the blocks until the seeds germinate.
Even gardening has its fads.
Hi Luke i saved seeds from a bell pepper and i cant get to germinate
Was it storebought or where from? If gmo, not likely to grow & fruit (seeds are sterile). If store bought & not locally grown, likely picked before ripe (red) & seeds are not mature.
Try floating your seeds in water. Keep & plant the seeds that sink, compost the floaters.
Plant seeds only 2-3x the width of the seed, for peppers, about 1/4 inch down or 4-5mm. Shpulf germinate within 7-10 days, if seeds are viable.
Seeds have a lifespan, too. Older decreases germination rate. And buy from a reputable seed source (all are not created equal).
Why did you change your tag line
This reminds me of Minecraft lol
Love the mi Gardener but this seems cumbersome. 🤔
Just a different method. Saves on plastic & more efficient. Gr8 for succession planting and larger jobs. But just as purposeful as making soil balls with your hands :)
Uh-oh Luke's finally going down the "sponsor this video" route, we know how that turns out, he'll become just like all other youtubers soon.
I only take 4 sponsors a year. I downloaded the app before I even ever was talking to Farmish. The founder is a fellow Michigander and a mom. Not who you think and I did it because I love the service.
@@MIgardener You do you and I’ll always continue to watch and support you and your channel! Thank you for what you do! You are a positive light in this world and positively affect so many people! Your videos are the most educational and content rich gardening videos I’ve watched!
Like a plant, we want to see human growth & development, too. Shared successes and failures=wisdom and community, win-win.🙃