First attempt at micro soil blocks

[FarmerShawn]

Google "Soil blocks" and you'll get a quick view of the several sizes of soil block makers. Basically, you get or make a special blocking soil mix (several recipes are available - I purchase Vermont Compost Company's Fort Vee), choose the size blocker you want to use depending on the seeds you plan to plant, mix the soil to an almost mud-like consistency, and plunge and press the blocker into it to squeeze and compress as much potting soil as you can get into it. Press the plunger and out pops a soil block, usually with an indentation on the top for your seed.

There are several advantages. The 2" square block, for instance, holds about the same amount of soil as a 3.5" to 4" pot, so blocks save quite a lot of precious space under lights or on expensive heat mats. With no pot sides for roots to bump into, when they reach the block edge, they are air-pruned, so the block never gets root-bound, and when it is ultimately planted out, the roots are poised and ready to take right off with almost no transplant shock. And with the compost-based mix I use, they need almost no extra fertilizing before plant-out. I have had 16" tall plants rising out of a tiny 2" block that looked just wonderfully green and healthy with nothing more than a bit of compost tea occasionally used to water them with for extra ferts. (Of course, I don't like to let them get that big, but stuff happens...)

And, you don't need plastic (or any other) pots.

The micro blocks are 3/4" square, and with a special insert in the 2" block maker that leaves a 3/4" hole, "potting up" is pretty easy after germination - just drop them in the hole. Again, that is a big space saver under lights or on heat mats for germination.

The blockers are available from lots of places - I got mine from Johnny's Selected Seeds.

[RootLoops]

thanks for the info sounds awesome!

[Lorri D]

I have all of them and I love them. If I had to do it over again, I'd prob. not get the 4x4. I have the mini, the 4, the 5, and the large 4x4. I bought mine from Johnny's and Potting Blocks Co.

I tried to find all of the special mix ingredients and I was never able to locate them all. So, I just use organic soiless mix and mushroom compost and I have had zero problems with the mix holding together or needing to fertilize I have added azomite in the past. Lorri D

[momoflilgs]

I'm excited to use them this year because of the space I'll be saving. By starting small seeds in the tiny 3/4" block, I will theorectically be able to start over a thousand seeds on one 20x48" heat mat. (Something my husband is scared to see me attempt.) I then can use the next size blocker- which makes 2" blocks with a 3/4" square divit- and transplant my successful seedlings. I can also change out the square with a 1" or 5/8" dibble for seed starting. Some of these 2" blocks will go directly into the garden but for peppers and tomatoes, I will utilize the larger 4" blocker and transplant up.

I own the Micro 20 (twenty 3/4" blocks at a time), the Mini 4 (four 2" blocks), and the Maxi 1 (one 4" block). I contemplated on making my own but the initial investment for the two smaller ones was less than $70 and included two pairs of tongs and a spatula for moving around the blocks. The Maxi 1 was much more pricier at $99 but doubles as an attractive centerpiece on the dining room table. (At least that's what I tell my husband.) They're on sale at Johnny's!

With only one year under my belt, I'm very new to gardening and even newer to using soil blocks. So far I'm happy with my results. I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel so I'm using the recipes and tips that other block makers have been successful with and I'm having a lot of fun!

Here's a picture of my spinach moved into the 2" block.

[FarmerShawn]

I agree with Lorri D about the 4" blocks. I tried them, but they hold as much potting soil mixture as a 6" pot, which adds up pretty quickly if you are doing many of them.

The other thing I got from Johnny's that has made a huge difference for me is their web-bottomed "Soil Block Propagation Trays."
http://www.johnnyseeds.com/c-452-tra...ysFlats_012014
These are tough, so will last a long time, and they fit inside a standard 1020 tray. The advantage is that they make bottom watering easy - just dunk a block-filled tray into a 1020 tray half-filled with water, wait a few seconds, and it's done. The blocks wick water up quickly, as long as you don't let them dry out too much between waterings.