Soil Blocks Simplify Seed Starting

If you’ve given up on seed starting, you might try using soil blocks this season. This seed-starting method can help improve your chances for vegetable gardening success.

The seed - starting method that uses small occlusion of stain for planting may be just what you need for seed - sprouting success this season . Soil blocking is for you if you …

have n’t had good results with seed starting in the past times ,

do n’t have much place for start seeds , or

do n’t like to mess with container of soil and tray with maw .

Starting seeds in small block of land is another fashion to approach yourvegetable ejaculate - startingefforts this spring . To get started you ’ll involve a blocker , some thoroughly moistened blocking mix , a tray without any holes , germ , a heating mat and a grow light .

The soil blocker is a small art object of equipment that makes the soil blocks that can be ¾ column inch or larger . identify the blocker in a tray of well - moistened potting dirt and press down to replete each chamber with grease and release to make the block . Each pulley block holds one seed .

One of the keys to using a soil blocker is having a soil mixture that have together . Soil embarrass mixes are uncommitted to buy or you may make your own with formula without perlite or vermiculite , but admit peat moss or coco fibre , sifted compost , and some nutrient .

Another key to using grease stoppage for starting seed is that timing is everything . If you pop out too shortly , plants will get leggy before planting . It bear to be patient and hold back until 3 - 4 weeks before plant . Gardeners who swear by the soil close up method acting say hold back is difficult , but in the end better for the plant , especially favorites like tomato and peppers .

After the soil blocks are constitute and set on a tray , the tray goes on a seedling warming mat . After seeds sprout , move the tray to the grow lights for quick growth . It ’s important to keep the soil blocks moist by water daily .

When plants are 3 - 4 inches grandiloquent , move the tray outdoors to a protect locating to harden off for a workweek or so . Then plant in the garden or containers when they ’re ready .

If you ’d like to give grunge blocks a try for your semen - begin efforts this season , you may discover fabric online throughThe Gardeners Workshop , Grow Organic , Johnny ’s Seedsor other garden suppliers .

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Soil blocking is a method for starting vegetable and flower seeds that uses small blocks of soil for planting.Photo/Illustration: Jodi Torpey

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