Playing in the Dirt
Soil Blocking: What's that?
This year, I decided to try soil blocking as an alternative to my usual method for seed starting. You may or may not have heard about this before, but rest assured that after you finish reading this short article, you will have all the information you need to get started, and be successful.
For those of you who do not know what a soil block is, let me explain: Soil blocking involves using the shiny contraption pictured below to make blocks out of a soil mix which you then plant your seeds in. When it’s time to plant, you simply dig a hole, and stick the block inside. Soil blocking eliminates the need for a container or pot, as the soil itself is the pot. The reported benefits of using soil blocks are avoiding root-bound plants, avoiding transplant shock, and it decreases your carbon footprint by reducing the need to purchase additional plastic containers.
If you still don't get it, relax, I will put in links for these items, or you can watch my video to see what I am talking about.
In my beginning years, I have used the expanding seed discs. I do not readily recommend these since the roots seem to have a tough time penetrating the fabric. In my experience, the plants in general tend to be stunted in growth, probably due to the shallow root system created. I grew many plants from these, but the actual harvest was always pitiful. The most budget friendly, yet successful seed starting supplies I use involve using seed starting mixes.
I have used seed starting mixes with plastic seedling trays for many years with moderate success, but I am always curious. This year, I decided to try something new.
I wanted to test the cost savings and plant health of soil blocking versus my usual set up. I always want to make sure I am not spending any more than I have to when it comes to planting my garden, but anything that saves me time, and boosts productivity may be worth an increase in price. I really was looking for something that created a healthier plant and was less time consuming.
I first stumbled across soil blocking a few years ago, while browsing the internet for cheap seeds. Soil blocking seemed like a viable option for me. I figured that I could save money from not having to buy any more of those plastic trays. I have actually been re-using the ones I originally purchased, or scavenged, but they are cheaply constructed and tend to leak and break easily.
Many experts in the gardening realm such as Elliot Coleman, Barbara Damrosch, and Justin Rhodes use the soil blocking method to start their seedlings. This year, I got a soil blocker from Santa. I had been eyeballing one for a few years, but I wanted to keep things simple, and stick to what I knew. More importantly, the frugal side of me couldn’t justify paying the cost of the actual soil blocker. I didn't want to try another gimmick that everyone claims to use with tremendous success, but really doesn't work unless you are an expert at growing. I’ve learned to stop overspending, but it’s so easy to do.
I like to keep things simple. I had read some articles on soil blocking, seen some you-tube videos, and figured that I could give it a try. Although I have grown my own food over the years, I am by no means an expert at growing. I like to experiment with everything I see. Usually, I can figure out a better, cheaper, more time efficient way for growing my own food. Then, after experimenting, I like to share my experiences with you. I can show you what works, and what doesn’t.
Being the Dirt Cheap Homesteader, I decided to do a cost comparison between the two methods, as well as an overall analysis on productivity. The article about productivity will come at a later date, after the harvest. Today, we will stick to the basics to get you started gardening right now, and explore some start-up costs.
I am comparing my usual method of seed starting, versus soil blocking, while also showing you how to get started with soil blocking at the same time. The aim here is to see which is the most functional method to use while producing the most food, but also to show that anyone should be able to use this method to start some seeds: first- timers through expert. You should be able to be moderately successful on the first attempt, and the overall cost needs to be low. So, let's get started.
First. Let me describe what my previous method had been. I used seed starting mix at a cost of $6 per 12 quarts. I used about five to six bags per season depending on what I am planting. I originally purchased plastic seed trays the first year I started trying to grow food, and have since been able to re-use many. Let's put their cost at $20. Now, the seeds are a wild variable here. I can usually secure seeds anywhere from $.03 to $1.99 per pack. I will estimate this cost at $10 if you are a beginner. If you are paying more than that annually for seeds, then please let me help you discover new ways to cut your costs.
Previous mix used Testing mix
This year, I used a complete soil blocking blend that I purchased on-line. They sell mixes where you have to add your own soil into the mix, but I prefer to stick to the basics for this experiment. I scoured the internet for the best price, $21.99 for 16 dry quarts, with free shipping. If you can find this stuff at a local store, then congratulations, I am wishing I lived in your area because I could not find a single vendor within 20 miles. I live in a suburban area, and most store attendants didn’t know what I was talking about.
I want to point out that I may have never bought an actual soil blocker due to it’s cost, but after using one, I feel it is definitely worth the investment. Thanks Santa! I would recommend a 2-inch soil blocker since that size is the most versatile. The one pictured earlier is a Ladbrooke which runs about $30. I have no affiliation to the company, so this is just my opinion, but it’s a really great tool. You could wait until they go on sale and maybe find them for less. You can also buy a complete soil blocking kit on Amazon for $60-$80 which includes the mix and other useful extras.
If you are a first time seed starter, then your initial set up cost for my original method would be about $60. The soil- blocking method I am using here would initially be about $84. If you don’t save your seeds annually, your annual costs for seed starting supplies using the potting method is around $56. If I decide to continue using soil blocking, the annual cost will be about $45. That’s a savings that adds up every year!
This is a great example of how sometimes spending little more dough initially for that solid piece of equipment, can save you some money over the long road. According to the above calculations, we are only talking about a $14 cost difference for the initial start up. And the yearly savings, albeit small, will at least pay for the soil blocker itself.
If any of these prices still seem out of your reach, or you just aren’t willing to spend that amount, then I have plenty of other ideas to make it cheaper, yet still be successful.
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I want to remind you here that your time is valuable, so it’s important not to forget about that aspect in your overall evaluation. When planting seeds using my old method, it can take me up to 2 hours. Saturating the seed starting mix, filling individual containers, and labelling have become somewhat tedious over the years, since I start almost all of my own plants. Using the soil blocking method, I was able to shave that time in half! It seemed so quick and easy. With practice, I could cut that time down even more.
I noted another key point with soil blocking: you can put your blocks in just about anything. I am using trays since I have them already, but you could use any medium sized plastic tray, recycled salad mix containers, or even make your own. Just make sure that whatever you put the blocks in is leak-proof, and leave enough space so that you can easily remove the blocks when you are ready to plant.
I think it’s safe to conclude that soil blocking has a leg up so far. The final test will be in the harvest. I will weigh out my produce this year and compare my results to what I grew in previous years.
Now that I have compared my two systems, I want to show you how to start seeds using soil blocks. It’s so simple and easy that you only need to see it once to be able to do it yourself.
First you will want to gather your supplies. You will need: a soil blocker, blocking mix, a tub for mixing, a measuring cup, water, seeds, labels, gloves if you prefer, and something to put your soil blocks in. Please make sure that if you use tap water, you let it sit out overnight to let the chlorine dissipate.
Use the measuring cup to scoop out 10 cups of soil block mix into your tub. Add water slowly to wet the mix. The directions on the package indicate that you want to add enough water so that when you squeeze the soil mix, a few drops of water drip out. I added about 3 cups of water to the mix. Mix the soil around. If it seems too wet, add some more mix, too dry, add some more water. Let the mix sit for 10-20 minutes so the water has a chance to saturate the fibres in the mix. I added enough water so that when I squeezed the mix in my hand, it formed a clump, with a few drops of water coming out if I squeezed hard.
After the mix has saturated, you want to move all of it to one side of your tub, making a level mound. Take your soil blocker and push down into the mix. You want to make sure you pack the mix into all of the block openings. Use the palm of your hand to push the soil mix in tight. Then, try to level off the bottom so they will sit flat.
Once you have each chamber of the blocker packed tight with the mix, you are going to place them in their container or flat. Place the bottom of the soil blocker flush with the bottom of your tray, and pull up on the handle to release the mix. The soil blocks should come out whole with little indentations in them. Continue until you have made enough blocks for your plants.
Next, you will need to make some labels for your plants. I did not think abut how I would label these new blocks, so I decided to use whatever I had on hand. That happened to be toothpicks and address labels. This turned out to be the perfect solution. Make sure to use a ball point pen, and they should be able to get wet.
Finally, add your seeds and lightly mist the tops with a water bottle. You do not need to cover the seeds with soil. I put a clear plastic cover over the tray and placed it in a warm spot until the seeds germinated. I then removed the cover and placed the seedling under my lights. While the seedlings are young, you will want to water the plants by misting from the top. Once your seedlings are more established, you begin to water from the bottom by pouring water into the tray and letting the seed blocks absorb the water.
When your plants are mature enough to be planted outside, harden them off slowly and plant directly into your garden.
Based on my findings, I would highly recommend using soil blocks to start your seedlings. It was simple, fast, and not too expensive for a start up. I will still have to monitor productivity, but so far, I am loving what I see. I hope you have great success if you try this method, happy planting!
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