Every year we make up thousands of soil blocks . If there’s one tool a urban gardener/ farmers needs is this handy instrument. Not only does it help us with our successive planting efforts, soil blocks save time, space, money – seedlings germinate and grow with no container, NO transplant shock.
I just love sitting out in the warm sunshine, barefoot, with my hands squishing a bunch of moist soil into the soil blocks – plopping out these nicely shaped blocks all ready and waiting for the seedman (Justin) to come along.
WHAT IS A SOIL BLOCK?
A soil blocks is a block of growing medium that has been lightly compressed and shaped by a form. A soil block serves as both a container and the soil for starting and growing seedlings, eliminating the need for plastic pots and trays for transplanted seedlings. Seedlings grown in soil blocks form stronger root systems than those grown in containers due to increased oxygen to the roots and the soil block’s natural tendency to “prune” roots. This creates a substantial advantage when seedlings are transplanted into the field, because plants establish themselves more quickly and, because of lessened root disruption, they are less prone to transplant shock.
The key to making good soil blocks is to use a mix containing the correct proportions of peat, compost, soil, and sand or perlite. A “blocking” mix needs extra fibrous material—peat—to bind the material together and help the block retain moisture. Some commercially available peat-lite mixes may work but often contain wetting agents and/or fertilizers that make it unsuitable for organic use.
BLOCKING MIX RECIPE *
A standard 10-quart bucket is the unit of measurement for the bulk ingredients. A standard cup measure is used for the supplementary ingredients. This recipe makes approximately 2 bushels of mix. Follow the steps in the order given.
3 buckets brown peat (standard peat moss, use a premium grade)
½ cup lime. Mix ingredients together thoroughly.
2 buckets coarse sand or perlite
3 cups base fertilizer (equal part mix blood meal, colloidal phosphate, and greensand). Mix.
1 bucket garden soil
2 buckets well-decomposed compost. Mix ingredients together thoroughly.
* From The New Organic Grower, by Eliot ColemanMoisten the mix thoroughly using one part warm water for every three parts blocking mix. Successful soil block making depends on the mix being wet enough, rather than wet like soil mix in traditional flats. The mix should have the consistency of soft putty or wet cement, so that a small amount of water oozes through small openings in the blocker as the blocks are made, and that the individual soil blocks cling to the blocker without falling out prematurely.
HOW TO USE THE SOIL BLOCK MAKER
Blockers can be used on any flat work surface. Push the prepared soil mix into a mound that is 1¼ to1½ times deeper than the height of the soil blocker. Push the blocker into the mix until it strikes the work surface. Twist the blocker a quarter-turn and lift. Set the blocker where you plan to grow your seedlings such as a wooden or plastic tray, push down on the handle while raising the blocker. Rinse the blocker in warm water before making the next set of blocks. Place the seed into the indentation of each block, and cover according to the culture information on your seed packet. Prevent drying by covering blocks with a plastic dome or a layer of plastic until the seeds have germinated.
Courtesy Johnny’s Seeds
:: Resources ::
YouTube Video of urban farmer Justin using soil blocks to plant tomatoes
This Soil Block post was so helpful! I have always wondered how these worked and what were the benefits. Now I will try them.
Thanks
CG
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I bet kids, like my own, would also love making these blocks, Anais!
This is a really lovely idea, but I wonder if there’s anything besides peat that can be used as fibrous material? Coconut hull fiber? Grass clippings? Aged straw? Leaf mould? I hate using peat because of the rapidly depleting bogs…
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Hello Claudia
Thanks for the comments, glad you enjoyed the post. I can’t say enough positive things about soil blocks. They really make for successful growing here on the urban homestead.
Anais
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Hi Brandi,
Kids would love it…. I do!
As for peat moss. There are indeed alternatives.
Sphagnum peat moss is NOT a threatened resource
See these these sites for information:
Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss and the Environment
http://www.peatmoss.com/concern.html
Peat Moss and the Environment — FAQ
http://www.peatmoss.com/pm-efaq.html
Peat Moss
http://journeytoforever.org/compost_peatmoss.html
Here’s another helpful article:
Alternatives to using peat moss in the garden
http://www.essortment.com/all/peatmoss_rtfv.htm
Hope this has helped answer your questions.
Cheers,
Anais
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Thanks for the links, Anais. I’m checking them out now.
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How do you go about making soil blocks, the frames that is, I read this through twice and see no mention of it. I use a square foot garden method of planting and love this idea as I could have the next plants starting while I am finishing up the first crop.
Very informative information
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Greetings Donella
We make up soil blocks using this nifty piece of equipment
http://www.peddlerswagon.com/p.....locks.aspx
Glad you enjoyed the post!
Anais
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Thanks so much for this post, I’d seen the block maker on Peddler’s Wagon, but I was having trouble visualizing the process and result. That blurb from Johnny’s Seeds is very informative, however, I am wondering what mix you guys use. The list from Johnny’s appears to contain quite a few purchased ingredients which would be a less than ideal recipe if you are trying to maximize self-sufficiency.
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thank you very much 4 your site. i am from the himalayan region of Nepal, my village is at 3800 meter height and there’s houses are mostly made from soil, i want make house there with modern technology, with means soil block. so what is the better and easy way to make soil block?
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Sarah replies
August 29th, 2010 at 9:23 pm
@namgya wangdi,
I believe this is more like what you might be interested in:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Adobe
If you look up “superadobe” or “superblock” or the architect Nader Khalili, you should find relevant information. University-based architecture programs might also be doing research into efficient use of native materials in building. Good luck!
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Hi – this is my first year using blocks and eliot coleman’s recipe. i got most of the blocks started in the past week and they are germinating well – but this weird fuzzy static is coating the outside of some of the blocks. It seems to be some form of lines of condensation; but I’m also worried that maybe i’m not watering enough. I built the trays as recommended in Coleman’s book so I can’t bottom water – do you have any suggestions? Any help would be wonderful.
Also – if not bottom watering, approximatley how much water do 2″ blocks need per week?
thanks.
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