tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3698134075709295915.post1200724395098284554..comments2023-11-17T12:32:11.301-05:00Comments on Daphne's Dandelions: Potting Up Soil BlocksDaphne Gouldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305049560953735881noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3698134075709295915.post-9712180062075062102010-04-09T16:18:05.125-04:002010-04-09T16:18:05.125-04:00Cheryl, the seedlings are just little things - pro...Cheryl, the seedlings are just little things - probably around two weeks old. How long they stay really depends upon how fast they grow. I like to get them out when their roots have taken over the block well. I'm probably going to give my peppers about six weeks and my tomatoes about four weeks in the 2" blocks.Daphne Gouldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305049560953735881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3698134075709295915.post-40240840182338506592010-04-08T22:31:56.345-04:002010-04-08T22:31:56.345-04:00I'm doing most of my starts in the soil block ...I'm doing most of my starts in the soil block this year too. Just about everything's growing fine. <br /><br />Just a couple quick questions. How old are your lettuce plants in this photo and what's the longest (or maybe tallest) you've kept your seedlings in the soil blocks? My peppers are doing especially well in the blocks.Cherylhttp://www.cherylsgardengoodies.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3698134075709295915.post-73721721212145164272010-03-16T07:17:09.409-04:002010-03-16T07:17:09.409-04:00Erin, lol I hope you like it. It does have flaws, ...Erin, lol I hope you like it. It does have flaws, but so do the traditional flats.<br /><br />Carol, thanks<br /><br />Stefaneener, I'm hoping my wintersown lettuce will be my next wave after these.<br /><br />Annie's Granny, you are always losing things Granny. You are even worse than me. I can never remember where I put things, but I'm pretty good about having a spot for things and putting them back. It was a hard learned lesson, but I try. I've thought about masking tape on the sides too. But I figure I have about a thousand of these sticks so why not use them up.<br /><br />kitsapFG, that is a good idea. It would tell you if you like them before investing. Last year I just bought one to try it out (the single 1 1/2" blocker). I was afraid to get the whole set because I might not like them. But I did. Now I love them. Just remember that the homemade ones are pretty slow since you have to do them individually.<br /><br />EG, lol yup I'm sure you could make a really nice one.<br /><br />Punk Rock, thanks I think, google translate is not all that great at times.<br /><br />KatieLovesDogs, they can fall apart, make no mistake about that, but if you are careful (especially about watering) they don't. I made some tongs to move the blocks around and I think that helps a lot. Also I make them in one place and move them to another before planting up. If they were weak they don't survive that initial trip (maybe one in twenty for me now, but more earlier as I was learning), I toss them back in the soil mix.<br /><br />Thomas, lol I know what you mean. I wish they came with the insert in . I'm not removing mine though. It will stay with the little inserts in that size. I have the smaller blocker if I directly seed. My Asian greens will all by in the 1 1/2" size.<br /><br />Kimberly, I do love them.<br /><br />Mac, lots of people use straight seed starting mix from the store. I don't know how it would work, but I haven't heard any complaints about it.<br /><br />Ottawa Gardener, personally I think if you don't want to spend a lot of money on them you can just get the 1 1/2" blocker and nothing else. I think it is a better size than the 2" one. You would need to pot up tomatoes and peppers into something larger (last year I used newspaper pots), but not much of an issue.Daphne Gouldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305049560953735881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3698134075709295915.post-81244259592360150972010-03-15T22:09:27.541-04:002010-03-15T22:09:27.541-04:00I keep humming and hawing about soil blockers beca...I keep humming and hawing about soil blockers because of the intial investment but they sure look good!Ottawa Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14486499450332482461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3698134075709295915.post-80737371425202500612010-03-15T15:46:03.760-04:002010-03-15T15:46:03.760-04:00I have the same concerns as KatieLovesDogs, your i...I have the same concerns as KatieLovesDogs, your insight on using the soil blockers is valuable, now if I can talk myself into mixing up the soil I'll be in the soil blocker band wagon.Machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08837486464329151966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3698134075709295915.post-34352172432397456642010-03-15T12:04:33.717-04:002010-03-15T12:04:33.717-04:00Very interesting, Daphne! I've never used the ...Very interesting, Daphne! I've never used the blocker.Kimberlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18123627573356760362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3698134075709295915.post-43210717740221890032010-03-15T10:37:02.410-04:002010-03-15T10:37:02.410-04:00I tried to put the mini block insert into my 2 inc...I tried to put the mini block insert into my 2 inch blocker last night....what a pain! Hopefully, it will be easier once the screws loosen up through constant use.<br />What other crops do you use with the mini blocker? The lettuce worked great for me but the asian greens looked awfully leggy when started in the mini blocker.Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09303344546714641616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3698134075709295915.post-30449131376896452812010-03-15T10:36:30.431-04:002010-03-15T10:36:30.431-04:00Thanks for your insights on using the soil blocks....Thanks for your insights on using the soil blocks. I've been leery of them because I'm concerned that the blocks will fall apart. Thanks for giving me some reassurance. I will try them for my next batch of seed plantings.KatieLovesDogshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13814089116598651381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3698134075709295915.post-37130628254676251592010-03-14T18:08:29.088-04:002010-03-14T18:08:29.088-04:00I'm gonna have to look at a photo of that soil...I'm gonna have to look at a photo of that soil blocker sometime on the internet. I know I can make a pretty good one, but haven't really got the mechanical concept down yet.Jeff Vandiverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07200011426236637927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3698134075709295915.post-62008626225928508882010-03-14T11:55:41.294-04:002010-03-14T11:55:41.294-04:00The more I read about yours and others experiences...The more I read about yours and others experiences with the soil blockers the more I am tempted to give them a go. Maybe next year I will do a homemade one like Annie's Granny's and do it on a limited scale to see how I like it. <br /><br />The lettuces look beautiful.kitsapFGhttp://www.modernvictorygarden.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3698134075709295915.post-11111255125705964842010-03-14T11:11:11.343-04:002010-03-14T11:11:11.343-04:00I just get four across, I need to make a smaller o...I just get four across, I need to make a smaller one. I did have one I made from a pill bottle, but It got lost somewhere, and there was just something wrong with a round block ;-) I do wish I had the tiny one and the insert for it. I managed to get all my markers mixed up last year, so this year I'm using duct tape on the sides of the containers.Annie*s Grannyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04772261218172078099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3698134075709295915.post-60441271605244150512010-03-14T09:34:31.075-04:002010-03-14T09:34:31.075-04:00That's great. I have been happy with flats, bu...That's great. I have been happy with flats, but you make a great argument for blocks. Must sow some more lettuce. . .Stefaneenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08422241601075022500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3698134075709295915.post-45252359548198381022010-03-14T08:59:01.297-04:002010-03-14T08:59:01.297-04:00Wonderful to see those sweet little seedlings! I h...Wonderful to see those sweet little seedlings! I have never used a soil blocker. Interesting post!Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01067132532095325169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3698134075709295915.post-35241071362321412052010-03-14T08:39:34.371-04:002010-03-14T08:39:34.371-04:00Great post, I have been wondering about the stabil...Great post, I have been wondering about the stability of the soil blocks and decided not to purchase the block maker this year, but have been watching those of you who did it, and I think I am sold on it for next year!Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.com