Seed Talk #74 - Soil Blocking FAQs

[@matthewboddum7723]

You guys have such a great team there at TGW! Lane is such a clear questioner and Lisa is such a great answerer.

[@LayneAngelo]

Oh, thanks so much for the kind words - we really appreciate it 🥰 Wishing you a bountiful spring garden and a wonderful day! 💚🤗💚

[@ashleighstreit3940]

These videos are so helpful! Each year I start excited and very quickly feel defeated. I think with all this information I'm going to change my pattern this year. Thanks!

[@LayneAngelo]

Oh, thanks so much for the kind words! Your comment really made my day ☺ Best of luck with your seedlings, and please feel free to submit topic requests using the form linked in the show notes if there is anything we can help you with! Thanks again, and have a lovely day 💚🤗💚

[@mynamegoeshere5666]

I regularly rewatch this and your other videos on soil blocking . So helpful.

[@BWSRbushcraft]

What I have found to be a simple and easy method to lift the mini 20 soil blocks off of a surface is to take an old nilk carton, cut the sides down (make sure that you don't leave any of the corners on it) to where it's flat and then you'll be able to easily slip that piece under the mini 20 blocks as it's thin, semi flexible, and already waxed and water proof. If the edge that you're slipping under the soil block becomes a little afraid just clean it up by cutting it straight across with a pair of scissors 🌱

[@lostfarmco]

I can't believe no one has asked yet why you switched sides for this video? 😀So used to seeing Lisa on the left and Layne on the right! 🌺Thanks for another great video😄

[@LayneAngelo]

😂 Lisa's computer crashed just after we originally started recording. When she rejoined the meeting for us to start over again, Zoom must have put her on the other side (although it only appeared that way in the recording - everything looked the same to us in the live meeting). Everything should be back to normal in the next episode! 😁 Thanks so much for watching and for being so observant ☺ Have a wonderful day! 💚🤗💚

[@jlp4111]

I planted 3 types of cherry tomatoes, 3 each in 1 3/8” soil blocks 4/28/23. 9 plants were still too many tomatoes plants for me, so gave away 5 to neighbors and never planted out the rest. Two of the 4 remaining plants eventually died. I just kept watering them in their tray, fertilizing them weekly and they are still lying on their side on a table in my sunroom Feb 1, 2024! I just couldn’t compost them and now they are about 18-24” tall, have fruit and new blooms, so are fulfilling their purpose. 😊

[@LayneAngelo]

Oh, wow! How amazing 🤩 Thanks so much for sharing this story, and enjoy your wonderful tomato plants! 💚🤗💚

[@paulv69]

i've been using soil blocking for 30 years. i have the small 3/4" and a "2"" and a 4". i never use the 4", just doesn't work for me. The 2" is a Ladbrook made in England, but isn't actually 2 inches cubed, more like 2" tall, but 1.5 inches x 1.5 wide... which i wish for a true two inch or even 2.5 inch. i 've had the smaller 3/4" for 30 years also, but have never used it, but looking at the size of the plants you have in yours, i'm questioning my not using them. my plants are gorgeous and happy. Especially this year i changed from my VHO fluorescent grow light this year to LED. Oh wow, i'm blown away by the difference the LED makes. my challenge is my plants do so well that they root together!! That's really my only challenge is how the blocks all grow and root together. i don't want to pot them up because i live in Oregon and spring here is iffy, so planting out varies from year to year, which means some plants get big, i'd rather start with a larger block to start, but have yet to find a 2.5 (cubed) or 3" blocker? Does anyone make one? and also, am i just silly about my blocks growing together... does it really matter that they do?

[@tanyakilbane7636]

Lisa,Lisa Lisa, I should have listened to this before I planted my sunrise, salmon , and red snaps in the same trays. Sunrise, and salmon woke immediately and the reds rotted in the middle, due to being not separated . Booohoo.

[@LayneAngelo]

Oh, no! 😩 Thanks so much for sharing this story, as frustrating as that must have been 🙃 Better luck with your next round of snapdragons, and have a wonderful day 💚🤗💚

[@cbak1819]

The swift blocker reminds me of my Moms old ice cub trays, the ones with the handel😄

[@LayneAngelo]

😂

[@ashleyroark9406]

Topic request- ( Harding off cool flowers in a colder zone) This is my first year growing cool flowers in zone 5. I am looking for more info on Harding off the cool flowers when it’s time as it will still be pretty cold . Thank you for all the great info.

[@ashleyroark9406]

I mean hardening off. Thanks ❤

[@LayneAngelo]

Hello! You are in luck - we covered hardening off in episode 26 😊 Check that out, and please let me know if you still have any lingering questions. Thanks so much for watching, and have a wonderful day! 💚🤗💚

[@ashleyroark9406]

Thanks @@LayneAngelo

[@cbak1819]

Layne.. I was going to do that as well using small blocker with sunflowers to save space.. 🎉

[@LayneAngelo]

Yay - we are space-saving twins 😂

[@laurageen7352]

Your information is stellar! My question: If I use styrofoam trays, does the insulating factor of the styrofoam affect how much heat reaches the soil blocks from the heat mat?

[@LayneAngelo]

Thanks so much for the kind words! Are you using foam trays similar to the ones The Gardener's Workshop sells, or are they significantly thicker? 🤔 Thanks for watching, and have a great day! 💚🤗💚

[@laurageen7352]

@@LayneAngelo Thanks for the response. I would say mine are about 1/8" thick, not sure what the thickness is of the ones from the Gardener's Workshop. I guess a little experimentation is in order 🌱💚😊

[@sallyloosli4379]

I know you don't change the height of your grow lights, so approximately what is the measurement from the soil block to the grow light??? To prevent stretching of the seedling?

[@cbak1819]

I put my grow light 1-2 inches above, as they grow you must raise them. This is if you have just regular LED shop lights. She may have high powered ones.

[@LayneAngelo]

Hello! The distance your grow lights should be from your seedlings is entirely dependent on the type of lights you have. For reference, Lisa's lights (shown starting around 11:00) are a mixture of T8s and T12s. I have LED grow lights and have them at a similar distance away from the seedlings as Lisa. However, there are different intensities of LED lights, so my ideal distance may not be the same as someone else's 🙃 In any case, you want the lights close enough to prevent legginess but not so close that the plants are stressed or get "sunburned". Perhaps we can do a grow light episode at some point 🙂 Thanks so much for this question, and hope that helps! Have a wonderful day 💚🤗💚

[@AbbyKeith-x4s]

My feverfew and daucus seeds in my soil blocks have not germinated, and some have a light, fluffy mold on them. Worried I am overwatering. Do I need to water them every day before they germinate?

[@LayneAngelo]

Hello! In general, we water our blocks once a day, from germination through transplanting. During the germination process, there are no roots to use up the water, however the heat mat typically helps the blocks dry out. If your blocks are not drying out each day, however, watering every 24 hours may result in overwatering. I would recommend checking out episode 31. We had an in-depth discussion about growth on soil blocks, overwatering, and adjusting your growing conditions to encourage the blocks to go from wet to fairly dry in a 24 hour cycle. Thanks so much for watching, and hope that helps! 💚🤗💚

[@thepleatedpetal]

So how long can the seedlings grow in this small block before they need to be bumped up or planted out? 3 or 4 weeks?

[@LayneAngelo]

Hello! You may want to check out episode 22. We had an in-depth discussion about the different soil block sizes and when to bump up seedlings. The vast majority of our seedlings get planted out into the garden directly from the 3/4" blocks, though 🙂 Thanks so much for watching, and have a lovely day! 💚🤗💚

[@starmountaingardens]

When waiting for germination, do you water the same way? Everyday to full saturation?

[@tanyakilbane7636]

No, damping off happens, and it is heartbreaking 💔 and expensive

[@judyandrews1605]

Then how should you do it???

[@malloryrichardson3663]

Idk, if anyone has tried using metal trays lined with foil so the water doesn't rust the metal trays? Would love to know their experience with this. Thank you.

[@LayneAngelo]

Thanks so much for watching and for posing this interesting question to our audience! Have a fabulous day 💚🤗💚

[@cbak1819]

How often, on average does the 2" blocker need watering?

[@LayneAngelo]

Hello! We water both the 3/4" and 2" blocks daily. Although the 2" blocks contain a lot more soil, typically the seedlings growing inside them are quite vigorous, and the blocks still tend to be ready for water every 24 hours. This may vary, however, depending on environmental conditions. Hope that helps, and have a fabulous day! 💚🤗💚

[@jeanettehawkins7472]

At what point of growth should I move up my 3/4 to my 2" stock babies or can they stay until planting out?

[@LayneAngelo]

Hello! We plant stock seedlings out in the garden in the 3/4” blocks without bumping them up. For more information about which seedlings may need to be bumped up, check out episode 22 🙂 Thanks so much for watching, and have a lovely day 💚🤗💚

[@jeanettehawkins7472]

@@LayneAngelo I just got finished watching that episode. Thanks Layne

[@LayneAngelo]

@@jeanettehawkins7472 Fantastic! If you still have any lingering questions, just let me know ☺

[@teelahollinhead6021]

Can soil blocks be made ahead of time?

[@LayneAngelo]

Thanks for this question! I will include this in our next soil blocking FAQs episode. Meanwhile, our preference is to make soil blocks just prior to sowing, however they can be made ahead of time if necessary. I would just recommend making sure they are fully hydrated before sowing into them. Also, if the blocks are made too far in advance and completely dry out, they can sometimes float when you go to rehydrate them, which can be frustrating. Thanks so much for watching, and have a fantastic day! 💚🤗💚

[@Jpatmeadowbrook]

Using coconut coit instead of pear moss . Peat bogs are as bad as coal mining for the environment. Coconut coir is sustainable for mother earth.

[@LayneAngelo]

Yes, you can definitely use coconut coir instead of peat moss! Thanks for mentioning this, and have a great day 💚😊💚