Why I'm Not Using Soil Blocks for Seed Starting [much] Anymore

[@elisabetk2595]

I use the soil blocker and put them on the kind of trays you see in fast food restaurants (you can get them at the restaurant supply store). That way I can have a few related varieties instead of a whole flat. Once the seeds have germinated, you can move or rearrange the blocks since roots will hold the block together. So this can be very practical even for small amounts if things are germinating or growing at different times. As far as mix, just using sifted potting soil, or sifted Promix or seed starting mix with a little Garden Tone mixed in is fine. No need for complicated recipes, and it's easy to make small batches. I find a little bit of earthworm castings (I used bagged) helps make the blocks hold their shape better. Also, sprinkling a layer of fine vermiculite on top helps with water regulation. That said, I got some Epic cells this year and they are great! A bit of an investment but look for sales.

[@davidk4184]

I started using soil blocks and Epic trays for the first time last year (thanks to Jill). I have been gardening for a very long time, but these two products were nothing short of amazing. By far the best germination I've ever had and no transplant shock when potting up or planting. I agree with Jill as to when to use blocks and when to use Epic. I also used Organic Rev for the first time, so I 'm sure that had some to do with my success. I had no problem with watering. I put the blocks in a tray and bottom watered every morning til the moisture reached the top of the block. If there was too much water, I would put something underneath one end and let the water go to where there were no blocks. I'm in a dry climate, so have never had a problem with mold. Also when I do blocking, I mix a fairly large amount of mix and keep what I don't use right away in gallon zip-lock bags so later I can make more without spending much time.

[@sarahsu7515]

This was so helpful and informative. thank you!

[@myretiredhobbiesgainesvill8140]

I enjoyed listening to this podcast and found it very informative. You explained soil blocks really well and the pros and cons. I have never tried them and probably won't. I have good success using seed trays so I plan to continue using them. The new trays you showed are intriguing but a little pricey for me. I might try them in later years. Thanks for all your work and I always enjoy watching your videos and listening to your podcasts. Take care.

[@scottwilson5380]

I own the epic 6 cell trays. While I do think Jill is giving an honest and fair review of the trays, I also feel it’s worth mentioning that I think this video is partly a sales pitch, not purely gardening advice. On the epic gardening store, you can visit a page of Jill’s favorites and these trays are on there. I assume she’s making a commission on sales. Nothing inherently wrong with that, but I think that is fair context viewers should know when watching this video and deciding what to purchase.

[@humanbeing4368]

I concur and thanks for pointing that out.

[@babaluto]

Understood. However, the slots up the side, if they do in fact inhibit root wrap, it is a sound design.

[@thebeginnersgarden]

I understand you pointing that out. I will assure you that the point of this podcast is not a sales pitch. I really do like their product and would use it regardless of my affiliation with Epic Gardening. Some of the cells they have sent me but others I have purchased myself.

[@lindysmallwood2039]

Wow did you actually listen to the information? Whether Jill is affiliated or not she gave great information on the cell block that was positive and how Jill shared that experience with her children. Using soil blocking doesn’t work for me because I have a smaller garden. I also agree with it’s difficult to control watering. For the beginner grower soil blocking can be more work and you can run into problems that you don’t have experience to handle with your seedlings. My daughter -in-law lives in Nevada and uses soil blocking and loves them. Do to our weather in Arkansas, your last frost date is not consistent and the weather can change fast. I’m having to pot up seedlings. I don’t use the Epic cells trays but I like how they are constructed. Try not to make assumptions about people’s intentions. Listen to the information. Blessings❤️🌺

[@davidk4184]

There are unfortunately many people who hype something just to sell it, Jill is not one of those. She gives out a large amount of great information and advice for free.

[@paulawhite2882]

As an older beginner gardener, I started with the small soil blocker and had great results; I think it produces 16 blocks; way too many for our small garden. What I mean by that is I don't want 16 plants of the same kind and I don't like making rows of individual plant seeds. I do own the 2 inch and I am going to try that for all of my seed starting. If you do seed starts in the 2 inch soil blocker, it is only 2 more than a 6 cell, so really no difference. I use the Purple Cow seed starting mix with the soil blocks with great results; no finding special items for a recipe. I'm not the best at making 2 inch blocks and sometimes the 2 inch blocking feels challenging. But, maybe in time I will get better. +

[@thebeginnersgarden]

Thank you for sharing! I own the micro blocker, too, but I could not ever keep them from dying out. To me the 2” is much easier so I bet you won’t have trouble. Thanks for the suggestion on the Purple Cow!

[@lauranonamaker2610]

Very helpful. I have neither a soil blocker nor the epic trays and the comparison was helpful. After failing at hydroponic seed starting (mostly), indoor seed starting in baggies and towels, indoor in netted tiny pots, indoor in little earthy cups, I tried seed starting outdoors in the flimsy plastic trays I already had. Worked like a charm, I planted in the fall, God watered and almost all of the seeds germinated (i planted one or two per cell) in all four set trays. So, I will try the epic trays in the future.

[@MilliePat]

The biggest challenges to beneficial soil blocks are the soil block recipe and the watering requirements. The best investments are the Epic Gardening or the BootStrap Gardening cell trays. These cell trays eliminate the watering problems of soil blocks and don't require sifting the soil mixture. I would rather do soil blocks because I don't need to store the plastic trays. However, missing one or two days of water with soil blocks causes a total loss of seeds.

[@simplifygardening]

I found with blocks they always dry too much and break up. Its never something I have felt was worth the time to get the right mix.. I do like the air pruning effect tho that soil block provide. There are so many easier ways, esp when I have such a big garden. Great video Jill

[@busterray4277]

I've mixed my own soil and had good results. But lately I've just used a bag of seed starting mix and it worked well.

[@babaluto]

Great topic Jill. I first used the cell blocks some 32 years ago. Some of the ingredients were difficult to source but once you're there, it's gold. The root bound condition you talk about is huge with store bought starts. I have found that another issue with store bought starts is that "sometimes" they treat them with a growth retarder. I mostly grow tomatoes, 300 plants and produce over 10k lbs a year. Interesting product from Epic. May just have to look at those. Cheers!

[@kevinlt143]

I actually tried a few things in soil blocks and cell trays this year, just to see which worked better for me. I have a similar issue with soil blocks where I tended to overwater and grew mould instead of plants :) Unfortunately, we've had an unseasonably cold start to our summer, so most of my plants haven't done well, regardless of how I started them.

[@Bekkijune]

I used the Epic trays last year and really liked them. I also like the ones from Vego Garden. I like how small those are for little things like lettuce.

[@WilliamStout-h5g]

BootStrap Farmer also makes some very high quality cell trays similar to Epic. Also Vego Garden makes similar ones, which I am using now and like very much.

[@oleman490]

I had the same trouble with the soil blocks except that thinking along the lines of Mr. Leon and wicking tubs;;I gathered some empty flats from a big box store that were throwing them in the trash and used a 13 gal kitchen trashbag in one tray and a empty tray over the bagged tray creating a bottom watering so to speak;;however I did have a little trouble with the water roots;;;but was minamal;;;I just use promix potting mix with no trouble as where they are planted is supposed to have the nutrients required for them to flourish;;;hope I not be confusing here;;;;the soil blocked plants took off when planted while the container plants suffered and took longer to mature and produce so no speccial mixes for me just potting mix water and put seeds in the dimples;;I do take an old sifter and tap sprinkle a bit of fine mix over the seeds to start andd have a sprayer to mist occasionally get smoisture from bottom to soak up til seeds roots make to moisture;;;;just subbed;;;interesting so we be watching;;;

[@MilliePat]

Soil blocks require a good recipe, correct watering and a strong hand. However they generate gnats and mold because the recipe is not sterile

[@bitrudder3792]

So why not sterilize the soil in the oven before making the blocks? And use a listerine-based cleaner on the blocker, and put the tray in the dishwasher on the sterilize setting?

[@dimitraz1]

Does anybody know a European version of the Epic cells product ? I've been meaning to try soil blocking since most of the cell trays sold here are total crap and bad for the environment. These cell trays are already pricey, adding a huge shipping cost would make a it totally forbidding. (Epic don't ship to Europe anyway).

[@AmsNl2BcnEs]

Have you not ceased using peat yet? It’s very bad for the environment.