• Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
permaculture forums growies critters building homesteading energy monies kitchen purity ungarbage community wilderness fiber arts art permaculture artisans regional education skip experiences global resources cider press projects digital market permies.com pie forums private forums all forums
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
master stewards:
  • Devaka Cooray
  • Carla Burke
  • John F Dean
  • Nancy Reading
  • Timothy Norton
  • r ranson
stewards:
  • Jay Angler
  • Pearl Sutton
  • paul wheaton
master gardeners:
  • Christopher Weeks
  • M Ljin
gardeners:
  • thomas rubino
  • Eino Kenttä
  • Jeremy VanGelder

When to increase soil block size?

 
Posts: 79
Location: Olympia, Wa
15
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Hi all,
This is the first year I have done soil blocks and so far things are looking great. I'm wondering when it is time to go from 3/4" blocks to 2". I know there are a lot of variables so I am just trying to see what other gardeners are doing. I think my blocks need more time because the roots dont seem that well developed because the blocks are still rather fragile. How do you decide when to step up to 2"? They are just starting to get their first set of true leaves.

Also, I am bottom watering and have noticed a lot of roots are growing out the bottom. I am concerned  that the roots are going to get tangled making them difficult to separate.  Have you ran into this issue?
20190310_122251.jpg
[Thumbnail for 20190310_122251.jpg]
20190310_123853.jpg
[Thumbnail for 20190310_123853.jpg]
20190310_122246.jpg
[Thumbnail for 20190310_122246.jpg]
 
pollinator
Posts: 867
222
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
This is my first year with soil blocks too and I haven't started any in the 3/4" yet but I have started some in the 2" and What I have been told by the folks who got me going in this direction is that if you are going up to a larger soil block then you should go up once you have some root growth out of the smaller one.
 
pollinator
Posts: 1147
310
5
tiny house food preservation cooking rocket stoves homestead
  • Likes 3
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Hi,

I moved from soil blocks to 1 gallon grow bags,  I first started with net cups, but then I moved to the 1 gallon bags that I sew up on a sewing machine.     The grow bags have all the advantages of air pruning but have the bonus of being easier to move verses the soil blocks.      1 gallon size works well for me because you don't have to worry so much about transplanting.
 
Mart Hale
pollinator
Posts: 1147
310
5
tiny house food preservation cooking rocket stoves homestead
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
This is my video I did when I was using netcups.  
gift
 
Unofficial Companion Guide to the Rocket Oven DVD
will be released to subscribers in: soon!
reply
    Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic