Tips for Using a Soil Block Builder to Start Seeds

Last year when I started seeds, I used toilet paper rolls to start them. It worked fine. But then I saw the soil block builder and I knew I’d never be content with toilet paper rolls again.

Never heard of a soil block builder?  Let me introduce you. It’s this cool tool that takes soil and compacts it into a block. You plant a seed in the block, cover it with soil and let it grow.

We started with seed starting soil and added some mushroom compost to it. You need the soil very moist so that it will stick together.

Fill the block builder with soil. Push down the handle to release the blocks.

Mixing up some more soil.

The blocks even have a little divot to put the seed in. Cover with a little soil.

Our labeled tray…Esther did the all black one ;-). 

Can I just say that I love this little toy tool? In just a couple of hours we started 250 seeds. I’m sure that’s way too many, especially since we haven’t finished tilling up the garden beds. But I can always give away what we don’t plant. I also started some flowers. I’m not much of a flower gardener, but I’ve always wanted to be.

We put up some shelves outside and put the trays on them. I’ve also filled a spray bottle with water so that we can just mist them instead of flooding them with water.

These soil blockers come in all different sizes. I like this one which makes 2″ blocks. If I had a shorter growing season and wanted to start my seeds earlier I would get this “nesting” block kit. 

You can find information about other fruits and veggies by searching clicking on the In The Garden tab up top or in The Gardening Notebook.

Thanks for sharing with your friends!