Seed Starting with Soil Blocking
Resources:
- Soil Blocking Instructions
- Homemade Blocking Mix Recipe
- Lisa Live! Making blocking mix and more!
- FAQ: Seed Starting with Soil Blocking
Videos:
Lisa’s Soil Blocking Blogs:
- Low-budget Plants
- Seed Starting Troubles
- Seed Starting: The Pain and the Triumph
- Caring for Seedlings
- In the presence of seedlings….
- Low-budget Plants
- Seed Starting, When should you start anyway?
- Lisa’s Spring Seed Starting Schedule for Summer Flowers
- No Time or Space for a Cutting Garden? Think Again!!
Shop:
Here is what customers are saying about how soil blocking has changed their seed starting experience.
Debbie Magee
I just purchased the soil blocking kit but am a novice gardener in FL. Can I just leave them outside (protected from rain) or do they need to be on an indoor heat mat? Also, after placing the seeds in the little hole of the block, do they need a light dusting of soil over them? Thank you.
Lisa
Debbie, have you watched my Seed Starting Made Easy course that comes with your kit? You should have received an e-mail granting you access. It addresses these questions and gives all the steps to follow. If you didn’t receive the course access, email info@thegardenersworkshop.com
Hope this helps,
Lisa
LeAnn Snyder
Do you keep your cold hardy seedlings in a different place then your warm plants? I’m feeling like it might be too cool for my seedlings but if I put in a heater will it hamper the seedlings that enjoy the cool? Thank you for your help.
Lisa
They typically are not growing at the same time. Cool season out if the seed room by the time warm season coming along. If overlap I move one of the two outdoors for their preferred conditions.
LZ
Mary Bennett
Where is the proper placement of the heat mat? Once I’ve sown the seeds and placed them on the mat, do they need to have some form of light; such as indirect light or can they be in an area that is mostly dark? I understand to move them under the grow light at 50%… but is the answer specific to the seed?
Thanks for the help!
Lisa
They do not require special light while on heat mat just normal room light.
LZ
Robin - a bird in the garden
Thanks so much for publishing this recipe. These are by far the best soil blocks I’ve ever made! And so much easier than other mixtures I tried. Screening is a brilliant step. I started out with my 1/2″ hardware cloth compost sifter, but found 1/4″ did a much better job. Off to build another smaller sifter just for seed starting.
Lisa
Thanks for sharing your experience!
Lisa
Joanne Smith
Today is August 31. I am going to start some blocks for fall veggies and plants. Do you still put them on a heat mat or could I put them protected outside since it is in the 80s?
Lisa
They still need consistent warmth for the quickest and highest rate of sprouting. Hardy annuals just need it a little less hot and more warm.
LZ
Marla Jones
Hi Lisa: soil blocking for 1st time, seeds germinated on heat mats, then I put them out in garage under heat lamp, worried that it might be too cold for these babies (avg temp 60 degrees) they look kinda spindly, almost like they are damping off . should I bring them back inside under and put them under lights? How cool can these babies tolerate? Thanks for the help!! Marla
Lisa
What are you growing? Cool-season hardy annuals or warm-season tender annuals? Both will need 16 hours of light to grow properly– lack of light cause spindly. To get growth on cool-season 70 degree air temp and warm-season 75 or higher.
LZ