DIY Soil Block Maker

In his book, Four Seasons Harvest, Elliot Coleman suggests making soil blocks for starting seeds rather than using containers. Growing them this way ensures the roots don't circle the container. They reach the end of the block and stop. This makes it easier to transplants vegetables normally more sensitive to transplant (squash, pumpkins, etc..). Sounded like a plan to me: less transplant shock, less trash, less costs, less trips to the store... Johnny Seeds sells these soil block makers. Nice as they look, I just couldn't get past the price tag, so here's what I made. Took an Apple Shuffle box, butchered it a bit, added some nuts and bolts, and poof, soil block maker. Left the screw protruding a bit to make the seed hole on top of the soil block. You could easily add another nut or screw the screw in more to make the hole bigger.

DIY Soil Block Maker - From Apple Shuffle Box

Johnny Seeds Soil Block Maker

Soil Blocks

Elliot Coleman's Recipe:

1. 2 Tbsp Green Sand
2. 2 Tbsp Phosphate Rock
3. 2 Tbsp Dried Blood
4. 3 Qt Peat
5. 1 Qt Perlite
6. 3 Qt Compost

My Modified Recipe:

1. 1 Part Compost
2. 1 Part Dollar Tree Peat Moss / Vermiculite mix
3. A little bit of organic fertilizer