| Do we really need to mix our own? In our professional experience, the answer is an unquestionable "Yes". Allow us to explain. You could very well go to the store and pick up a bag of your normal potting soil. You could wet it down into the "slur" and begin making blocks. However, the results you need, the results you expect from a tool that you've just spent good money on, will be compromised. You've heard, "your only as good as your weakest link". Potting soil can be your weakest link. Store bought potting soils are never meant to be turned into a bucket of oatmeal. Nor are they capable of withstanding three to one compression. They aren't designed to hold their shape without any container and then be fogged down with water. This is the point where so many people say: "Those soil blockers just don't work very well." They broke the weakest link as their blocks fall apart,and wear away from moisture. Or maybe, they couldn't even get the potting soil to make a block at all. And, all other potting soils are sterilized, so would you still call it "organic"? We recommend the following ingredients and ratios because they work and have worked on over one million blocks on our farm. This is the fastest way to get excellent results with soil blockers. We have used these exact ingredients with super results. Blocking Soil recipe (our favorite) Use a 10 quart bucket for measuring. A standard mop and bucket is normally 10 quarts. Use a measuring cup for the fertilizer. Makes 2 bushels. Mix in an over sized wheel barrow, Vermont Cart, or lay down a tarp and mix with a rake. When mixing by hand, use long sleeved gloves if you don't want dirt under your fingernails. A children's shovel works great. Follow the directions in the order given. Make base fertilizer first: Base Fertilizer
Blocking Soil
powdered lime. Blending the fertilizer in with the peat first helps distribute it evenly. Storing mix is just fine as it mellows out the ingredients. And, you'll want to have some around for over watered slurs, so you can "fluff them up". A different recipe is used for the micro blocker. The idea is to "get 'em up and pot 'em on". No nitrogen meals are used because they are not needed and you'll be "potting on" in a few days anyway. Note, no limestone is needed either. Screen compost and peat moss with a 1/4" mesh screen, first. Micro Block Soil Recipe(our favorite)
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