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
|
Recipes for Block Making
The main idea is to understand there is no one "right" mix. Trial and error is the way to go. Each grower has
specific needs and each crop could have specific requirements. But, for all practical purposes, here are tried and
true recipes that have worked for decades on many Organic farms, including ours. If your not sure your local
gardening, farming, and hardware store or nursery carries these supplies, which they probably won't, scroll down
and see what you need and call them. If you are concerned about the environmental impact of peat harvesting or
perlite and vermiculite mining, animal by-products in your soil and embedded costs of shipping foreign products,
you are not alone. We offer a complete do-it-yourself potting soil solution chart. And, if you like to mix your own
and want to be assured success, then scroll down and see recommended products and descriptions at the bottom
with the chance to purchase them without leaving your home and get them in 5-8 business days. If you don't want
to mix your own but you are willing to purchase the world's only and best soil blocking mixes and blocking soils, see
our Old Farm Boy Line of Certified Organic Potting Soil.
specific needs and each crop could have specific requirements. But, for all practical purposes, here are tried and
true recipes that have worked for decades on many Organic farms, including ours. If your not sure your local
gardening, farming, and hardware store or nursery carries these supplies, which they probably won't, scroll down
and see what you need and call them. If you are concerned about the environmental impact of peat harvesting or
perlite and vermiculite mining, animal by-products in your soil and embedded costs of shipping foreign products,
you are not alone. We offer a complete do-it-yourself potting soil solution chart. And, if you like to mix your own
and want to be assured success, then scroll down and see recommended products and descriptions at the bottom
with the chance to purchase them without leaving your home and get them in 5-8 business days. If you don't want
to mix your own but you are willing to purchase the world's only and best soil blocking mixes and blocking soils, see
our Old Farm Boy Line of Certified Organic Potting Soil.
THE LADBROOKE COMPANY RECIPE
Sand can be used in place of perlite or vermiculite in any recipe. Sand is typically used when you need extra weight in
your blocks. The heavier block is used for transplants on windy sites, overhead irrigation, silty soil, or in greenhouse
production, it prevents tipping over, because of the few extra weeks plants are held in the block. However, sand is best
for porosity, but doesn't hold water for absorption very well. Some people like sand because it is not noticeable, not like
the glitzy vermiculite and the "styrofoam look" of perlite. Sand should be washed and sterilized with a 10% bleach to
water solution, if you collect your own. Construction grade works best everywhere you live.
Propagation by Cutting-Soil Block Recipe.
- Very simple, extremely effective mix. Always mix the peat and limestone first.
- 4 parts peat
- 1 part compost
- 1/8 part sand
- handful of limestone or rock powder
Sand can be used in place of perlite or vermiculite in any recipe. Sand is typically used when you need extra weight in
your blocks. The heavier block is used for transplants on windy sites, overhead irrigation, silty soil, or in greenhouse
production, it prevents tipping over, because of the few extra weeks plants are held in the block. However, sand is best
for porosity, but doesn't hold water for absorption very well. Some people like sand because it is not noticeable, not like
the glitzy vermiculite and the "styrofoam look" of perlite. Sand should be washed and sterilized with a 10% bleach to
water solution, if you collect your own. Construction grade works best everywhere you live.
Propagation by Cutting-Soil Block Recipe.
- Cuttings are best rooted in this soil block recipe. Simple and effective. Soil sterilization is not recommended, but
if you don't have disease-free, weed free, seed free, silty loam-like garden soil, then you'd better use a "soil-less
mix" and rooting hormones. Always mix the peat and limestone first - 1 gallon garden soil
- 1 1/2 gallon peat moss
- 1 gallon "asbestos free" vermiculite
- 7 1/2 teaspoons dolomite or horticulture grade limestone
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
A journey of 1,000 miles must begin with one step.
-ANCIENT CHINESE PROVERB
Success starts with soil.
-Potting Block Guru
-ANCIENT CHINESE PROVERB
Success starts with soil.
-Potting Block Guru
The journey of 1,000 blocks must begin with one "blocking soil". Find the one you like and your
results will be more consistent and better understood by you, the maker.
results will be more consistent and better understood by you, the maker.