Soil-blocking is a seed-starting method popularized by Eliot Coleman.
Seeds are grown in a condensed block of soil media without any container. The air around the block naturally prunes the roots as the plant grows, eliminating problems associated with root binding. Transplanted seedlings consequently adapt quicker once planted compared to their potted counterparts.
We had great luck last season growing milkweeds, coneflowers, native herbs, and many veggie starts in various soil block mixtures. We are looking forward to continuing our experimentation this season. We’ll be working to grow additional plant species in the soil blocks and will be using new soil mixtures.
We hope to transition our homestead to be completely plastic-free in the future. Baby steps!