Summary
Jill McSheehy shares her six-year experience with soil blocking for indoor seed starting and explains why she has largely moved away from the method. While soil blocks produce healthier plants with air-pruned roots that establish quickly after transplanting, she found drawbacks including inefficiency for smaller batches, difficulty regulating moisture for slow-germinating crops like celery and peppers, and the fact that she was potting up most seedlings anyway. She now recommends Epic Cell Trays as an alternative that provides the same air-pruning root benefits without the moisture regulation challenges. The episode briefly mentions Organic REV as a soil amendment containing naturally occurring humates and broad-spectrum microbials for plant and soil health.
Key Points
- Soil blocks produce healthier transplants because air-pruned roots establish faster with less transplant shock
- The main drawback of soil blocks is moisture regulation difficulty, especially for slow-germinating seeds like celery and peppers
- Soil blocking is most efficient for large-scale seed starting; less practical for home gardeners doing small batches
- Epic Cell Trays offer similar air-pruning root benefits with easier moisture control and reusable rigid plastic construction
- Organic REV soil amendments contain naturally occurring humates and broad-spectrum microbials for soil health
- Beginners should invest in a good grow light before upgrading to advanced seed starting systems
- The dense planting method works well with cell trays -- sowing 12 seeds per cell and separating after germination
