Market Farming

[pam AT twinoaks.org]

Vivian asked:> Does anyone here use soil blocks?  I am going to 
order block makers
> this year instead of spending that money on the large quantities of
> plastic cell trays I usually get.  
I do use the 2" soil blocks, for cucurbits mostly. The blocks have the 
advantage of reducing transplant shock, by doing the air pruning 
already referred to. Also, they don't involve throw-away plastics. 
However, they do require some peat moss or coconut fiber, to hold 
the blocks together and help hold water. In my opinion, use of those 
materials is not very sustainable, because of the rate of deposition 
and the distance transported, respectively. I have tried without 
either, and couldn't do it.
        I tried the 3/4" mini-blocks and recommend you not spend 
your time and money there. The compost mixture has to be 
extremely fine-grained, and watering very delicate and frequent. I 
found them a frustrating mess! Might be worthwhile if you were 
doing a small number of very valuable plants, but not otherwise.
        Lately I have been trying the Winstrip reusable plastic cell 
trays, with good results. The W-50 is almost the same size as a 
standard soil block. The Winstrips have airspaces between cells 
and slots in the sides, so they air prune too.  The are very sturdy, 
and can be reused many times. One of my colleagues had trouble 
with fungal diseases transferred by re-using them, he thinks, but I 
haven't experienced that. I have found the Winstrips better for some 
seedlings and less good for others. It seems to be something to do 
with drying out rates and temperature
        So I suggest you look into Winstrip as well. I think the 
company will send you a sample to try out, before you order Sorry I 
haven't got the website info, but it's something straight forward.
        Pam Dawling, Twin Oaks Community, Louisa, VA. Zone 7