By Andrew Haupt
On Friday I got serious about making soil blocks. I decided it wasn’t worth the time to start seeds in 3/4” blocks and transplant them, so I’ve gone straight to the 2” blocks. I think I figured out the right moisture content and the blocks stuck together really well, and I was able to churn them out relatively quickly. I planted four flats with various peppers and set them up in the laundry room closet, where I built out seed starting racks. I have a couple concerns at this point: a) if the heating pads are warming up the soil enough (peppers want 80-85 degrees, and we’re only getting to 70-75 degrees), and b) how to water to keep the moisture consistent while not degrading the blocks. I’ve been misting with a spray bottle and bottom watering the trays, but this has eroded some of the blocks at the bottom.
I really scalped the big apricot tree as well.
And the matilija poppies are sprouting up all over the place.
