How to Start Seeds with Soil Blocks: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Starting Flowers
Well, folks, it finally happened. The moment I’ve been eagerly anticipating since I first thought, “Hey, maybe I should grow all my own flowers from seed” (which, let’s be honest, was probably about five seconds after I watched my first YouTuber start a flower from seed"), I finally made my own recipe for soil blocking. Yes, it’s a recipe. A delicious, dirt-filled recipe that will (hopefully) result in a sea of blooms that will make me feel like the flower farmer I always imagined I could be.
I must admit, I had a small victory lap at the gardening store today. I walked in with a mission: gather the final ingredients to make my DIY soil block magic happen. Armed with a gift card from Christmas, I went to my trusty local garden store, Fifth Season. If you haven’t been there yet, let me just tell you – it’s like Disney World, but for gardeners. You walk in, and the sweet smell of fresh soil greets you like a long-lost friend. It's where all the best garden dreams start.
But I digress. The key here is my not-so-secret recipe for the soil blocks that are going to launch my seed-starting skills into the stratosphere. Ready? Brace yourself:
The Ultimate Soil Block Recipe
4 parts coco coir
2 parts mushroom compost
1 part perlite
There you go. This is it. You can stop reading now and run to your local garden store to start mixing. But, of course, I know you’ll want more details, so I’ll take you through my journey to soil-blocking stardom.
Step 1: Hydration Station (or, How to Rehydrate Coco Coir Without Losing Your Mind)
You know those compressed coco coir bricks that always seem to take up way more space than they should once they’re hydrated? Yeah, those. Well, I had a couple of those hanging around from previous foraging adventures. According to the package, I needed 1.3 gallons of water per brick. I’m not going to lie – it always seems like they’ll never be able to soak up that much water but they really do.
So, I added hot water, watched it absorb into the coir like a sponge at an all-you-can-soak buffet, and mixed it with the help of an ancient potato masher that I have no clue how I own. The coir turned into this fluffy, wet cloud of potential. I was a soil magician at this point. Then came the mushroom compost (smells great, right?), and the perlite (adds some fluff). I mixed it all up, and the result was like a perfect soil smoothie.
Step 2: The Tiny, Mighty Soil Blocker
Then came the fun part: the actual blocking of the soil. With my tiny, 20-cell soil blocker in hand, I dove in. Now, let me be real with you: the first 12 blocks? Hot mess. I was like a toddler trying to figure out how to hold a spoon for the first time – soil everywhere. But then, click, it all started to make sense. The key to perfect blocks is in the press. I’ve learned this now, after many (many) trials.
By the time I got through the first dozen, I was practically soil-blocking royalty. (I’m still not sure how to avoid getting dirt on my clothes, though even though I did wear an apron.)
Step 3: The Seeds (or What the Heck Did I Actually Plant?)
Now, let’s talk about the seeds. I’m 13 weeks out from my estimated first frost here in zone 7b, which is exciting and nerve-wracking all at once. My soil blocks were ready, the stage was set, and I had to make some tough decisions. What would I plant? What would I start in these tiny cubes of potential?
So, I went with:
Feverfew – because every flower farm needs cheerful, daisy-like blooms.
Poppy – because I like to think I’m some sort of mystical flower farmer.
Snapdragons – lots and lots of snapdragons. They’re like the Kardashians of the flower world: bold, beautiful, and always the star of the show.
Sweet Peas – fragrant, pretty, and just all-around charming.
Statice – for that pop of color that just doesn’t quit.
Dill – Because sometimes, you just need a herb for that perfect touch to your bouquet.
The snapdragons, though. Let’s talk about those. I started more snapdragons than any reasonable person should, and I have a plan. A succession planting plan. I’ll stagger my snapdragon starts, which means I can have snapdragons blooming in waves throughout the season. So, yeah, it’s a “grow-all-the-snapdragons” kind of approach.
Why Soil Blocks Are Totally Worth It
So here’s the big takeaway: soil blocking isn’t just some Pinterest-worthy, "oh, it looks cute" gimmick. It’s a legit way to start seeds that saves space, reduces transplant shock, and helps your seeds grow strong and healthy. No plastic trays, no peat pots – just soil and a little bit of elbow grease. Plus, you’re making your own custom soil mix! It’s like baking, but with dirt.
So if you’ve ever wondered about how to start your own seeds with soil blocks, or if you’ve been thinking about getting into the whole “growing flowers from seed” thing, here’s my advice:
Get your soil mix right. Coco coir, mushroom compost, and perlite is a solid combo.
Get a soil blocker (or 5). You’ll feel like a flower farming wizard once you do.
Start with snapdragons. They’re totally worth it.
Succession plant. You’ll thank me later.
Embrace the mess. If you’re not covered in dirt by the end of the process, you’re probably doing it wrong.
And that’s it! The journey has just begun, but I’m already seeing my future farm of flowers blooming before my very eyes. Next time you find yourself at a garden store with a few extra bucks and some free time, think about diving into the world of soil blocks. Who knows? You might just end up with an empire of snapdragons and sweet peas.
Stay dirty, my friends. Stay beautifully dirty.
— Your Not-So-Secret Soil Blocking Pro 🌱💐
