How to Make a Soil Blocker
Intro: How to Make a Soil Blocker
STEP 1: The Materials and Tools Part
STEP 2: Start the Wood Frame
STEP 3: Now the Metal Frame Sides
STEP 4: The Dividers
STEP 5: Assembly
STEP 6: The Plunger
STEP 7: Finish the Assembly
STEP 8: Clear Coat
STEP 9: Use It
The boc choi in the picture was planted last fall in a cold frame. I just pulled it out of the ground and the block is still pretty much intact. Pretty cool.
Now you've built this contraption. How do you use it?
It's easy but you need a few supplies:
1. Moist potting soil / seed starting mix. Don't use garden soil. Get the stuff in a bag. Put it in a plastic bin and add water till it holds together in a ball when you squeeze it in your hand.
2. A shallow container. I use a kitty litter pan.
3. A waterproof tray. Something to hold the blocks in. You want it to be waterproof so you can water the blocks from the bottom.
4. A spatula. Good for moving the blocks around in the tray.
5. A pencil. Works well for making holes in the blocks for seeds.
Making Blocks
Put some soil in the pan. Make a mound about 1 1/2 times the height of the blocker cells. It needs to be deep enough that it will compress as the blocker is pressed down but not so deep that the blocker can't hit bottom.
Press the blocker into the soil and push down firmly all the way to the bottom. Twist back and forth a little.
Take the blocker out and put it in the tray. Press the plunger down as you pull the blocker up leaving the blocks behind in the tray.
Repeat
You may find that you need to periodically clean the blocker as you are using it if it gets hard to work the plunger.
Now get out there and start planting!
Interested in what we're up to lately? Updates happen pretty frequently on Instagram and YouTube.
Thanks!!
19 Comments
GurubandhuK 7 years ago
I have a 3'piece 0f aluminum but could only find one 2" wide. Wi.. this work? Will I have to modify something to make it work? Thanks
spike3579 7 years ago
Jayefuu 12 years ago
pfred2 12 years ago
Once I was trimming the edge of one of my workbenches with a hand circular saw and I noticed all of these sparks flying up out of my cut line, I kept on going (I figured the damage was done already so why stop) and when I was done sure enough I'd sawn right through a steel bracket under the wood. This was some pretty thick steel too. I was using this nasty blade made out of "dynite" carbide, which was claimed to be 50 times better than plain old carbide, uh huh. I don't know about 50 times but I have to admit I was impressed with the job it did!
Slitting saws on milling machines look for all the world like little circular saws and they work too.
finton 10 years ago
pfred2 10 years ago
dboyd12 11 years ago
Now I may experiment with making a couple of other sizes.
spike3579 11 years ago
aliceaod 11 years ago
marc.cryan 12 years ago
spike3579 12 years ago
Thanks
mainah 12 years ago
spike3579 12 years ago
antling 12 years ago
:-)
spike3579 12 years ago
crudders 12 years ago
spike3579 12 years ago
jongscx 12 years ago
TANZMEISTER 12 years ago