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Post by partndn on Mar 26, 2016 1:00:52 GMT
So I got some peat moss and some perlite to add to compost to make my own soil blocks. I saw some youtube vids using the nice metal things, but they are a bit pricey. Decided to make one. My brother's wife is very creative with gifts. At Christmas this past year, she got some playdoh, set of 4 little cups, and emptied them out, stuffed with a few dollars, and made paper labels for the cups like "food doh" "fun doh" "clothes doh" LOL it was really cute. We try not to do gifts, but they can't resist and I appreciated a few bucks. Repurpose number 2 for the playdoh cups: I cut the bottom out of one of the cups. Attachment Deleted |
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Post by partndn on Mar 26, 2016 1:02:14 GMT
I cut a circle from the lid of another cup. Add a bolt, nut, washers on both sides. Attachment Deleted |
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Post by partndn on Mar 26, 2016 1:05:02 GMT
Then cut a small hole in a cup. Add a short bolt, nut, washers on both sides of the circle cut from the bottom previously. Attachment Deleted |
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Post by partndn on Mar 26, 2016 1:15:22 GMT
Mix soil. I used 2-3 parts peat, 1 part perlite, 1 part compost. Using an empty ice cream thing that is probably a quart. It took about a 2 liter soda bottle full of water to mix to good mud. Put the yellow circle in the bottom of the cup with small hole, with the nut side up. The round head of the bolt sticks through the small hole. Fill and smoosh with soil mix. Only need about 2/3 full. Then grab the blue circle with the long bolt and smash down good, turning up to let water run out. Pull the blue thing out. Flip onto surface, and push on the round bolt head, and plop, falls down. The nut that was on the bottom leaves the indent for a seed. Don't know if it shows up in the pics. Repeat  63 blocks! I hope they hold together. I've never done this. Oh, I mixed 2 batches as above to complete this many. Now, I just have to figure out what all will be going in the little boogers. So many choices! Attachment Deleted |
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Post by whereiwant2b on Mar 26, 2016 1:26:51 GMT
Just don't sprinkle water much from top until roots grow enough to hold it together. I misted mine until they grew well then had them in a tray and watered from the bottom.
Neat project.
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Post by partndn on Mar 26, 2016 4:03:17 GMT
WIW2B, I'm glad you said that. I remember one of the youtubes saying that, but had forgotten. I will just use mist as I have been with the herbs and gourds that have sprouted. Moving those sprouts along gives room for these new ones under my light. I have a whole slurry of seeds out here in the floor, wanting to plant a gazillion things. I feel like it's late, even though it's still March. Hey, just fyi.. I planted some sweet basil end of February that was a cheap pack I had from somewhere last year. Zero germination. I planted basil and sage from MyPatriotSupply seeds packed in 2011. 100% germination. Cherokee purples from MPS 2011 also, 100% germination. Now on to squash, peppers, a few more herbs, more different mater varieties, and who knows what all.. |
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Post by Ozarks Tom on Mar 28, 2016 23:38:36 GMT
We buy most of our seeds from My Patriot Supply. We've had great % of germination, and besides their prices being good, the quantity of seeds per pack can't be beat. They even come sealed in mylar pouches.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2016 1:16:44 GMT
Great project, partndn ! I'm going to have to try my hand at making something like that. Almost time to get plants started here. And I don't know why I never ordered from MPS before. I went to his site when he was sponsoring S&EP at HT but for whatever reason didn't buy from him, but I'm checking it out now and he has a great selection and prices. |
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Post by partndn on Mar 29, 2016 1:19:51 GMT
We buy most of our seeds from My Patriot Supply. We've had great % of germination, and besides their prices being good, the quantity of seeds per pack can't be beat. They even come sealed in mylar pouches. They are awesome. I met Matt at a preparedness expo thing in Hickory, NC a couple years back. He was so nice. He knew who I was right away, 'cause I was wearing a Leonard Peltier t-shirt. LOL |
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Post by partndn on Mar 29, 2016 1:22:38 GMT
Great project, partndn ! I'm going to have to try my hand at making something like that. Almost time to get plants started here. And I don't know why I never ordered from MPS before. I went to his site when he was sponsoring S&EP at HT but for whatever reason didn't buy from him, but I'm checking it out now and he has a great selection and prices. I am happy how they came out! You will not be disappointed with MPS. They will not have odd and off the path varieties. But they will have all the basics for gardening anyone would want. Very dependable. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2016 1:26:57 GMT
I do love some odd varieties, but honestly too many choices is a real problem when I'm looking through some of the big catalogs. I'm impressed at MPS's herb selection...they have everything I was planning to order in that category...even prairie sage, which some of the big companies don't have. I'm a little behind on ordering this year...hope they're in stock.
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63 blocks!
