Mark,
I've never used soil blocks before. Could it be that the outside of
the soil block dries out so fast that it is not useable by the
roots? I know seedlings in plastic will run their roots right out to
the plastic, turn and keep growing. I can't picture that happening
with a soil block. Other than that, I can't think of another
explanation.

Steve

Mark & Shauna wrote:
Hello all,
This year we opted to start only our wholesale and retail veggies in
plastic and started all our own, and some friends, veggies in soil
blocks made with the 4 block blocker from johnny's.

We sewed everything in the blocks and the plastic at the same time and
have kept them all together in the greenhouse. So basically they are
getting the same sun, the same water and feed. The plants in the blocks
are about 1/5th the size of the plants in the plastic. For instance,
stonehead cabbage is almost three inches tall with three true leaves in
806's and the blocks _may_ be an inch tall with their firt true leaves
coming on now. We are a bit perplexed as to what would cause this.
Everything used the same mix, on the same benches in the greenhouse, and
care is the same. Any ideas?

I was concerned that perhaps we packed the blocks too tight however the
seem about the same as the plastic. I am guessing there is probably a
tad less soil in a block than in an 806 but it would be very minimal. We
were packing 50 blocks to a 1020 web flat so there are two more plants
per flat as compared to an 806.

Thanks,
Mark