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

I've used soil blocks for years and have never had the problem that
you describe, a five to one ratio is unimaginable. The only thing
that I can think of is that you may be watering from the top and most
of water and fertilizer is just running off. I have never been a fan
of top watering and always have my blocks setting in some sort of tray
so that I can flood it from the bottom and the blocks will wick up the
amount of water that they need. Just today I transplanted a bunch of
tomato plants from small blocks to bigger blocks-----they look great.
The roots will grow out to the edge of the block and then stop but
when you plant them into the ground they start growing again. I think
that this allows the roots to fan out quicker then if they were
circling inside a container. Break one of the blocks apart and see if
moisture is getting all the way to the root or if you've packed the
soil too tight-----the roots need air too.
Bill