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Post by piggingardener on Mar 1, 2007 11:35:43 GMT 1
Has anyone ever used one of these gadgets for sowing seeds in? If so, are they any good or just another gimmicky waste of money? www.ladbrooke.co.uk/blocking.htm |
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Post by The witch on Mar 1, 2007 11:38:49 GMT 1
Nope sorry Piggin  |
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Post by sweetleaf on Mar 1, 2007 11:47:55 GMT 1
They do look like they would dry out very easily, and they would be fragile too.  |
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Post by piggingardener on Mar 1, 2007 11:57:59 GMT 1
I think you have to start out with the compost being very wet and compacted. You then have to ensure that it's kept moist by spraying regularly with a fine mist sprayer.
Extract from an Alaskan gardener's e-zine:
How to use a soil cuber
Moisten some good quality seed-starting mix (also called germination or 'soil-less' mix) with water until it resembles cooked oatmeal. TIP: Let the mixture soak for 30 minutes or so. Experiment with consistencies.
Hold the cuber upside-down and pack the cells with damp soil using a rubber spatula, large spoon or trowel.
Turn the cuber over, press the soil side against bottom of a tray and push the spring-loaded handle to release 20 soil cubes as a unit. It should resemble a big chocolate brownie. Refill the cuber with soil and repeat the process, leaving at least 1/2 inch between each brownie for irrigating later with water.
Pinch a few seeds and carefully sprinkle them onto the cubes. Tip: To pick up just 1 or 2 seeds, get up a #2 pencil. Touch the tip to the damp soil, press it into a pile of seeds and then wipe the seed(s) onto a cube. (For more pencil tips, read A Pencil is a Gardener's Best Friend.) Cover seeds with soil to a depth suggested on the seed packet and mist with water.
Keep cubes moist by misting or by gently irrigating water around soil brownies. TIP: Never let your seedlings dry out. You might also be interested in reading my other article about what seedlings need to stay healthy.
When seedlings have developed their second set of leaves, transplant them to larger containers. Simply pick up a cube + seedling and set it in the next pre-filled container. This is also a good time to begin feeding seedlings. We recommend PlanTea, the organic fertilizer in small, easy-to-brew tea bags.
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Post by plocket on Mar 1, 2007 14:24:48 GMT 1
They look like the sort of gadget that that a gadget person would want - how much are they then?
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Post by piggingardener on Mar 1, 2007 16:23:48 GMT 1
They look like the sort of gadget that that a gadget person would want - how much are they then? About £13ish for the seed sowing one. |
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Post by plocket on Mar 1, 2007 16:27:11 GMT 1
That's quite a bit of money! Are you going to get one then? ;D
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Post by piggingardener on Mar 1, 2007 16:55:54 GMT 1
I dunno - I'm waiting to see if I get any positive feedback. ;D
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Post by sweetleaf on Mar 1, 2007 17:05:21 GMT 1
Looks like mud pies to me.  |
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Post by plocket on Mar 1, 2007 17:54:11 GMT 1
I dunno - I'm waiting to see if I get any positive feedback. ;D Makes sense Piggin, but I think you might be asking the wrong board!!! ;D |
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