Johnny's Hand held 4 soil Blocker

[bigredfeather]

Need a little help here........this tool seems like it would be a huge money saver, but does it really work? Does anyone have one of these and do they really work?

I am going to be starting close to 500 plants this year, so I can't decide to get this and then it not work.

http://www.johnnyseeds.com/p-8087-hand-held-4-soil-blocker.aspx

 

[baymule]

That looks real cool, but what keeps the soil from falling apart? Is it for starting seeds or for transplanting seedlings to the garden?

 

[greengenes]

I think this would hold the soil together without compacting it.
You could use doweling or even another small pot.

http://www.superseeds.com/gardening/tools-ornaments/seed-starting-supplies.html?p=10

 

[baymule]

I think this would hold the soil together without compacting it.
You could use doweling or even another small pot.

http://www.superseeds.com/gardening/tools-ornaments/seed-starting-supplies.html?p=10

Neato-mosquito! I like that!

 

[greengenes]

Look at these too.

http://knittingaura.blogspot.com/2011/03/origami-newspaper-pots.html

 

[greengenes]

Or... this.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-Super-Cheap-Seed-Starters/

 

[baymule]

Honestly......I just cleaned out the pantry and found paper cups, Styrofoam cups, red solo cups.........

 

[bigredfeather]

That's a fine idea, but I think trying to find 500 of them might be an issue.

 

[baymule]

I like the folding newspaper planters, but that sure would take awhile.....have to start in the fall for spring planting

 

[Smart Red]

As I have mentioned several times here, my personal favorite for starting plants is the venerable half pint school milk container. Each year I go in a day or two and collect all that I want. They are an ideal size for up-planting and great for putting right into the ground after tearing the bottom out -- no transplant shock.

I would think any school would appreciate the recycling of their trash as a good thing. Just give plenty of notice and keep committments. I add an extra trash container and stand nearby reminding the students to help me recycle by throwing their milk box into the extra container today.

I have stapled a dozen together to make moving them easier. Their shape fits pretty well inside my cookie sheets and/or cake pans. I do usually cut each one down -- sort of like taking the roof off each milk box so I'm not using quite as much starting soil.