Ladbrooke Authentic Soil Block Maker 5-Pc. Essentials Nesting System Includes Mini 4, Micro 20, Cubic Inserts, 1" Seed Dibbles, and Grow Tweezers, Made in England

Works perfectly, you just need to make sure to clean and dry after use to avoid damage or rusting. I sprouted many successful violas and pansies in a small space with this method. I rotate between soil blocking and using seedling pots. I still haven’t gone an entire season using JUST this method. When the successful sprouts are large enough, they get moved to a pot or the ground. Not every plant can be grown in the smaller size because they will outgrow it FAST. For example, I sprouted Dahlia seeds in the 1 inch squares and had to move them to the larger block a few days later because they grew very quickly and needed more soil to spread their roots. But the small size was perfect for my lettuce, and viola seedlings that take much longer to grow. If you are going to use this method, you might want to consider how you are going to keep the soil blocks moist. I recommend investing in seedling trays that have a plastic dome cover to lock in moisture. In our Southern California heat, they will dry out FAST if left out in the open sun. I mostly use them for indoor growing because I can keep an eye on them a lot easier. Also, I struggled with the larger sized blocks falling apart any time I watered them, so I’ll need to get trays that can be bottom watered without pouring water onto the soil blocks.

These soil block makers are sturdy and well made. The handles may be less comfortable if you are processing thousands of blocks, but some tape/padding could fix that pretty easily. I don't have a problem with the handles at a rate of a hundred every week or so.What seeds go in which blocks?The smaller 20 soil block maker is really only going to be useful for small or slow growing seeds. But it really shines there! If your seeds tend to germinate quickly and grow an inch in the first week, then you'll want to skip the 20 soil block and start right in the 4 block maker. I use the 20 blocker for basil, snapdragons, statice, love in a mist, impatiens, coleus, (a lot of flowers and herbs). Many garden produce seeds (brassicas, tomatoes, peppers, squash, etc) will grow too quickly and you'll be potting them up 2 days after starting them. (many squash seeds wouldn't even fit in the smaller soil blocks to begin with).There are excellent videos and tutorials on how to mix and make soil blocks but here are some basic tips that I've found helpful:1- Find a soil recipe that suits your block size- smaller blocks tend to need more peat2- take time to screen your peat/compost/potting mix (doing this while the soil is dry is easier)3- get your mixture wet, like really wet! I have found that it packs better and comes out of the blocker cleaner. when you are packing it in the blocker you should see water squeezing out.4- keep a bucket of water on hand to rinse the soil block maker every couple times, this helps the blocks release easier5-give yourself some time to practice by telling yourself you aren't going to plant in your first 3 tries. toss the dirt back from those back in the bucket and get the hang of it first6- when arranging the blocks in trays, leave yourself enough room to gently pour water into the tray and to get the blocks back out when it's time for transplanting7- use vermiculite on the block surface for moisture retention and better germination rates. you can run vermiculite through an old spice/coffee grinder for really tiny seeds8- always gently bottom water your soil blocks so they don't come apart or driftSoil blocks are not great for:-being able to be moved around a whole bunch (you can move a whole tray, but it gets tricky to move the blocks individually before the roots are holding the block together)-surviving being knocked onto the floor D:-holding plant tags (you have to mark trays or wedge a tag in between the blocks)-for large or long term plants (If you want a gallon sized tomato plant, you should probably by some reusable plastic pots instead- but you could still start them in the blocks)

Beautiful technology

The product does what it is intended to do. I tried these for wildflowers and milk weed. Maybe I have the wrong recipe for the soil, but the plants I'm trying to grow do not seem to want to penetrate the block and take root. I took some plants that germinated in the soil blocks and transplanted them into net cups with potting soil and the plants in the net cups and potting soil are thriving while the soil block plants are lagging. Maybe it's just me, or maybe the flower seeds/roots just aren't aggressive enough for the compressed soil produced by the blocking process. I'm not knocking the product in any way, it works perfectly well. I just don't see the soil block method working well for my application.

Only one season under its belt but they are well made and have done the job

I am super excited using this product but my issue with indoor gardening with this is how often am I supposed to be watering with this. When am I supposed to be taking the plants outside for hardening. There is a lack of information on this and that is a bit frustrating. It certainly has a learning curve. Though I do recommend it regardless. We'll figure it out together because our world doesn't need anymore plastic and other natural products are still hurting the planet just in a different way like peat moss farming.

Great product and good quality. I would buy this again. The metal handle slipped out of the plastic waffle on the Micro 20. The seller quickly responded in replacing the Micro 20. Apparently there was a manufacturing flaw and it's been fixed now. Ladbrooke is replacing them at no cost; contact the seller Patches of Green if you get one like this. Otherwise very happy to have this set; it will be very useful.

I’ve been using this for a few weeks now and I’m so excited about it. It’s solving a lot of issues I’ve had with space. I start hundreds of flower seeds indoors. I haven’t transplanted anything outside yet but the seedlings are looking great. The small soil blocks do dry out fast so I water once a day and spray the tops later in the day while the plants are germinating.