Transferring the Soil Blocks
More experiments in our home garden
This year, we are trying to keep furry pests away from our garden and learning how to soil block.
Today, I will share how and where we transferred our blocks to and other experiments we are trying out in our yard.
Transferring the Soil Blocks
The cold temps held on here on Long Island, so we had to find creative ways to keep our seedlings warm. Some things we are growing, however, are frost hardy and could be moved outside. These included snap peas, lettuce, kale, broccoli, and cauliflower. The plants we had to keep inside were basil, tomatoes, cucumbers, and zucchini.
We purchased 2 grow towers to keep our plants safe from furry critters.
We also used these bags which came with trellises for climbing plants:
Once the plants are big enough, the soil blocks are super easy to transplant without disturbing the roots. I am so happy I learned about this method! We started some seeds in pots and trays, and though they were easier and less messy to start, the plants did not transfer as well and we had a few casualties.
Directly Sowing Seeds in Our Mary Garden
We have a little bed in the front of our house that we are making into a Mary Garden. The bed already has a huge lavendar bush that’s been growing for years and a statue of Our Blessed Mother. We directly sowed borage, Queen Zinnias, parsley, and Celosia. The parsley and celosia seem to not be growing (maybe it was too cold when we started them), but the borage and zinnias popped right up!
We also added some chamomile that we started in a small pot. Hopefully it keeps growing. The zinnias that we started in pots and then transferred to this bed don’t seem so happy, so we will see how those go.
Plants to be Planted
We have to patiently wait for it to be a bit warmer to transfer the warm weather plants outside (zucchini, cucumber, tomatoes, watermelon, and basil). Our Thai Basil is absolutely exploding and already smells amazing. We cleared out the bed where the basil will go.
We also started some flowers and herbs for tea (calendula, lemon balm, and echinachea) as well as marigolds to keep pests away (and because they’re so cheerful!)
I transplanted our first batch of onions too soon and they died, so we are trying again. This time, we will keep them trimmed until they are a thick grass, and then those will go in the raised bed. I also grabbed a pack of brussels sprouts to go in the raised bed as well. We will also direct sow carrots and plant potato tubers in that same raised bed. I hope it all fits!