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Frugal Gardening

Park Seeds plant starters

19 years ago

I have found the starter blocks from Park Seeds to be very economical through years of use. I do not buy their refill sponges! Instead I placed a small amount of foam at the bottom of each segment, filled with my own favorite starting mix and I am off to a good start. One year I tried making my own styrofoam starting blocks but found cutting the foam to be very messy and not very even.

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Comments (2)

luvmyducks
19 years ago
Thanks for the tip! I used these several years ago and found them handy, but the sponges are not biodegradable. I still find them in my garden after I till. I think I'll try using them again this year as you suggest.
mkirkwag
19 years ago
Yes, they're supposed to be peat (bad enough), but could peat hold up like that? I always have a moment of thinking I've met a cat mess.

puzzlefan, what kind of foam do you use in the bottom? I've haven't been that successful with the blocks - I get so-so results, but the roots never reach the bottom lke they're supposed to - so I wonder what happens when you block the bottom with foam? Do you bottom water?
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