My soil block journey had come to a conclusion for me with a yummy lunch OK I harvested all the mustard green this morning and they were beautiful. All 8 plants were harvested and have a total weight of 2.5kg. Two plants were used for lunch, "Gai Choy Rice" Yum!!! It is a all in one pot rice. One plant is sitting in the fridge waiting to be eaten - most probably stir fried with something. The rest were pickled for use later. Washed and halved. Salted and dehydrated. Pickling on the counter ready by this weekend. Before arriving at this point of the journey I first made some changes to the soil mixture because I find that my original mix dry up too fast and is very compact. After trying some other materials I came up with a new mix which can hold more water and not that compact. Now I make use of 1 part garden soil, 1 part compost, 1 part cocopeat and suitable amount of water. I find that this is the best mix for me. I had used it for 3 batches of green vegetables (totally 70 plants) which is now growing in the beds and soon ready to be harvest. Using soil blocks really helped me saved a lot of space. Usually for a batch of 21 plants I would need the space of at least 2 trays but with soil blocks 1 tray is more than enough with space to spare Normally in 1 tray I can only put in 15 plastic cups. With soil block I have 25 blocks in a tray and the trays are the same size. I can have more blocks in a tray if I want to. The best part is that after transplanting I only have the tray to wash and this save me a lot of time. Transplanting is also easy and fast. So in conclusion from now it is soil blocks for me.
Interesting KK but i would like to know the pickling technique for mustard greens ! Have you tried the southern curled mustard since the flat leafed variety is not as peppery ?
this is really cool thanks for sharing. I have a bunch of seedlings to start and limited space, i think i might try to make some soil blocks myself!
Hi Mart the pickling technique for mustard greens is simple. I have made a post on Pickled Mustard Greens Food Preservation and Storage under Recipes and Cooking. The southern curled mustard is interesting but sad to say I have never seen it here before. I'll look around to see if I can get some seeds here and I'll give it a go. This is the first time I learn about it. Thanks Mart. Thanks Adam.ca, yes you should try it and I am sure you'll like it.
You can find the seed on ebay !! But since you are in another country,, there may be restrictions !! Not sure !!
Good Job @KK Ng!!! Those look amazing!! Not sure about pickling mustard greens, since here in the South, they are boiled with some smoked meat - hamhocks, neckbones, turkey wings, pig tails (yuck on that one), but it works for you. I have a lot of mustards also...maybe i will give the rice a try with the extra i have. Can it be googled?
Here in Oklahoma I always plant greens Turnip mostly. I have a raised bed this year. I'll sow in that.Your greens look mighty tasty. I have found that the soil blocks restrict root growth in the beginning. Takes a long time for the roots to grow. I use potting soil in peat moss cups. When the roots start poking through the cup, I plant the peat moss cup right along with the plant.
Oops!!! Hummerbum sorry for the long delay … I must have missed it. The boiled mustard green sound good and I love pig tails . Yes you can googled it and I am sure you can find something. Anyway here is something on you-tube. Thanks Don Perry, I do not have any problem with the root growth at all. I find that the seedling grow much faster than what I used to do starting them in little pots of disposable plastic cups. I guess getting the mixture right is most important to get happy seedlings. Good for you Odif
The plastic cups can trap water and literally drown the plants. They need water , sure, but the also need air.
You are right Don Perry but there are holes at the bottom of the cups which were made before being used as starter pots. Watering of the plants are from bottom up which is a much more efficient way which also help the plants to grow stronger roots.
I am going to invest in a soil block maker as soon as I find one used on a "I don't need it anymore" site.
thanks, me too. I think with this pandemic (are you all doing okay over there KK?) there will be people rushing to buy things they have no idea what to do with some tools and never use them....and literally give them away for pennies on the dollar. or find them at a thrift store...
