Sowing in Cells:

Trays with multiple cells are also a good way to start seeds like tomatoes. I fill each cell with a moist seed starting mix, add the seeds, cover with soil, and then water as needed.

Sowing in Individual Pots:

This method is ideal for larger seeds or those plants that dislike root disturbance during transplanting. Biodegradable pots allow for transplanting the entire pot, minimizing root disruption.

Years of Experience with Soil Blocking:

Over the past few years, soil blocking has become my preferred method. This method uses compressed blocks of soil as both the container and growing medium for seedlings. The various sizes, from ¾" for tiny seeds to 2" or 4" for larger ones, offer great versatility.

My Streamlined Soil Blocking Routine:

Creating perfect soil blocks has become second nature by now. The key is ensuring the soil is pressed firmly and evenly, requiring a slightly wetter mix than usual. I've even streamlined my setup, using a repurposed cat litter tray as my mixing tub.

Regardless of the method you choose, remember to follow seed packet instructions, avoid starting seeds too early, provide sufficient light and heat if required, and maintain consistent moisture – moist, not soggy – for optimal results.

Pros and Cons of Soil Blocking

Pros:

Reduced plastic use: Compared to traditional methods using individual pots or trays, soil blocking utilizes less plastic.

Efficient use of space: Since the blocks are compact and stackable, you can fit more seedlings in a smaller space compared to using individual pots.

Air pruning: The roots of your seedlings reach the edges of the block and encounter air, naturally preventing them from becoming rootbound, and promoting healthier growth.

Minimized transplant shock: Because you transplant the entire block directly into the ground, there's minimal disturbance to the roots, reducing transplant shock and stress on seedlings.

Potential for earlier harvest: Due to minimized transplant shock and air pruning, some gardeners report faster growth and even earlier harvests.

Cons:

Initial investment: Purchasing soil blockers and inserts can be more expensive than using readily available materials like trays or pots.

Limited size options: While they come in various sizes, certain larger seedlings may need to be "potted up" into larger containers before transplanting outdoors.

Learning curve: Mastering the art of creating perfect soil blocks takes a little practice. The soil mix needs to be slightly wetter than usual and pressed firmly to ensure the blocks hold their shape.

Overall, soil blocking offers several advantages, particularly for those looking to reduce plastic use and promote healthy root growth. However, the initial cost and learning curve might be a consideration for beginners. 

There's no single "right" way to start seeds, and even the most experienced gardeners can have the occasional failure. As long as you follow the basic guidelines on your seed packet, you're well on your way to growing something wonderful!

ARTICLES OF INTEREST

For Women’s History Month, a look at some trailblazers in American gardening and horticulture

New varieties of tried-and-true vegetables invite gardeners to experiment

‘Delightful’ yellow tomato to be released in 2024

Vegetable-Varieties-List-2024- NY

Vegetable Variety Trial Gardens (VVTG) - This companion program to Vegetable Varieties for Gardeners (VVfG) for our Cornell Cooperative Extension associations and community partners from around New York State who are cultivating vegetable demonstration gardens as outdoor classrooms for their communities.  

Now’s the time to look for Spotted lanternfly egg masses

Box Tree Moth - The Box Tree Moth (BTM) poses a threat to boxwood plantings.

UPCOMING EVENTS

What's Bugging You?—First Fridays Webinar

Practical Solutions to Pest Problems

2024 Schedule

• March 1: Changes to Home Garden Insecticide in NY| Tick Blitz
• April 5: Weed ID | Rats in Vegetable Gardens
• May 3: No-Mow May | What to do with Grass Clippings
• June 7: Tick & Mosquito Yard Treatments | Myth: Mosquito Repellent Plants
• July 5: Japanese Beetle Management | Aphid-Eating Insects
• August 2: Spotted Lanternfly Update | Box Tree Moth Update
• September 6: Back to School: Bed Bugs | Head Lice
• October 4: Identifying Pests in Your Home
• November 1: 2024 Tick Blitz Results | No Spray Needed
• December 6: Feed the Birds | Repurposing a Holiday Tree

If you want to rewatch one of our seminars you can find them in our youtube playlist. 

What's Bugging You? YouTube Playlist

¡Conozca Su Plaga! YouTube Playlist

Beatrix Farrand at Bellefield

(Local History Lecture)

Saturday, March 16th, at 2:30 PM

In celebration of Women’s History Month, come and learn about Beatrix Farrand, America’s first woman landscape architect and her oldest surviving residential work in Hyde Park, NY.

Karen Waltuch is the Horticulturist at the Beatrix Farrand Garden which is located on the grounds of the Home of FDR National Historic Site in Hyde Park, NY. She will be presenting about this garden, the oldest surviving residential work of the foremost woman landscape architect Beatrix Farrand (1872-1959). The site is part of the Bellefield Mansion estate, and the garden has been restored and maintained by an official National Park Service Partner Group since 1994. The site is currently in the midst of a major historic realization project, the establishment of a 5,000 sqft native plant garden to the main garden’s exterior. We’ll learn about the mansion, the design and restoration of the garden, the current “Wild Garden” project, and about the inspiring personal story of Beatrix Farrand.

All are welcome at this FREE event at Warner Library in Tarrytown, NY

Innisfree Garden Classes:

Sustainable Landscape Care | A Series of Skills-Based Virtual Courses with Brad Roeller

This Month:

Site Analysis and Plant Selection

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

at 1:00 PM (Via Zoom)

Lawn Care and Lawn Alternatives

Tuesday, March 26, 1-2 pm (1 hour)

This course will cover the critical process of site analysis—how to determine the environmental characteristics of a site—and then how to select plants that are well adapted to those existing growing conditions. Following this “right plant, right place” approach is the foundation for sustainable success in your gardening efforts.

Retired but actively involved in planning for and managing the Innisfree landscape, course leader Brad Roeller offers a wealth of ideas and expertise to gardeners at every level. His long-term research has focused on ecologically driven and sustainable landscape practices, gardening in areas with high deer populations, and landscape plants for northern gardens. Brad held top horticultural positions at the Cary Institute of Ecosystems Studies, the New York Botanical Garden, and a storied private estate. Published widely, he has been teaching at prestigious public gardens and related institutions around the Northeast for forty years.

This class will be held via Zoom; a link to the recording will be sent to ticketholders afterward. Detailed handouts will be emailed the day before each class.

Sign up for one class or enroll in full series of five (3/19-4/16) at a discount.

To Read More & Register

RHINEBECK GARDEN CLUB

Proudly Presents

Native Flowering Shrubs that Replace Invasives and Benefit Wildlife

Presented by Cathy Lane

Wednesday, March 27th at 10 am

Rhinebeck Village Hall, 76 East Market Street

Followed by

John Lobotsky who will give an update on The American Chestnut Tree Restoration Project.

Visitors are welcome.

Refreshments will be served. 

Every year the Rhinebeck Garden Club puts together a series of meetings,

field trips, and events which are mostly open to the public.

For information, call Hannah at 914-263-5298 or

https://www.facebook.com/p/Rhinebeck-Garden-Club-100064834505072/

SUBMIT UPCOMING EVENTS

Would you like information on an upcoming gardening event to be shared in this newsletter? 

Please include the date, time, location, a short description, cost, and contact information for more details.

Send an email to:

Heather Brenner by the 15^th of each month to be included in the next month’s newsletter.



MASTER GARDENERS SPEAKERS BUREAU

Master Gardener Volunteers offer lectures on a wide array of subjects for gardeners.

Favorite topics include: Vegetable Gardening; Pollinator Gardens; Home Composting; Sustainable Gardening Best Practices; Gardening in Small Spaces; Deer Defense; Spotted Lanternfly; Jumping Worms, Spongy Moths, Putting the Garden to Bed in Fall; and Nature in Winter. Additional topics can be prepared to meet a particular group’s needs or interests.

The talks are 45 minutes in duration, followed by 10-15 minutes for questions from the group.

A fee of $100 per lecture (or 3 for $275) helps support our numerous community projects. 

To arrange for a speaker and get more details on offerings, contact Francheska Kuilan at fk232@cornell.edu

UPCOMING LIBRARY & GARDEN CLUB TALKS:

Note: We have a brand new presentation on 'Spongy Moths'. Let your local library know you are interested in hearing it and find out what you can do at home to help minimize the damage next year.

March:

RHINEBECK GARDEN CLUB

Proudly Presents

Native Flowering Shrubs that Replace Invasives and Benefit Wildlife

Presented by Cathy Lane

Wednesday, March 27th at 10 am

Rhinebeck Village Hall, 76 East Market Street

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

CCEDC Horticulture Hotline & Diagnostic Lab

Need Soil pH Testing? Need Lawn or Plant Diagnosis?

Have any gardening questions?

The Horticulture Hotline, (845) 677-5067 is now CLOSED for the season.

Live Hotline will reopen in April.

NEW!

We now have our own email

Horticulture and Diagnostic questions can be emailed to:

CCEDC Horticulture Hotline & Lab*

Include as much details of the issue as you can. See CCEDC Form for all the details needed.

Photos should be included when at all possible. Please ensure it is well-focused, and shows the whole or a larger section of the plant and a close-up view of the issue. 

Please call/email before dropping off diagnostic samples to arrange a drop of time.

This will help ensure your sample will be as fresh as possible for the lab.

Call 845-677-8223 or email fk232@cornell.edu

*The CCEDC Lab is not "staffed" by our volunteers daily.

Please allow up to 72 business hours for response (may be slightly longer on off season or during inclement weather).

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we get this up and running.

For more information, including required forms and a listing of our current service fees:

CCEDC Horticulture Diagnostic Clinic

Cornell University Diagnostic Services:

• Cornell University Insect Diagnostic Laboratory

• Cornell University Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic

Gardening Information:

• Visit the Cornell Garden Based Learning Website to learn more about vegetables, fruits, lawns, trees, shrubs, houseplants, soil, composting and pests.

• New York State Integrated Pest Management for Communities for structural and garden pests.

• Websites for Gardeners  - many topics, including bees, nuisance wildlife, mushrooms, invasive plants, certified arborists and weed ID. 

****ENROLLMENT IS NOW OPEN ****

TRAINING IS PLANNED FOR THE FALL OF 2024 

APPLY HERE

Master Gardener Position Description

CCEDC Master Gardener Volunteer training is held from September through December, in alternate years. Trainings are a mix of in-person, group practicums on weekends, and self-paced weekly online learning modules through the Moodle platform.

If you are interested in becoming a Dutchess County Master Gardener Volunteer,

please fill out the Dutchess County Master Gardener Volunteer application  and mail it to: Dutchess County Farm & Home Center, 2715 Route 44, Suite One, Millbrook, New York 12545-5566 or email it to Francheska Kuilan at fk232@cornell.edu

Was your last heating bill higher than you expected?

There are ways to bring those costs down — let us help you.

Was your last heating bill higher than you expected? There are ways to bring those costs down — let us help you. Visit the Regional Clean Energy Hub to learn more.

https://midhudsonenergychoices.org/

You are the reason that our organization has been able to play a pivotal role in community and economic development in Dutchess County for over 100 years. Your continued participation and support of CCEDC has made direct impact this year.

Together, we can lay the foundation for a successful year ahead, ensuring the lasting impact of our programs and our ability to navigate challenges while seizing new opportunities.

Will you join us now in making this happen?

Websites mentioned in Dutchess Dirt are provided as a courtesy to our readers. Mention of these websites does not imply endorsement by Cornell University, Cornell Cooperative Extension or by the author. 

Cornell Cooperative Extension is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities.

The programs provided by this agency are partially funded by monies received from the County of Dutchess.