From Seeds to Harvest

Seeds Step #1

We use a soil blocking system for starting our seedlings. This tray contains 300 1/2 inch blocks that will each be seeded with tomatoes. The blocks need to be kept moist and warm. We cover each tray with a plastic dome and put them over a radiator.

Sprouting

After a few days, the seedlings sprout in these 1/2 in soil blocks. The sprouted seedlings are ready to be “potted.” That means we move them to 2 inch soil blocks.

Making Soil Blocks

This stainless steel soil blocker makes four 2 inch blocks at a time. A tray is filled with 40 - 2 inch soil blocks. The seeding medium has to be suitably moist. It works best if the water has time to soak in to all the particles in the seeding medium.

“potting” 1/2 inch seedlings int0 2 inch blocks

A pepper seedling is “potted” into the larger 2 inch soil block.

Seed Flats go under the grow lights

Here are 40 Trident Peppers on the left and 40 Poblano Peppers on the right. The Trident Peppers are a “sweet” pepper suitable for stuffing or eating in salads. The Poblano Peppers are a favorite of chefs for the hot and complex flavors (but not TOO hot).

Interns at work on the farm on April 3, 2020. It is easy to keep social distance on an acre of land.