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Swift Blocker

Nano 16 Cell (1.125" Block - Lavender)

Nano 16 Cell (1.125" Block - Lavender)

Regular price $116.00 USD
Regular price Sale price $116.00 USD
Sale Sold out
Shipping calculated at checkout.

19 total reviews

Quantity

Quick Facts

Blocks per press 16
Finished block size ~1.125"
Color Lavender
Footprint Under 5" square
Dibbles Stamped, permanent
Material Stainless steel
Made in Michigan, USA (100%)
Ships in 1–2 business days

The Nano 16 is the forgiving in-between. At 1.125″ it sits right between our thirsty 0.9″ micro block and the 1.5″ workhorse — enough soil to hold moisture and grow on without fuss, but small enough to fit sixteen starts in a compact footprint. It’s the size to choose when you’re not sure which size you need.

Open-sided blocks air-prune their roots: instead of circling the wall of a plastic cell, each root tip stops at the edge and branches, building a dense rootball that slides into the garden with almost no transplant shock.

Sixteen blocks a press makes the Nano 16 a productive everyday choice for herbs, greens, and a wide range of flowers and vegetables. It fits in just under a 5″ square footprint, reuses the trays and containers already on your bench, and presses a clean, even dimple every time with its stamped permanent dibbles.

One piece of stainless steel, made in southeast Michigan — a tool you buy once. In stock, ships in 1–2 business days. Please wear gloves while blocking to keep hands safe.

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Grower-matched

Complete your setup

The scraper and add-ons sized to fit this exact blocker — add them in one tap.

Swift Scraper

8 Hole Scraper — Commercial 128 & Nano 16

$35.00
Grower-tested

Why growers reach for a Swift Blocker

A soil-blocked seedling at transplant time — dense roots, air-pruned at the edges, no circling
A soil-blocked seedling at transplant time — dense roots, air-pruned at the edges, no circling

Roots that move without the shock

When a root hits the open edge of a block, air stops it — so seedlings build a dense, fibrous rootball instead of circling. They transplant like they barely noticed the move — most starts ready to plant out in about four weeks.

Seed before you eject

Sow the whole tray, dust with vermiculite, then press the blocks out. Faster than dip-and-press blockers — and impossible with them.

Kind to your hands

The lift-to-eject action skips the squeeze — no strain on the hand or wrist. Growers with carpal tunnel or arthritis tell us it's the difference that lets them keep sowing.

Made once, in Michigan

Stainless steel, handmade in southeast Michigan. A buy-it-once tool built to outlast a shelf of plastic trays.

Quick facts

Block size
1.125″
Cells per tray
16
Footprint
≈5″ square
Material
Stainless steel, handmade in Michigan
Best for
Intermediate all-rounder
See it in action

Watch it in real hands

  • 5 stars: 15 (79%)
  • 4 stars: 3 (16%)
  • 3 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 2 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 1 star: 1 (5%)
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Laurie Lehrich

I am admittedly new to soil blocking, and a relatively new home gardener. After a couple of tries, I got the consistency of the soil right and got the blocker to work as intended. However…the soil does get blocked up in the negative spaces, making it impossible to pull up on the lower section (positive dividers) without getting a fine tool to clean out the clogged section in between fills. Once I did that, it worked well and I have my first tray of seeds off and running. Aside from that, this is a solid, well made product. Finish is quite nice, easy to wash off, not too big for storage. I think it needs a little cleaning tool to come with it, that would make it perfect.

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Christa DeMayo

These are amazing and would highly recommend to anyone. I have all the nano series.

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Katelynn Schmitt

Im so excited to use these and have my 3 little girls help me, they are excited too:) waiting for tangerine and pink to come back so we can get those in our gardening tools too:)

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Kelsey Holloway

Swift Blocker team went out of their way to ensure I had what I needed to succeed, from double checking that I was buying the right scraper to answering my questions about tray recommendations. The swift blocker and scraper are both BIFL. So glad I made the investment. Very satisfying to use. And please keep the nano colors, they’re super cute!

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Debbi Smirnoff

These are fantastic! I’m 77 with severe arthritis in my hands and wrist. These are tge answer to my prayers! No pain when I use them! Shipping was very fast!♥️

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Chioma Obuekwe

When I ordered my soil blockers, there was a little bit of wait, as they were in production. When mine arrived I put them on the shelf, as I had already planted out my “cool” garden. However Easter weekend I brought them out to start flowers and honestly for a first timer using blockers and this being only my second year gardening, THERE IS NO OTHER WAY, to start seeds. The ease of use, the durability of the blockers. I tried trays last year and hated them, tried some other kind of seed starting thing and hated that. These soil blockers are AMAZING!!! My biggest hesitation was: what kind of recipe do I use for the soil itself. I found a simple one, started seeds on Sunday and by the following Tuesday some had already broke earth. One block, the corner had crumbled but I think that’s due to user error in watering. But honestly I am so happy with my purchase. I have all three sizes. I have some “experiments” I want to try like carrots. When you are new to gardening, everything is like give it a go till you find what’s best for you. I would love to say that I will be purchasing again, but they are built so durable. This is one garden tool I may never have to purchase again! I know I will get many, many years of use out of my blockers. Maybe if gifting, I can repurchase!

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Celeste Frisbee

Pretty Awesome! it took a little practice at first, but I'm very happy with my soil blocks =) 4 stars only because it seems incomplete without a small tool to clear off excess soil. In my trial and error, I quickly realized that having something to clean off the top and bottom was essential to good soil blocks - it took me time hunting for and trying out several different random objects around the house to get something that would do the job. When I found the nano from watching several favorite farms on youtube, they all recommended using bench/paint scrapers, but the nano's size makes that a little tricky. Nevertheless, very excited to have my nano and I know it will make a big difference this year on our farm. Thanks guys!

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Steven Shepard

Four stars.

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LALAINE SAPRID

Love it , Thank you

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ronald Hutcheson

First problem was there were no instructions but from internet articles I was somewhat familiar with what to do. My first block came out pretty good but it took time to get my fort vee properly wet. The second block was a failure as was my third block. The time on each block was a lot and it was not worth it. Then the cleanup was another time consuming project. All in all the nano was a failure and not worth even a fraction of the price. I have windstar trays which are better and I will use them in the future. I am going to try to get my money back but I do not know if I will be successful. Do not waste your time with the nano.

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Devin Smitherman

Slight learning curve but I got it :) follow along on their IG for tips and soil recommendations. Love how much space I'm saving vs using plastic trays.

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LALAINE SAPRID

I love it .I’ll buy again . Thanks

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Siew Chin Chong

It's sturdy and heavy that it makes the process of getting block soil easy. The dimple is just perfect for those seeds that needs light for germination. Makes them stay in place. Perfect for lisianthus seeds germination.

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Lisa Cunningham

This is my first time soil blocking and I am obsessed. This one is easy to use AND easy to clean. I have already bought more seeds because this made it a breeze to seed start. I love that I can use what I have to seed start versus buying lots of pots or trays. I'm sure it will be easier for transplanting too!

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Rachel Obremski

Perfect size blocks. I really like the design, having used the other kind with the mechanical springs which get clogged with dirt and debris and ultimately break, I was so glad to have found this one. Very solid and will last forever

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yvonne himes

Great product, nice quality, solid construction!

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layla sian

I LOVE it. I have arthritis, and last year I tried the typical style blocker, although a model meant to be ergonomic. It was so difficult I only used it once. This design was SO much easier, and frankly, arthritis or no, it just makes more sense: takes less effort and makes less mess. I can't wait to use it again :)

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Agi Fuetterer

Your product is absolutely amazing. My first try using soilblocking and it’s a success. Thank ypu

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Michael Brubaker

My wife loves it !!!