If you are like me and save seeds from your garden every year or you like to direct sow cool season vegetables like carrots and radishes, you can’t wait to get in the garden and plant them. For anyone who has done this knows that seed cultivation by directly sowing them into the ground can be a tedious and tricky process, especially when the seeds are very tiny and lightweight. Making seed tape is a way for you to plant seeds without worrying about waste. They are so easy to make from biodegradable materials that you already have in your home. Seeds are evenly spaced and glued to strips of paper using newspaper, paper towels or toilet paper and glued using flour and water.
To make seed tape you will need:
Toilet paper, newspaper or paper towels
White flour
Tweezers
Ruler
Small brush or Q-tips.
- Mix about two tablespoons of white flour with one tablespoon of water to make a thick paste. You may have to adjust amounts. Thicker glue will dry faster. The paste should not be too watery. You don’t want seed to absorb too much water. The glue will hold the seed in place.
- Using a ruler cut one inch strips of newspaper, TP or paper towels.
- Place seed on the one inch strips in the middle. Space seed according to the distance on package. You can spread the glue on the paper using a tiny brush then using the tweezers place one to two seeds per space.
- When you are done place a top layer of paper on top and glue together.
- Wait for glue to dry overnight before storing in a dry container. Add rice to keep inside or container dry from humidity and or condensation. Don’t for get to label your seed tape.
When you are ready to plant take your seed tape to the garden and lay in the ground. Lightly cover the tape with soil and water in. Once your seeds germinate you will notice there is no need for tedious thinning and wasting of seeds.
