Starting plants from seed can be rewarding but it isn’t without its share of frustrations, especially when you are trying to start vegetable seeds that are tiny and difficult to handle. Those little seeds often make it hard to know if you are putting out enough or too much. It is a frustration shared by many gardeners both new and seasoned but thankfully there is a simple, low-cost way to make the entire process a lot easier to manage.
Seed tape can be found in many nurseries and garden stores but why pay the high retail price when it is so easy and inexpensive to make your own seed tape at home?
To get started, gather these items:
seeds
toilet paper (the cheaper the better)
washable white school glue or a flour/water paste
a ruler
a pen
It is generally easiest to work in 12” sections, and in most cases three sheets of toilet paper will be about 12” long and 4” across. Follow the instructions on the seed packet for spacing guidelines and using a ruler and pen, make evenly spaced marks along the paper until you have filled the desired area with marks.
Next, use a toothpick to place a dot of glue or paste on each pen mark (it is best to work on a single square at a time so the glue doesn’t dry before you’re finished). You can then use the same toothpick to place a seed on each glue dot until you have filled the entire area.
NOTE: Be sure to allow your homemade seed tape to dry completely before use or storage.
After preparing the area to be planted (don't forget the compost), lay out your seed tape on top of the soil and cover with 1/8” to 1/4” of soil, based on the seed planting instructions on the package. As the seeds begin to grow you will quickly see those that have not germinated in plenty of time to fill in the gaps.
Seed tape is excellent for growing carrots and radishes and it is a foolproof way to start herb seedlings as well. In fact, you can use the ideas here to start nearly any type of seed.
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