Making seed tapes

[journey11]

I was asked about this, so here is the info for anyone interested...

Here's an old thread on it -- http://www.theeasygarden.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=27894

Another way to do it is with newspaper strips and a flour paste.

 

[Smart Red]

Hum-m-m, it just might be worth a try (again) as I stare out at the snow this winter. Carrots especially are benefited by seed tape.

Love, Smart Red

 

[Jared77]

Thank you!

 

[Smiles Jr.]

Hum-m-m, it just might be worth a try (again) as I stare out at the snow this winter. Carrots especially are benefited by seed tape. Love, Smart Red

Yes carrots give me more trouble than other veggies. I think I'll try that too. Those tiny seeds are hard for me to see and impossible to handle. Homebrew seed tape would be a nice project for my grandson and me to do on a cold wintery night (next to the woodstove). Oh yeah . . . I need some seeds, don't I.

 

[Durgan]

Hum-m-m, it just might be worth a try (again) as I stare out at the snow this winter. Carrots especially are benefited by seed tape.

Love, Smart Red

Seeds tapes, both home made and commercial fall short of expectations. Carrots can be a problem if not handled so germination occurs.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?PPRND 16 April 2012 Planting Carrots.
A 25 foot row of carrot seed was planted. Method is to mark the row, rototill, flatten surface, place seeds along row three across insuring no seeds touch,(if seeds touch the stalks will be intertwined) water, place supports and place board over the row.The supports under the boards allows space for the shoots to grow without distortion. This method insures the soil surface temperature does not get too high (above 80F) and the seeds tend to remain moist. If it rains the seeds do not get washed out of position. Germination is almost 100% using this method with little care required. Either take care and the effort when planting, or one has to thin later, which is difficult and time consuming.

 

[Smart Red]

That system for planting/growing carrots sounds almost identical to the system I figured out myself for healthy carrot harvests. My problem is the patience to sow carrot seed carefully. I plant carrots in 'blocks' rather than in rows so they are easier to protect from the elements during germination, but mine always end up too close and in need of way too much thinning compared to everything else I manage to get planted.

I used to do tissue (or toilet paper) and flour paste many years ago, but forgot to get started early and so ended the seed tape process. Carrots were the only seeds I've ever seen a need for seed tape use.

Love, Smart Red

 

[Durgan]

I went the same routes you mention. Finally I got on my hands and knees and set each seed in carefully. It is a pain but worth the effort. The area method can be awkward when digging the carrots. Now I prefer the row method as shown.

 

[Smart Red]

The area method can be awkward when digging the carrots. Now I prefer the row method as shown.

Aha! But then I didn't mention that my veggies are grown in raised beds. No problem digging one area with my raised beds, I have support for the protective covering that keeps my carrots moist through germination, and never have to step into the growing area. Actually no digging is involved as my soil is so friable that carrots easily pop out with a modest tug. Nope, my problem lays in beating the grandchildren to the harvest (or perhaps just beating the grandchildren would work). Those near vegetarian varmints won't even let my peas get past bloom stage without a threatening lecture each year. It seems pea flowers are as tasty as the peas themselves and without the long wait.

Some things I just don't do well. Peeling potatoes is one. Planting carrot seeds is another. For some reason, both projects make me nervous and unable to concentrate. Indeed, you're better off eating the peelings than what's left of my peeled potatoes. Solved that by cooking them with the skins on! Convincing the family that's healthier and tastier is getting easier. That's why the 9 and 11 year olds volunteered to peel potatoes for Thanksgiving dinner.

Love, Smart Red