Seedtape..

[SarahFair]

Today I was putting some carrots seeds on some newspaper and glue. Since the foxglove seed is SO small I decided to put some on some "seed tape" also.

Does foxglove work on seed tape? Should I cover it very lightly with soil or just set it out and weigh down the sides of the newspaper?

Should I even waist my time with the seedtape?

 

[lesa]

The great thing about gardening is that there are no hard and fast rules...If you like fooling around with your seeds and you have time- go ahead and make seedtape. You certainly can plant seeds without it. I get a huge carrot crop every year and I just direct sow. If I feel like it, I thin them out (and make stir fry with the cute babies). Nature is an amazing thing- seeds want to grow, how much fussing you do, is really a personal decision. Don't sweat it, enjoy!!!

 

[SarahFair]

Well I have plenty of time!

I just put on a show and started glueing away..


Its just with fox glove I get scared cause they are SO small. I dont know if the dirt is getting kicked too far over them or the wind is blowing them away...


I just want a piece of mind

 

[lesa]

Nature will surprise you - she knows what she is doing!!! You might find that a few seeds aren't where you remember putting them, but sometimes that is fun! I enjoy planting " Love Lies Bleeding" and "Elephant Head". The seeds are so small, I actually can't see them! So, I just crumble up the entire flower head. They grow like gangbusters!

 

[digitS']

I don't know the answer regarding foxglove seed and seedtape, Sarah. They self-seed so well in my yard, it is just a matter of moving the plants around to where I want them after they have had a season of growth.

I have made my own seedtape somewhat like the way you are doing it. Giving carrot seed a little something "extra" to help them get started is a real good idea .

Carrot seed can take up to 3 weeks to emerge from the soil in my garden. Lots of things can happen to them :/ in that length of time. The soil surface drying out and the sprouts dying is the worse of it!

I wasn't sure if I was going to get a good stand of plants more often than 1 time out of every 3 or 4 years . Then, I discovered pelletted seed and that really, really helped. But, pelleted seed isn't widely available .

I came across some information from Colorado State University about using cornstarch gel to start seed. I used strips of paper towels to make a seedtape the first year but the 2nd time, I just "drizzled" a line of cooked cornstarch gel into a furrow and sprinkled the seed on it. This works just about as well as pelletted carrot seed! I couldn't have been happier !

Apparently, the gel holds moisture against the seed while it takes all those days to germinate.

Steve
"To make a gel for planting seeds, add one tablespoon cornstarch to one cup of water and bring to a boil. Cool the starch mixture to room temperature . . ."

 

[SarahFair]

Interesting Steve! Ill have to try that!

 

[vfem]

I made a foxglove seed tape as well as columbine and larkspur. I'm moving the tape out to the pond area near our woods, I need 100's of plants that are native to fill in the area and seed tape seemed like an easy to administer way to do this, and protect the tiny seeds from birds and bugs.

So go for it...

If I had done it previous to this year, I would have let know you... but I am doing the same thing, so good luck!

 

[dickiebird]

[Today I was putting some carrots seeds on some newspaper and glue.]

What do you use for the glue?

THANX RICH

 

[vfem]

[Today I was putting some carrots seeds on some newspaper and glue.]

What do you use for the glue?

THANX RICH

I simply mix water and flour until its thick like elmor's glue, but not clumpy.

 

[dickiebird]

[Today I was putting some carrots seeds on some newspaper and glue.]

What do you use for the glue?

THANX RICH

I simply mix water and flour until its thick like elmor's glue, but not clumpy.

Pretty simple, eh!!!

THANX RICH