Seed tape

16 years ago

So I've read on GW about making your own seed tape for small seeds (carrot etc). I hate to admit it but I am getting older and I'm having trouble with small seeds. So I decided to make some seed tape. It was snowing, again, and I was impatient to get going on the garden.

I went to get the Elmer's glue out of the cupboard and found a glue stick there as well. Water soluble and washable.

After I couldn't get the lid on the Elmer's open (someone must have welded it shut) I decided I would try the glue stick. It worked and was AMAZING!

All the talk on these forums about sticky Elmer's, making a mess and taking forever to dry was not an issue. The glue stick was new so it was soft. I separated a klenex, used my square foot spacing template to mark where I wanted the seeds. Then I rubed (carefully so as not to rip the tissue) a spot of glue stick on the mark and used tweezers to drop the seed in place. When I had the klenex "seeded" I put the other half of the tissue over the top and lightly pressed on each seed. I didn't have to wait for it to dry. I just stacked the tissues as soon as I was done with each one. They didn't stick, they didn't make a mess on my table, and they were perfect.

I had to explain to DH and the kids what I was doing because they thought I'd finally lost it completely. Even after explaining they still thought I had lost it.

But after work on Tuesday, I went into the garden and layed out the tissues, sprinkled a light layer of compost over them and watered. They were already dissolving before I walked back into the house. Eight squares of carrots and 4 squares of scallions are neatly planted.

I just had to share with everyone on the forum who has "lost it".

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Comments (6)

marzy_the_gardener
16 years ago
Awesome! I'm going to try that this weekend. I put off planting the carrots last weekend becuase I didn't want to deal with the tiny seeds. Thanks for sharing your solution!
jengc
16 years ago
GREAT idea! I also like the tissue method. That is a good way to keep them together. I am going to do this tonight! lol Thanks for sharing!
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greenbean08_gw
16 years ago
I use a wood skewer to place the seeds. Get the tip wet and it will pick up small seeds pretty well.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tales of a Transplanted Gardener
jengc
16 years ago
I tried this method last night. Unless my glue stick was too old, this was very hard to do. It tire the kleenex several times even though I was trying hard to keep it. But I still wonder which is better. Glue that sticks to everything or a glue stick that tears the tissue sometimes. I think the tissue idea is superb since I know it will desinigrate faster than toilet paper, but then again, maybe toilet paper is stronger. I am going to do an experiment with a NEW glue stick and toilet paper. That might be the best combo.

I still thank you for the idea.
keski
16 years ago
I did it with Elmers washable school glue and paper towels. My rutabagas are up.
Keski
momstar
Original Author
16 years ago
I found when I used a new (soft) glue stick it wouldn't tear the tissue as easily. When I used a little older one it was tearing.

I should have included this hint, I rolled the glue stick out maybe 1/4 inch and then used the edge of the stick to rub a dab of glue onto the tissue. I didn't rub it on like you would if you were putting glue on paper.

Twisting motion sorta like when you lick around the side of an ice cream cone.

Also, I had one (1-ply) tissue that I used to "patch" if I got carried away and ripped one of the places. I would just finish the other seeds on the tissue, add the top tissue and press. Then turn it over and put the seed in the ripped spot, tear a small piece of the patch tissue and press it over the ripped area. I had to do this a couple of times but it didn't seem to make a difference once it went in the garden.

Good luck. It might not work for everyone as well as it did for me. Happy planting and have a great weekend.