If you’re looking for a fun rainy day garden project to do with your kids, or if you are a new gardener and are concerned about planting tiny seeds like carrots and lettuce in the garden, I have the perfect project for you.
Seed tape.
To make a seed tape you will need to gather the following items:
- Toilet Paper
- Flour
- Water
- Seeds
- Bamboo Skewer or Toothpick
Before you start you’ll need to figure out how long you want to make your seed tape. My garden boxes are 8 feet long so I used 8 feet of toilet paper. The great thing about seed tape is you can make it as long {or as short} as you need to accommodate your garden space.
For this demonstration I am using carrot seeds, however homemade seed tapes can be made with any type of small seeds.
Step 1
Make a simple paste out of flour and water. You want the “paste” to be the consistency of glue.
Step 2
Use a bamboo skewer or toothpick to carefully dab a little paste onto the toilet paper.
Step 3
Add 1- 2 seeds to the dab of paste. I like to use 2 seeds just in case one does not germinate for some reason {blame it on the OCD}. If you are unsure as to how far apart to paste your seeds, simply look at the back of the seed packet for instructions. Most carrot seeds need to be planted 3″ apart.
Once the paste has dried, roll up your seed tape and head out to the garden.
Lay the seed tape down and cover with dirt {refer to your seed packet to find out how deep}. For carrots cover with 1/8″ of soil. Water and care for your newly planted seeds just as you would had they been sowed directly in the garden. The toilet paper should dissolve in about a week.
~Mavis
For more simple garden ideas to do with kids, check out Gardening Projects for Kids. It’s pretty rad.
Desi says
Wow that looks amazing. And very little thinning. Awesome!
Angela says
Awesome idea! My mom purchased seeds that came like this out of the package but I’m sure she paid a lot more for them that way. This looks easy and simple to do, plus I already have the seeds!
Helen in Meridian says
Mavis, at 6PM.com today they have UGGS Rommy 48% off. Each day they run a one day sale of really well known shoes. The UGGS Rommy look like they are hearty enough for a light garden use, and possible non violent shovel use. Buy yourself a present, and if dh buys one two, you will have two presents you deserve. I always buy my own presents, but lately dh has been getting American Girl emails on his phone. He asked if I wanted the two new New Orleans girls last fall and I said of course. I put extra gifts I want in his office. He then only has to look around and wrap them up.
Mavis says
Thanks Helen. 🙂
Elizabeth says
How far in advance can you make these? Do you think after being rolled up for a while they seeds would pop off before you put them in your box?
zabecc at hotmail dot com
thanks 🙂
(also wondering if you could let me know how your potato towers turned out last year 🙂