Creating a Seedtape

I love growing carrots and lettuce but hate thinning the seedlings as they grow. I don't know about you, but I tend not to scatter the seeds evenly, so I always have to thin. Plus, I hate losing a plant that could be producing. It is tedious to pull the seedlings and hard to do if you have arthritis in your hands or other issues. Seed tape is an excellent alternative to help space those seeds out correctly and limits the time you spend on your hands and knees. There are several options for seed tape on the market, but there isn't always a variety I like or one that works in my area. Luckily, it is pretty easy to make your seed tape. All you need is some toilet paper or any paper that will dissolve when wet, an adhesive of some type, such as Elmer's glue (or make your own out of water and flour), and vegetable seeds. Lay out your toilet paper and tear it to the length you want, figure out the spacing between seeds you need for your vegetables (check that packaging or the Extension publications), place some adhesive toward one edge on those spots, then put your seeds on the adhesive. You can then fold the paper over to hold the seed in place. Roll the seed tape up if it's too early to plant the seed tape and store it in a cool, dry place till it's time to grow. Check out this video on making a seed tape.

Have questions? Contact our office where our Horticulture Extension Agent will assist you with questions.

Phone: (316) 321-9660

Email: callae@ksu.edu