Seed tapes - don't bother

[Gwyndy]

I remember that a few decades ago one of the seed companies started marketing seeds pre-spaced on a biodegradable tape. I did try them but cannot remember how they performed. They soon disappeared from the market. Until now, that is.

I decided to try out the new seed tapes which have appeared in the garden centres and recently bought two packs of Carrot, Early Nantes 5. On the front of the packets is the statement - "Pre-spaced seeds in a tape - no more thinning out" and part of what appears to be a photograph of a tape with very evenly spaced 'lumps'. The reality is very different. The seeds are certainly not spaced evenly and many are in clusters. In total contradiction to the banner on the front of the packet, the 'How to Grow' instructions on the back state - "Thin the seedlings to around ........ ".

In my opinion these tapes are an expensive waste of time. The seedlings will need thinning. You can achieve better spacing with conventional seed and a lot of patience. I have complained to the seed company, they have acknowledged the contradictory statements on the seed packet, and are refunding my purchase cost.

Verdict: Don't bother!!

[Florence Fennel]

Hi Gwyndy - I wonder if it is worth making your own as featured in June GYO? I thought it might be fiddly but therapeutic playing with strips of paper and flour and water paste and I know my grandchildren will humour me for an hour or so. I'm a bit heavy handed when sowing, so it could be useful in my case!

[Alice]

Thanks for the post and info Gwyndy.
I would never have thought about buying these tapes.
If it's the carrot one you're talking about, well, carrot seed are quite big and easily handled. I just take my time to space them out. And who says you won't have any failures on the pre planted tapes.
Expensive gimmick I think.

[GreenGriff]

I saw some of these in Wilkinsons the other week and considered buying them. Thought they might be a bit easier for a novice like me! But then it felt a bit like cheating, so I didn't get them ... quite glad I didn't now!

[Gwyndy]

Hi Gwyndy - I wonder if it is worth making your own as featured in June GYO? I thought it might be fiddly but therapeutic playing with strips of paper and flour and water paste and I know my grandchildren will humour me for an hour or so. I'm a bit heavy handed when sowing, so it could be useful in my case!

I haven't seen that copy of the magazine. Must take a look.

I too tend to be heavy handed with small seeds but I have one of those seed sower gadgets - the circular type with the small chute. I have found that with gentle tapping on the side of the chute and loads of patience I can get reasonable spacing. The reason that I bought the carrot seed tapes was to avoid thinning and attracting the dreaded carrot root fly. Not to be though!

[PeshB7]

Easy to make your own. Toilet roll and solvent free glue stick. Saves the hassle of messing around with making a glue with corn flour etc.

Just dab the clue stick according to the spacing needed and stick the seed on. Let it dry and roll it up for future deployment. The glue and paper dissolve once in the ground.

[singleseeder]

Some years ago I read an article about home made seed tapes being useful if you have trouble kneeling or bending.

A flat 'trench' was made with a draw hoe and the seed tapes laid in it before using the hoe to cover with soil. The paper strips were left flat, the width of a newspaper page, so they didn't curl out of the trench when laid. This could be done sitting on a stool/kneeler rather than standing.

Fiddly if you have full mobility, but there are many gardeners who might find this useful.

[Florence Fennel]

Easy to make your own. Toilet roll and solvent free glue stick. Saves the hassle of messing around with making a glue with corn flour etc.

Just dab the clue stick according to the spacing needed and stick the seed on. Let it dry and roll it up for future deployment. The glue and paper dissolve once in the ground.

I'll try that, thanks!

[Florence Fennel]

Some years ago I read an article about home made seed tapes being useful if you have trouble kneeling or bending.

A flat 'trench' was made with a draw hoe and the seed tapes laid in it before using the hoe to cover with soil. The paper strips were left flat, the width of a newspaper page, so they didn't curl out of the trench when laid. This could be done sitting on a stool/kneeler rather than standing.

Fiddly if you have full mobility, but there are many gardeners who might find this useful.

Speaking as someone with arthritic knees and just getting over a bad back (over zealousness at the weeding last Bank Holiday), I'm definitely going to give this a go, thanks.