Seed Bombs

[maytreefrannie]

I never heard of seed bombs before but thanks to Katholicos' link, I got the idea I think. We have two young grandchildren staying for a few days, so I think I'll give them a try - or possibly show their parents this thread and let them do it with them while they're here.

Would clay-ey garden soil do mixed with compost?

[Two_Sheds]

I'm going to try making play dough seed bombs (we can't use ovens at school, so salt dough is no good, and we don't have funds for air-dry clay either).

recipe
1/2 cup of salt
1 cup of plain flour
1 tbsp cream of tartar
1 tablespoon of oil (baby oil smells nicest)
I cup of boiling water mixed with some food colouring

Method:
Put all the dry ingredients in a bowl and then mix vigorously with the hot water; lasts for ages in little plastic sandwich bags.

http://becomingdomestic.co.uk/2006/1...o-cook-recipe/

I intend to press flower seeds into the play dough and "bomb" local verges with them (it's very much an embryonic idea at this stage)

[zazen999]

We used a variety of yogurt pots, egg boxes and apparently, the event was good and they only just ran out of seeds towards the end.

Many thanks all for the ideas

[quark1]

TS - is salt a very good ingredient for something which is land-loving.

I use salt to help rid my lawn of dandelions and after beheading and sprinkling with salt it burns out the root stock.

I can't think that the presence of salt is going to be very kind to seeds trying to germinate unless all traces of salt will have dispersed by then.

Just a thought.

[Two_Sheds]

TS - is salt a very good ingredient

I'd considered that - I know salt is a very effective weedkiller, I'm going to experiment to see if it destroys seeds too.

Basically, I need a quick easy indoor project for Garden Club tomorrow. They're all going to lose their seed bombs before they can plant them anyway

[Pies]

As usual im late again,too late infact.But i was thinking of biodegradeable ballons

[womble]

I'd more be worried about animals eating the dough and the seeds.

[Two_Sheds]

I'd more be worried about animals eating the dough and the seeds.

Why? Animals eat seeds all the time, but if it's salty animals won't touch it

[zazen999]

The clay I bought was school grade and it was £5 something for 12.5 kg......no good for tomorrow but if in future....it came from Special Plasters in Birmingham.

[womble]

Why? Animals eat seeds all the time, but if it's salty animals won't touch it

I dunno, I've seen rats eating salted crisps.

[Two_Sheds]

Rats? No need to worry then

[Flummery]

I seem to remember from my archaeology studies, that the Romans salted fields as a punishment because it took 5-7 years for the salt to disperser to the extent that crops could grow again. I'd be a bit worried that even if, at that concentration, it didn't kill the seeds, the resulting seedlings would fail to thrive.

[Two_Sheds]

What did the Romans ever do for us? Well, they stopped me making playdough seed bombs, thanks Flum.

I went and bought some air drying clay (£4) and will experiment with that: I want to find out if it disperses really quickly, or if it delays germination too much

[tamsin]

There's a tutorial somewhere with people making their own seed tapes from kitchen roll, just dampen the sheet, sprinkle with seeds and add another sheet on top - they stick together as they dry to hold the seeds in place - should degrade pretty quick I would think.

[zazen999]

Hi.....this is about seed bombs, not tapes....