Make seed tape for tiny seeds

An evening · Easy · 6 steps

Glue tiny seeds to paper at the right spacing, and never thin carrots again.

Making seed tape: paste, seeds, and planting
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Fig. Making seed tape: paste, seeds, and planting.

  1. Paper strip about an inch wide
  2. Dots of flour paste at the packet's spacing
  3. A damp toothpick picks up one seed at a time
  4. Dry, roll up, and label
  5. Lay the tape in the furrow and cover it

What you'll need

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You'll also need

  • Toilet paper or paper towel cut into 1-inch strips
  • Flour and water mixed into a thick paste
  • A toothpick or small paintbrush
  • A ruler

Steps

  1. Look up the spacing on the seed packet: carrots and radishes about 2 inches, beets and lettuce wider.
  2. Lay a strip of paper flat and dab tiny dots of paste down the middle at that spacing.
  3. Set one or two seeds on each dot. A damp toothpick picks up tiny seeds easily.
  4. Fold the strip in half lengthwise over the seeds, or leave it open, and let it dry overnight.
  5. Roll it up, and label it with the crop and variety.
  6. To plant, lay the tape in a shallow furrow at the depth on the packet, cover it, and keep it moist until the seeds sprout.

Tips

  • Make seed tapes in winter, when there's little else to do in the garden.
  • Store them in a dry jar in a cool place until planting time.

Use it in Planting Year