Making your own seed tape can save you time, ensures your plants are spaced out correctly, and is a great “rainy day” project for kids.

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OK , I ’ll intromit it . Up until now I have n’t appreciated the utility ofseedtapes . Assuming the store carries them at all , the form selection is extremely limited . When it come to space the seed and rows in my lift bed , I ’m a gardening perfectionist – always trying to get skillful , neat , perfectly spaced rows of seeds . Not only that , make tothin outperfectly in force seedlings is always a irritating experience . Since it is now prison term to plant fallcarrotsin our area , I thought this was the utter opportunity to assay the seed magnetic tape thing out . The following project will yield 2 - 4 ejaculate tapes , about an column inch wide . you could sure vary this , to make whatever spacing configuration you need .

The inclination of thing you ’ll need :

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1 . Flour2 . Water3 . Scissors4 . gutter newspaper ( paper towel or white party streamers can also be used)5 . Ruler6 . Pencil7 . Small paintbrush8 . Seeds9 . little bowl10 . scale

Optional : TweezersAirtight bag or container

Skill Level :

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Easy

routine :

1 . In a small stadium or container , amalgamate the flour and water until a thick spread forms . You ’re take for the consistence of white trade glue or syrup . It should be deep enough to sit on the end of your brush or pencil without dripping .

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2 . ignore the toilet paper in one-half , at the length you require . The toilet paper is double the width you need , so by cutting it in half down the middle , you ’ll have 2 tape already measured , or 4 tape if the report is two - ply .

3 . Use a pencil and ruler to draw marks on the newspaper accord to the seed packet ’s space recommendations .

4 . Place the seeds you ’ll be using on a clean plate and spread them apart so they ’re easier to break up up .

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5 . Using the diminished paintbrush , put small ‘ dots ’ or dollop of the paste along one side of the toilet newspaper publisher strip , on the scrape you made .

6 . Use your finger or a pair of pair of pincers to stick around one or two seeds to each dot .

7 . Fold the other one-half of the potty paper over , on top of the semen . This will varnish the seminal fluid inside your seed tape recording until they ’re in the ground and quick to germinate . The library paste will also keep the paper seal .

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8 . Allow the tape to dry , then write the plant and variety name on it .

At this point your seed tape is ready to go . If it ’s not implant time when you ’re finished , you ’ll need to store it in an airtight container , sooner in a nerveless topographic point . Roll the tapeline up into a coil , or simply wrap it around an empty toilet paper roll .

To plant the seed mag tape , prepare your growing area as common and lie in the tape measure down . Cover it with the appropriate profundity of ground and water as common . The toilet paper will gradually dissolve in time as the seedlings grow .

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mark the paper according to the seed packet’s spacing

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a small dot is all you’ll need

Spacing the seeds out in a saucer, plate, or other white surface will make picking up the seeds easier.

place one or two seeds per dot

The tape is ready to go when the paste is dry.

You can make your tape as wide as you like.

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