Make Your Own Seed Tape

I'm not exactly a newbie at gardening, but neither am I a seasoned pro. I've been actively gardening in some form for about 8 years now, and if there's one thing I've learned, it's that there's always more to learn. Every time I peruse a garden catalog or hit the farm store, I find something new and interesting. Last trip to the farm store, I found this nifty invention and immediately understood the usefulness. I also immediately understood the additional expense!

In a nutshell, seed tape is a long strip of paper which is pre-embedded with seeds at the proper intervals for germination. It helps gardeners arrange straight rows, it helps eliminate the "oops" moments where too many seeds get planted in one spot, and it helps cut down on the need for thinning after sprouting, as the seeds are already the proper distance apart. And the best thing of all is that you can make your own seed tape out of recycled newspaper!


MAKE YOUR OWN SEED TAPE
You will need:
* Seeds
* Unprinted newsprint, or black and white newspaper (no colored inks)
* Flour
* Water
* Paintbrush
* A paper napkin and a wire tie
* A quart jar
* Powdered milk
(The last three bullets can be skipped if you're going to plant soon)

Cut your newsprint lengthwise into 1" wide strips.
In a small bowl, mix flour with enough water to make a thick paste. Dot it on the newsprint in the appropriate spacing for whatever seeds you're using. Look at the seed packet to tell you how far apart they should be. Place a seed in the center of each flour paste dot. Allow to dry.

If you wish to store your seed tape, place a few teaspoons of dried milk in the middle of your napkin, and tie it up into a bag using the wire tie. Place the milk bag and the seed tapes in your jar, seal, keep in a cool dry spot until you're ready to use them. The powdered milk absorbs moisture and keeps seeds from rotting or sprouting.

To plant your seed tape, dig a small furrow where you want your row of plants. Lay in the seed tape, and cover to the appropriate depth for your particular seeds, as indicated on the seed packet. Water as normal. The paper and flour will decompose in rapid order, leaving you with just evenly spaced seeds in straight rows!