Even experienced gardeners can benefit by using some seedtapes – this is a super easy and fast way to sow seeds that are the perfect space apart every time (no more thinning, which is great for people like myself that can’t bear to remove perfectly healthy seedlings just because they are too close to another perfectly heathly seedling!).
Here’s how to do it:
1. Prepare the bed or border exactly the same way as if you were broadcast sowing seeds or setting out established seedlings.
2. Make a trench where you want the plants to grow that is the same depth as individual seeds would have been planted. Use the edge of a hoe or handle of a rake. If you want perfectly straight lines, say for vegetables, you can use a board as an edge. A string stretched taut between two end pegs works very well also. (see picture below)
3. Lay strips of seedtape down in the trench (see picture below) and cover, firming the soil gently. Water in as for individual seeds.
The paper or plastic that holds the seeds in place will degrade over the season, there is no need to remove it at any time. This techniqe of seed sowing is very simple, great for kids (or anyone that has trouble handling small seeds or just simply doesn’t have the patience!), and there is no waste. Check out the many varieties of flowers and vegetables available this way, and save yourself many headaches this season.
All the varieties listed below are available on eSeeds.com – or by special order: just send us an email indicating the type you want and number and we will post them directly to you. Please don’t send credit card details by email, call our toll-free customer service number at 1-877-373-3376.
| Flowers: | ||||
| Alyssum ‘Snow Cloth’ | $2.49 | 4.5m (15′) | 250mg | McKenzie |
| Cosmos ‘Early Sensation Mixed’ | $2.49 | 4.5m (15′) | 2g | McKenzie |
| Cutflower ‘Early Flowering Mix’ | $3.49 | 5m (17′) | Unwins | |
| Portulaca ‘Double Flowered’ | $2.49 | 4.5m (15′) | 150mg | McKenzie |
| Snapdragon ‘Dwarf Lollipops’ | $2.49 | 4.5m (15′) | 120mg | McKenzie |
| Zinnia ‘Tetra-flowered’ | $2.49 | 4.5m (15′) | 1.25g | McKenzie |
| Vegetables: | ||||
| Beet ‘Cylindra Formanova’ | $2.49 | 4.5m (15′) | 930mg | McKenzie |
| Beet ‘Detroit Dark Red’ | $2.49 | 4.5m (15′) | 2g | McKenzie |
| Beetroot ‘Boltardy’ | $3.49 | 5m (17′) | Unwins | |
| Carrot ‘Red Cored Chantenay’ | $2.49 | 4.5m (15′) | 710mg | McKenzie |
| Carrot ‘Scarlet Nantes’ | $2.49 | 4.5m (15′) | 900mg | McKenzie |
| Carrot ‘Autumn King’ | $3.49 | 5m (17′) | Unwins | |
| Carrot ‘Early Nantes’ | $3.49 | 5m (17′) | Unwins | |
| Cucumber ‘National Pickling’ | $2.49 | 4.5m (15′) | 3.5g | McKenzie |
| Lettuce ‘Grand Rapids’ | $2.49 | 4.5m (15′) | 550mg | McKenzie |
| Lettuce ‘Cos’/’Romaine’ | $2.49 | 4.5m (15′) | 350mg | McKenzie |
| Lettuce ‘Mixed Leaves’ | $3.49 | 5m (17′) | Unwins | |
| Onion ‘Annual Bunching’ | $2.49 | 4.5m (15′) | 1.25g | McKenzie |
| Spring Onion ‘White Lisbon’ | $3.49 | 5m (17′) | Unwins | |
| Parsley ‘Single Hardy Italian’ | $2.49 | 4.5m (15′) | 780mg | McKenzie |
| Radish ‘Cherry Belle’ | $2.49 | 4.5m (15′) | 3.1g | McKenzie |
| Radish ‘French Breakfast’ | $2.49 | 4.5m (15′) | 1.65g | McKenzie |
| Radish ‘Globe Varieties Mix’ | $3.49 | 5m (17′) | Unwins | |
| Spinach Beet (Perpetual Spinach) | $3.49 | 5m (17′) | Unwins | |
| Swish Chard ‘Fordhook Giant’ | $2.49 | 4.5m (15′) | 2.4g | McKenzie |
All these varieties can be sown in spring/early summer or again in September/October for fall and winter harvesting or earlier blooms next spring.