GardenBanter.co.uk - Roll n Grow

sorry, forgot to include the rest of the info
URL:
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/gardening/a...370006,00.html
Homemade Seed Tapes
Way to Grow : Episode WTG-132

Looking for a kid-friendly project that offers an interesting diversion
during the "blah" days of winter? Host Dan Pawlus has the perfect
answer-homemade seed tapes. Dan discusses the supplies needed to create the
tapes and demonstrates how they are made. Materials and instructions are
listed below:
Materials:
newspaper cut into 1"x7" strips (no colored sections)
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 cup water
Popsicle stick
toothpick
plastic bag
1 Tbs. salt
paper towels
labels
pen
seeds (beets, carrots, leeks, lettuce, etc.)
Steps:
Working with an entirely black and white section of newspaper (no colors),
cut enough 1"x7" strips to accommodate the number of seeds to be used.
Create a paste by combining 1/2 cup flour and 1 cup water- the paste should
have the consistency of gravy and be thick enough to coat the seeds.
Lay the strips out on a table.
Space the seeds along the strips, following the spacing requirements
printed on each package. Then "paste" the seeds in place on the newspaper
strips using the flour-and-water mixture.
Allow the paste to dry thoroughly, then roll up the strips and place them
in resealable plastic bags.
To complete the storage process, wrap salt in paper towels and place inside
each bag with the seeds. (This will maintain the dryness necessary to
preserve the seeds.) Be sure to label each bag with the seed names.
To plant the seed tapes, remove them from the plastic bags and lay each
strip in the garden to form rows (or follow an existing pattern).
Finally, cover the strips with fine soil and water them thoroughly. The
newspaper will decompose once it becomes saturated in the ground.

http://www.mrs.umn.edu/pyg/tips/soil...tip_1215.shtml
Homemade Seed Tapes
Many commercial seed companies manufacture seed tapes
Easy to use, these tapes are simply a strip of paper, with seeds glued on it
at the proper spacing for the particular variety. These tapes are well
suited for small seeds that need to be thinned after germination, such as
carrots, beets, and lettuce.
Sound simple enough to make yourself? Here are the details:
You will need some paper, flour, water, a small watercolor paintbrush, and
seeds.

Cut plain paper, such as copy paper or newspaper, into long one-inch wide
strips. If you can find it, the perforated ends of computer paper
used in the older style tractor feed printers is ideal. It is already cut
and has regularly spaced holes that serve as a gauge for spacing.

Make a glue by mixing the flour and water to the consistency of gravy. With
the brush pick up a small dot of glue, then touch the brush to a seed, and
place the seed with the adhering glue on the paper

Continue this process spacing the seeds according to the directions on the
seed package.

After the tapes have air dried on a flat surface, roll or fold them up and
store in a plastic sandwich type baggie. Be sure to date and label the
baggie. When it is time to plant, just unroll, lay it on the soil surface,
cover with a thin layer of soil, and water.

Prairie Yard and Garden is a production of the University of Minnesota,
Morris Media Services department for exclusive broadcast on Pioneer Public
Television (KWCM) ©1987-2006

Hope these ideas help
Nicole

"Lynn" wrote in message
...

That would be very interesting for kids to do. Can you share on how you
made these.
--
:) Lynn

"Nicole" wrote in message
...
I've made these in the past at school and the kids loved it. By the
way, I
always buy the .10 seed packets (unless it's something special) or try
and
save seeds from heirloom flowers.
HTH
Nicole