DIY Seed Tape

This week, we will talk about DIY seed tape. Yes, you can make your own seed tape which makes planting small seeds a lot easier than trying to drop them one by one.

DIY Seed Tape

Welcome, fellow home gardeners! If you've ever struggled with planting tiny seeds like carrots or herbs, you've come to the right place. Today, we're going to explore how to make DIY seed tape to make your gardening experience easier and more enjoyable.

Imagine trying to plant those minuscule carrot seeds. They're so small it's like trying to count grains of sand! That's why creating your own seed tape can be a game-changer. It takes the guesswork out of spacing and aligns your seeds perfectly for optimal growth.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk through seven different ways to make your own seed tape. We'll use items you probably already have at home, like toilet paper, newspaper, and even paper towels.

A girl plants her DIY seed tape in the garden.

By choosing to make your own seed tape, you can ensure your garden rows are neat, your seeds are evenly spaced, and your sprouting process is as seamless as possible. So, let's dive right into these handy methods!

I asked AI for seeds that are 2 inches apart but it would not give me that for DIY seed tape. Place your seeds 2 to 3 inches apart on the paper.

Method 1: The Classic Toilet Paper Technique. This method is not only efficient but also budget-friendly. Most homes have a roll of toilet paper tucked away, perfect for crafting seed tape.

First, you'll want to gather your supplies: a roll of toilet paper, some flour, water, and of course, your seeds. The simplicity of this method lies in its accessibility and ease of use.

Mix a paste using flour and water. You'll need about a tablespoon of flour and just enough water to make it the consistency of glue. This paste will hold your seeds in place on the paper.

Unroll a few sheets of toilet paper, lay it out flat, and use a toothpick or brush to apply small dots of paste, spaced according to your seed packet instructions.

Carefully place one seed on each drop of paste. This precise placement means you won't have to thin out your seedlings later on, saving you time and effort.

Once you've placed your seeds, let the paste dry completely before folding the toilet paper over the seeds. This keeps them snug and secure until you're ready to plant.

To plant, simply lay your seed tape in your garden row, cover it lightly with soil, and water as usual. The toilet paper will degrade naturally, leaving perfectly spaced rows of seedlings.

Method 2: The Newspaper Approach. If you have old newspapers lying around, this method is a perfect way to recycle and create seed tape simultaneously.

Start by cutting your newspaper into strips about 1-2 inches wide. Newspapers have been used in gardens for generations as they decompose nicely in the soil.

Follow the same paste-making process as the toilet paper method and apply dots of glue to the newspaper strips, spaced appropriately for your seeds.

Place the seeds on the glue, and once dry, fold or roll the newspaper strips. This method is durable and economical, using items you might otherwise recycle.

When it's time to plant, simply lay the strips in your rows and cover them with a bit of soil. Water the area to help the newspaper break down quickly.

Method 3: Paper Towel Power. For those who prefer a sturdier base, paper towels offer a fantastic alternative to toilet paper and newspaper.

Cut the paper towel into strips just like with the newspaper. The thicker material can handle moisture well and gives a nice, stable base for your tiny seeds.

Apply your flour paste to the paper towel strips and add your seeds. Let them dry completely to avoid any seeds slipping out of place.

Once dry, either fold or roll the strips. Paper towels might take a bit longer to decompose, but they provide excellent spacing and seed stability.

AI is a funny thing. This was the closest DIY seed tape picture I could get from it.

Method 4: Pre-Glued Seed Tape with Flour Paste. This method streamlines the process and is excellent if you plan on planting a lot of seeds.

Begin with a larger sheet of newspaper or paper towel. Spread a thin layer of paste over the entire sheet rather than using dots.

Gently press your seeds into the pasted paper, ensuring they're spaced correctly. This method is quick and efficient, especially for large batches.

Once the paste dries, cut the paper into strips ready for planting. This saves you time during the busy planting season and helps with easy garden planting.

Method 5: Rolling the Seeds. If precision is your thing, try rolling your seeds into a neat package, which can be directly planted.

Lay out a long strip of toilet paper or paper towel. This method is especially helpful for those long rows in your garden.

Apply a thin line of paste down the center and carefully place your seeds along the glue line. This aligns them perfectly.

Fold the paper over to create a sealed roll. This protects your seeds until they're nestled in the soil and ready to grow.

Method 6: Dotting with Flour Paste. Similar to the pre-glued method, here you focus on individual placement.

Create small dots of paste along your paper strip using a toothpick or small brush. This gives you a chance to perfectly space each seed.

Position the seeds on the glue dots and allow them to dry thoroughly. This precision leads to a tidy, effortless planting experience.

By dotting, you ensure accuracy in spacing, contributing to a healthier, more evenly spaced crop of seedlings.

Method 7: The Seed Spacing Tool. For those who prefer a tool, make a seed spacing guide to accompany any of these paper methods.

Take a piece of cardboard or thin wood and cut notches along one edge. These notches help mark your soil for planting.

Use the tool to create evenly spaced indentations in your garden row, then lay your seed tape within the guides.

Drop a seed into each indentation, making sure they're nestled for optimal growth. This supports perfect seed alignment consistently.

Tips for DIY Seed Tape Success: Always use fresh, high-quality seeds. This ensures the germination process goes smoothly.

Store your seed tape in a cool, dry place. This keeps your seeds viable and ready to sprout come planting season.

Clearly label your seed tapes. Using different tapes for multiple crops? Labels prevent confusion and keep your garden organized.

Experiment with different papers and spacing to find the best method for your specific gardening needs. Remember, what works for one garden might not work for another.

Use DIY seed tape for smaller seeds that are difficult to plant by hand. This makes your gardening process much more efficient.

Keep your setup simple. The beauty of DIY seed tape is its approachable, "do-it-yourself" nature.

Troubleshooting: If your seeds aren’t sticking, check your paste consistency. A little thickening agent (such as more flour) can work wonders.

If your paper isn’t decomposing as fast as you’d like, try using less sturdy material like thinner toilet paper.

If seeds aren't germinating, ensure that they've been stored correctly—but remember, it's also worth checking if they're still within their viability date! Be sure to buy fresh seed. Here is a link to David's Garden Seeds for fresh, heirloom, Non-GMO seeds.

One common sentiment among gardeners is, “It’s hard to handle tiny seeds.” You’re not alone, and making your own DIY seed tape helps simplify this challenging task.

Having fun while making seed tape can be a family affair, bringing everyone together just like cooking or crafting projects.

How satisfying it is to see those neat little rows sprouting in your garden! Planning and creating your seed tape make the reward that much sweeter.

By making your own seed tape, you’re utilizing an eco-friendly approach reducing waste while ensuring that your garden thrives.

Seed tape isn’t just functional; it’s a pretty nifty gift idea, too—perfect for sharing with fellow gardening enthusiasts.

With these methods in your toolkit, you’re ready to conquer the planting season. So gather your materials and make your garden a testament to your creative spirit!

Remember, whether you’re using toilet paper, newspaper, or paper towels, the goal is easy garden planting. This approach is accessible and practical for everyone.

DIY seed tape is your personalized venture into seamless gardening, one small seed at a time, planting a healthier, more organized garden with ease.

With practice, you’ll become a pro at making and planting seed tape. Pass on your knowledge to friends, helping them transform their gardening woes into wows.

Dive in with curiosity and create your variety of DIY seed tapes. Each gardener's unique touch brings diversity to this quiet, shared joy of planting.

I hope this guide to making DIY seed tape has inspired you. Thanks for reading, and happy gardening! Let these tiny tapes lead you to a bountiful and beautiful garden.

What not to do when you make diy seed tape. You want one seed every 2 to 3 inches, not a bunch of seeds all over.

Monday, June 23, 2025

You can use a roll of biodegradable tape for DIY seed tape but space out your seeds so your plants are not growing on top of each other.

Good morning. The dogs are outside barking away. I got a cup of coffee with some cream and my office lamp lightbulb went out. I still feel bad but the cold is moving down into my chest now. I slept fairly well.

I have a lot of orders to pull. The trick is trying to get them pulled when no one else is pulling. I should have pulled my orders yesterday but I felt bad so I did not.

I ended up pulling quite a few orders but, of course, I had to wait for the Amazon orders to be pulled first. I closed some. We gave our last bags to the mailman and he brought us four more. Really? This is ridiculous. We had one customer at the end of the day. Total sale with tax was under $10. Can't stay in business like that. No, I did not wait on him as I sound so bad.

I worked until 6pm and then went in and made chicken tenders, fries, and homemade guacamole for dip.

Trump finished his last horse pill this morning. The problem spot burst open but it is still there. Hopefully, it goes away soon.

I went out after dinner and watered my poor plants in this miserable heat. It is brutal.

Some beautiful zinnias growing through the Farm Store porch railing.

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

Again, I told AI I wanted seeds on paper 2 inches apart for DIY seed tape and this is what it gave me.

Matt and David had a 7am barber appointment today. David left shortly after I woke up. Matt just arrived at the house. He went first. It is 7:40am. I made myself some eggs and coffee. I had some strange dreams in the night but no neuropathy problems. Yes, I am still sick. I sound horrible.

It is time for me to go out and get some orders sent out. I have 78 open orders plus all of the Amazon orders. Most of my orders are pages long. Amazon orders are usually one item.

I pulled enough yesterday for this morning to keep me busy so I can wait to pull more until after Amazon is complete. Amazon orders come first because Amazon can shut you down at any time for any reason. I was hoping we could get away from them but Amazon usually makes us more money than our website.

The orders on our website are big right now because of the sale but they are not bringing in much money.

I still have not moved up to the store because there is still so much over in Fulfillment.

This small watermelon is new to us this year. It is called juicebox and it is very tasty. I picked six of them.

Before I started working, I picked four different types of melons that are ripe. None got big but they are tasty. I also picked some scallop squash.

I picked both of these patty pan aka scallop squashes.

The heat of the day was intense. I pulled and closed orders all day long until 9pm. For a little while in the afternoon, I counted and packed some seeds. There were no customers in the store today. That is good because we are still moving seeds around.

This is the kajari melon. Green on the inside, just a bit sweet but very good.

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Here is another example of what not to do when making your DIY seed tape.

Good morning. Wednesday came quickly. I got up early to take a nice sunrise shot and it is all dark and gray outside. I made eggs, sausage, and toast. We are having one helper come in today. We asked another to come help for $15 an hour because that is all that is in the budget. We were told that it would need to be $30 an hour.

Thirty dollars an hour? Wow! David and I are getting half paychecks and we are putting in 12 to 15 hour days, seven days a week. Why do some people who say they need money think they are too good to work? We are the owners and we can't afford that for ourselves. This is summer and our slow time of the year. The only reason we need help is because of the crazy sale we are having. Some seeds are just 95¢, while most are just over $1.

We have the worst luck with helpers. I have been packing soy beans. Now on to other seeds. It seems like everyone wants money, but nobody wants to actually sit down and work for it. Right?

This is one of the cantaloupes that I picked yesterday. It is the sugar cube and it was good.

At 5:30pm, I went out to take care of the goats. Matt took the chickens because he had to unload hay so David can go into San Antonio tomorrow.

It is a bit dark and cloudy. Maybe we will get a sprinkle or two.

We didn't. Joke is on us...

Thursday, June 26, 2025

Yet another AI fail when trying to show DIY seed tape.

It is now 6:49pm. I just came in from working and did not realize that I had not been on this page today at all. I am about to fix a quick dinner. I did two loads of laundry this morning as well as save some melon seeds and then I started pulling orders.

I also watered all of my plants and paid all of the monthly home and business bills before going over to open the store.

For the past week, I have not been able to get my store receipt printer to work. I looked it up and Shopify no longer supports it. I ordered a new updated one this morning but it won't arrive until sometime next week. In the meantime, I can text or email receipts if anyone comes into the store. Just last year, I had to replace the card reader for the same reason. Shopify has to get all the money they can out of us. I guess the daily fees and annual fees are not enough.

David and I left for San Antonio at 11:15am for his 12:30pm appointment. His test took 40 minutes and involved an IV. I got to wait in the waiting room with a million other folks.

After that was over, we stopped by the accountant's office with a nasty gram from the IRS involving taxes from 2021. I sure hope he can fix that.

Then we drove to the HEB in Lytle to pick up a few things. We got home and I was in the store pulling orders when a family showed up to pick up an order. They also wanted a few things but we were out due to the sale.

Matt held the fort down alone all day long, printing envelopes for seeds we need. In the morning, I will be counting and packing seeds for about 30 different orders that are waiting for something.

I did manage to close a few orders this afternoon. It is now thundering and a few dark clouds are gathering. We got no rain yesterday when that happened.

This week has gone by so quickly. I just looked and there is a beautiful double rainbow so I guess we are not going to get rain.

The main rainbow lasted a long time and got brighter before it disappeared. We did not get one drop of rain.

Friday, June 27, 2025

This is a ground cherry plant. I planted 2 full beds of them but I only got 2 plants. I have no idea why. I have planted them before and had good results.

Good morning. I woke up twice in the night with leg cramps but at least it wasn't neuropathy. I had the same problem the night before. David says it is because I am not getting enough salt.

I made delicious scrambled eggs with fully loaded queso in them. They were so good!

I have so many orders to fill today now that we received a bunch of seeds yesterday afternoon. Of course, I have to count them first.

As usual, it was hot and dry. No customers. I counted seeds and filled orders. David had two guys from Poteet come out and weed, only he did not tell me. When I went out there, I was going to open the store and I saw a strange car. Then I saw two young men in one of the hoop houses by the driveway. I went into the store and told David. He said he knew and they would be weeding and just kept on working.

A few hours later, I was in Production telling Matt what envelopes I needed him to make and they both just walked in and stood there listening to me. I asked them if I could help them. They both just stood there looking at me. It was creepy but I figured they must not speak English or they were deaf mutes. So I asked Matt if he knew why they had come into the building when they were supposed to be weeding. He did not and he left so I left.

I went into the store to tell David and he said they speak English and he went to show them what to do next. They all went and moved things from that building but those guys would not talk to me the whole time. I hate that. Joy of all joys, he told me they are coming back tomorrow to not talk to me again.

So I have no idea who they are or why they don't speak to me. I think they are rude freaks. They left at noon.

Matt and I worked until around 7:30pm. My back was killing me. I just could not take it any longer. Then Matt and I went in to eat dinner. We thought David was coming, too, but he stayed over there working until 9pm when I went over to get him. Matt went home at that point.

Saturday, June 28, 2025

The zinnias are doing beautifully. This red one is pretty.

I woke up out of a sound sleep. I had been dreaming about taking some old woman to a hospital to get physical therapy and while we waited, I went by the hospital beauty parlor so she could get a hair coloring job. However, they had no time to do it as they were too busy so we left. Then I woke up. Now I have no idea who the old woman was because I had never seen her before in my life. Dreams can be crazy.

David was still asleep. I went to the kitchen to make coffee and Sue Ellen went by me three times, licking my leg every single time. It is a morning game with her. I go through this almost every morning. Apparently, I taste good. I let them all out while the coffee brewed and I filled their bowls.

The dogs started carrying on, probably barking at the sheep next door or the horse, all of whom just go all of the property next door. The dogs go ballistic every time they see any of them. So I let them back in and they were still wild. I like to let them stay out there early in the morning so they can burn off pent up energy from sleeping all night but not this morning.

I need to go out and feed the fish and animals but I wonder if those guys are here yet. I have no idea what time they got here yesterday or what time they will get here today. I don't want to go out there and be ignored by them again. It feels violating to have people on your property whom you don't know and they won't talk. I hate it. I hate to be ignored in general.

I finally went out and took care of the animals. I also sliced up the melons that I picked earlier this week and took the rinds out to the chickens. They love that!

So, yeah, those boys were there again. I thought they were older but David told me today they are in high school. They ignored me again today but they moved a lot more stuff up to the commercial kitchen. By the way, David sold the counter cabinet today. Did I mention that he sold the three compartment sink but they won't be picking it up until next week?

They left at noon. I spent the day filling orders. I had a big bag full but the mailman did not come until after the gate closed. He stopped the vehicle, tossed a huge bag of mail bags over the gate and then continued on. Matt grabbed the mail and jumped in his car to chase after him but it was like the guy vanished into thin air so the mail did not get picked up. This was about 2:30pm. Our post office closes at 10am on Saturday so there was nothing we could do. Normally, the guy makes it just before 2pm.

At that point, Matt went home and I finished pulling a stack of orders. Then I went into the house to do some cleaning. I straightened up, did dishes, and vacuumed a lot of the house including the den. I dusted in there.

Then just before 6pm, there was a huge gust of wind. It blew hay into the pool. The trees bent and it was loud. It lasted just a few seconds. After that, I collected eggs.

Norton's shelter was turned upside down and blown up on the fence from our little cyclone or whatever it was.

Norton stood calmly by as I pushed his shelter off the fence. It is heavy.

I got out to the goats and Norton's shelter was blown upside down and up on the fence. That wind was powerful. I pushed it down off the fence.

I also power washed their galvanized water container. By the time I was done, I was all sweaty so I went in and cleaned up and changed all of my clothes. Then I got on dinner.

We had Chinese food. I made rice and then cooked some frozen Chinese foods. Matt brought some frozen eggrolls. It was a good meal and we watched Svengoolie. The movie was Frankenstein Meets The Space Monster. I had never heard of it before. It was strange and sort of fun, made in 1965.

Sunday, June 29, 2025

Good morning. My shoulder is having pain this morning and I can't lift it all the way. I guess it did not like the way I slept last night. Fun times. It is time for me to go out and feed the animals.

Here is the side of the store where most of the seeds for purchase used to be. It now has stations for counting, printing envelopes, storing extra seeds, and stuffing seeds.

While I fed the fish this morning, I snapped a few photos of how the Farm Store looks now. It is not finished. We need to add a dividing wall between the work space and the retail space. Also, we are still moving seeds. It is a mess but it is also a work in progress. In the middle of the photo, you can see my mail bag filled with my orders that the mailman missed picking up.

In the photo above, you can see the new mop and bucket set that David just got in. I put it together but we have not had a chance to use it yet. All of the buildings need it badly but they need a good sweeping out first.

Here is the counter. We are still selling seeds here in the Farm Store. Also, you can make an order for pick up and we will have it ready for you to pick up.

In the photo above, David added a digital clock and there is a stack of seeds to be put away on the counter.

This is where you shop for seeds now. It is where the coffee and rice used to be.

In this photo are all of the seeds for sale. This is also the place where we pull seeds for orders so we will be working there.

Not to be mean, but we suggest that you make your children behave if you bring them in. If they touch these bins, seeds will fall all over the place. So if your children start to act up, you will be asked to leave because we don't have time to pick up and separate seeds.

If you have children that won't behave, just go online, shop, and then choose pick up when you check out. I will pull your order and you can just come by and pick it up instead of having your children destroy our new retail space. It saves you time and saves us grief. If you have well-behaved children, you are welcome to come in.

David will be in the Farm Store most of the time and he will be policing the place. He has already asked children to leave so just beware. We are not a theme park. We are a place of business and we work hard to provide good quality seeds for you.

We no longer have coffee or rice for sale. We are phasing out our pots, trays, soil, and germination seed sets. We still have some left. We still have our farm fresh eggs for sale. In fact, we have a lot of them. Our chickens are producing like crazy. In a few months, they won't be because they will be moulting.

We went to church. Now last week, we did not go because I was sick with a cold. I am better now, although my voice still sounds weird so we went. Only one person told us she missed us last week, the 94 year old. I was amazed that she remembered we were not there. No one else said a word. There were no texts, no calls, no cards.

Let me explain. When we notice someone missing, we text to let them know we missed them and to see if they are okay. But not one person did that with us. We feel so loved. We have been attending for a year now and this past fall, we joined the church. I thought at least I would get one text. None.

Before we left for church, Alexa told me we would get rain between 3pm and 6pm today. As we pulled up to our gate, there were several big sprinkles on our windshield. Then it was over, two hours early. I asked Alexa if it would rain as I heated up leftovers. Alexa said no.

Clouds began to build but Alexa said no rain after she said it would rain...

Somebody across the way was already getting rain...

As I mentioned earlier, it was supposed to rain this afternoon and then it wasn't. I went in the pool to clean out the hay and nasty bugs. I also filled the floaters with chlorine tablets. The wind picked up, dark clouds formed overhead and, finally, there was thunder. That is when I decided I had better get out. The raindrops started so I put down the pool net and climbed out. I went in, got changed, and a few minutes later, it was done. Finito. No mas. La Fin. What? I could have been swimming in a clean pool. I did not get to swim at all.

I was almost finished cleaning the pool and about to swim my first lap when the thunder started. Then the drops began and I got out.

Return from DIY Seed Tape to Our Sixth Year

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