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How to Make Seed Tapes for Easier Sowing

Published on January 24, 2021Last updated November 18, 2021 â™› By Melissa J. Will

This post contains affiliate links.
Read full disclosure statement here.

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Some garden seeds like carrot are very hard to sow because they are so tiny. Once in the soil, the rain often washes them away. To solve this, try making homemade seed tapes to be sure the seeds grow right where you want them.

For more, I have listed more tips and tricks for handling tiny seeds here.

Supplies for making carrot seed tapes.

How to Make Seed Tapes

Carrot seed packets, homemade flour glue, paint brushes, and napkins.

Wait! Where did my seeds go? I just planted them.

Some seeds are just so tiny that, if you don’t lose them while sowing, you lose them afterwards due to wind or rain. This tutorial shows you a really simple way to make seed tapes.

It’s a nifty trick for planting seeds like carrot that are so easy to lose—especially when direct sowing in the garden. Seed tapes provide a way to temporarily attach little seeds (like carrot seeds) to a surface that holds them in place while you plant them.

Supplies for making seed tapes.

Because they’re on a tape (or length of toilet paper, really), you can also control how far apart they are planted. The entire thing is placed in the garden. The toilet paper will disintegrate and the seeds will sprout right where you planted them.

There are more seed starting tips for beginners here if you are new to this.

When seeds are tiny and hard to manage and you don’t want to plant a lot just to have to thin them out later, I say Glue ’em down! It just takes a tiny dab.

I first tried making carrot seed tapes last year and my germination rates were excellent.

I grew several different varieties and I didn’t have to do any seedling thinning. I’m a thinning klutz so I prefer to sow my seeds carefully instead. Plus there is less waste this way.

And, as mentioned, this method will work for any fine seeds.

I make my seed tapes during the winter when I’m itching for outdoor gardening season so they’re ready to go in spring.

For more tips like this, also see 12 Odd But Useful Garden Tips & Solutions.

Supplies

Supplies for making seed tapes.
  • Toilet paper or paper towel
  • Seeds
  • Paint brush or pencil
  • Glue / paste made from 1 teaspoon baking flour and a bit of water
  • Measuring tape
Flour paste for making seed tapes.
  • The flour and water glue should be thick enough to sit on the end of your brush or pencil without dripping. You need only about a teaspoon of flour to glue several tapes.
  • My raised beds are 4Ă—8′ so I make my seed tapes in 2′ lengths. This way I can plant them side by side or in a row the whole width of the bed.
  • Tear off the length of toilet paper you want and write the name of the seed type on it.
  • Decide how close together you want to place the seeds based on the spacing recommendations on your seed packets. I place about 50 carrot seeds on a 5″ x 4′ length.
  • Pour the number of seeds you’ll be using on a clean plate and spread them apart so they’re easy to pick up one at a time.
  • Dab the brush in the glue and then pick up a seed with it.
Writing seed name on seed tape.


Dab the seed onto the toilet paper and let the glue settle around it. Use your finger to help if you need to.

  • When you’re done, leave the whole thing to dry. The seeds will stay in place.
  • If you have leftover seeds that you want to use up, you can make a few T.P. seed balls. Take smaller sections of toilet paper, write the name of the seeds on them, and glue on more seeds. I use the mini seed tapes to add leaf lettuce patches to gaps in my flower beds.

Planting The Seed Tape

  • To plant the tape, prepare your growing area as usual and lay the tape down.
  • Cover it with the appropriate depth of soil and water as usual.
  • The toilet paper gradually dissolves and the seeds take root. I got a stellar crop this way last year. I also have very sandy soil which pleases carrots immensely.
  • As mentioned, this works well with other seeds too, not just carrots.
Digital meat thermometer.

Best Sowing Temperature

The optimum soil temperature for sowing carrots seeds is 80°F (26°C). You can check your soil or potting mix temperature with a kitchen thermometer like this one.

This lists the recommended soil sowing temperatures for popular vegetables.

If you would like help with your seed sowing schedule (indoors and outdoors), see my sowing plan here.

Storing Seed Tapes

  • If you’re not ready to plant them yet, just leave the seed tapes flat or carefully folded, stacking one on top of the next. As long as they don’t get wet or fall off, they should be fine until you’re ready to use them.
  • Seeds do best in cool, dry storage, just above freezing, but room temperature is fine for a few months. See the tips here for optimum seed storage in your home.
  • If they start to germinate in storage, contact the authorities immediately. (Just checking if anyone is reading this. They won’t germinate in storage unless it’s warm and the seeds get damp for an extended period of time.)
Freshly picked carrots from garden.

Seed Tape Benefits

  • Use just the number of seeds you want to plant, without having to thin them out.
  • Save on the cost of seeds. If you’re like me and like to try a wide variety of seeds but don’t have a garden buddy nearby to share shipping costs and packets with, exact planting with seed tapes is a frugal alternative.
  • Making seed tapes is a bit slow but surprisingly relaxing. Go figure.
Hugging carrots.
Now that I’ve picked the carrots, it was time for them to say their goodbyes.

Resources

Ebook

Seed Starting For Beginners ebook cover.

Seed Starting for Beginners
Sow Inside Grow Outside

by Melissa J. Will

NEW EDITION | Everything you need to get started with indoor seed starting for indoor and outdoor plants. Grow what you want—any time of year!

About This Ebook | Visit Ebook Shop

This ebook is a digital file (PDF format) you save to your device. It is not a physical product.

Buy Now
$8 US

PayPal, Credit Card, Apple Pay

Digital products are not available in EU, UK, and Northern Ireland due to tax regulations.

Happy growing.

~Melissa the Empress of Dirt â™›

Supplies for making homemade seed sowing tapes.
Print Instructions Pin It
5 from 8 votes

How to Make Seed Tapes for Easier Sowing

An easy way to use supplies you have at home to make seed tapes. Perfect for tiny seeds like carrots that tend to wash away in the garden. Also works for any other fine seeds.
Steps30 minutes mins
Total Time30 minutes mins
Makes: 1 Seed tape
Author: Melissa J. Will
Cost: $5

Equipment

  • Artist Paint Brushes
  • Sharpie
  • Toilet Paper
  • Flour

Supplies & Materials

  • 1 pack Seeds

Instructions

  • Create glue (paste) by adding a very small amount of water to flour. Paste should be thick, not watery.
  • Tear off a length of toilet paper equal to match the length of the row in your garden.
  • Write name of seeds and seed company on one end of toilet paper.
  • Read seed packet for recommended spacing between seeds. Then mark toilet paper with marker indicating each spot you will attach a seed.
  • Spread desired number of seeds out on a plate.
  • Dab fine paint brush tip into glue, then dab to pick up a seed with it, and affix to toilet paper where you have marked seed locations.
  • When done, allow everything to dry thoroughly, then gently fold up, leaving seed name visible, and keep in cool, dry location until sowing time.
  • To sow seed tape, place in desired spot in garden and cover with soil amount listed on seed packet. Add a plant tag listing seed name and sowing date. Water as needed. Toilet paper will gradually dissolve and disintegrate.
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Carrot seed packets, homemade flour glue, paint brushes, and napkins.
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Comments

  1. Julia says

    July 16, 2023 at 5:44 am

    I love this idea so much! It would be a fantastic activity for kids on a rainy or cold day when they can’t be outside. I’ll definitely be doing this with my son!

    Reply
  2. Martha Glassy says

    March 12, 2023 at 8:05 am

    Such a great idea, and can easily be used for succession crop planting. Thanks!

    Reply
  3. Helen E Fritzie says

    February 17, 2023 at 9:46 am

    Wow this is a really easy way to get your little seeds planted! Thanks!

    Reply
  4. Ging says

    January 18, 2023 at 10:19 pm

    So excited to make my seed tapes. Lots of time and looking forward to Spring. Instructions very easy to understand.

    Reply
  5. Jackie says

    January 17, 2023 at 7:36 am

    very clear thank you.

    Reply
  6. MaryLynn says

    January 30, 2021 at 1:41 pm

    I have had trouble with birds eating the seeds I plant … they devour them! If I put the seed side facing the dirt, I wonder if this method would keep that from happening. I’ll be giving it a try. Thank you Melissa! I’ve enjoyed your newsletters every Saturday morning for years.

    Reply
    • Melissa J. Will says

      January 30, 2021 at 2:49 pm

      Thank you, MaryLynn.

      Another idea is to lay a loose layer of burlap over the germinating seeds. The light still gets in but the birds don’t seem to find the seeds and seedlings as readily.

      Reply
  7. donna says

    January 30, 2021 at 11:01 am

    If I want to make a length of these and am short on storage space, is it okay to roll the dried seed tape back onto a toilet paper roll to store that way or do they really need to be stored flat? Maybe rolling would make the seeds fall off but it’d be easier to store and roll out over the ground in my long rows. Just curious!

    Reply
    • Melissa J. Will says

      January 30, 2021 at 12:57 pm

      Yes. If your glue holds them, they can be stored any way you like. I just suggest flat because I write the instructions for complete beginners who may be new to things like this.

      Reply
    • Iris Stonecreek says

      February 5, 2023 at 6:13 pm

      Call the authorities! ha!

      How did I not come here first for the most frugal way to plant tiny seeds?! I just can’t part with $3 for some plastic syringe thingy. ha! Thanks again for sharing your ideas!♡

      Reply
      • Melissa J. Will says

        February 5, 2023 at 6:17 pm

        haha A big thank you for reading, Iris!

        Reply
  8. Laura says

    January 30, 2021 at 8:35 am

    I taped some daffodil seeds using this method. It might be a long, long while before they bloom, but it was fun making the seed tapes! Hoping my grandkids will still be young enough to appreciate daffodils at Easter when they do!

    Reply
  9. Georgina says

    January 30, 2021 at 6:28 am

    Hi from London, this is a great idea thanks! I growing flowers though, hopefully will work the same. Can’t wait to try.

    Reply
    • Melissa J. Will says

      January 30, 2021 at 12:55 pm

      Yes, it’s fine for all types of seeds. Happy growing!

      Reply
  10. Shari Harniss says

    January 25, 2021 at 7:41 am

    Oh my! What a wonderful idea!
    Thank you very much for this post. You are a great asset to me!
    Love the ‘hugging’ veg!

    Reply

Melissa J. Will - Empress of DirtWelcome!
I’m Melissa J. Will a.k.a. the Empress of Dirt (Ontario, Canada).
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