Starting Tiny Seeds
When seeds are very tiny or their color makes them difficult to see against the soil, you can use one of these methods to make it easier:
Toilet Paper Method:
- Make a shallow trench in your garden in the row where you want to plant your tiny seeds.
- Lay a strip of toilet paper in the trench and drop your seeds onto the paper.
- Read the seed packet to see how much soil they need to be covered with and gently sprinkle it on top of the seeds.
- Gently but thoroughly water the row and your seeds will start to grow as the toilet paper rots away.
*Tip: Single-ply and recycled toilet papers are cheaper and better for the seeds because they don't contain dyes or bleaches.*
Seed Tape Method:
- Seed tape is available at most nurseries, but it's more expensive than toilet paper and does the same job.
- Stick the tiny seeds on the sticky side of the tape.
- Place the tape seed-side up in the shallow trench in the garden and cover it with the correct amount of soil.
- Water the soil and watch for your seeds to grow.
- The tape will disintegrate as your seeds grow.
Seed Goop Method:
You will need:
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) cornstarch
- 1 cup (250 ml / 8.45 fl oz) cold water
- 1/8 cup (30 ml / 1 fl oz) pre-germinated seeds
- A saucepan and wooden spoon
- A clear plastic bag and a twist tie
- A pair of scissors
Mix the cornstarch and cold water in the saucepan, stirring well to dissolve any lumps.
- Carefully bring it to a boil and then let it cool completely until it feels like thick syrup.
- Gently stir in the seeds and let it cool to the point where you can touch it without burning yourself.
- Pour the 'goop' into the bag and close the top with the twist tie.
- Prepare your shallow trench in the garden where you want the seeds to grow.
- Snip off a small corner of the bag and squeeze out the goop along the trench.
- Cover the 'goop' with the correct amount of soil, water it, and wait for your seeds to sprout.
planting
|
