Seed Tape

**Hazel at the Hill** · 18-01-2010, 09:16 PM

They are far more expensive than loose seed, Ian - but saying that, I used carrot seed tape last year and it's the only time I've grown carrots successfully in 3 years.

They are dead easy to use, but you do still have to thin out.

**Alison** · 18-01-2010, 09:22 PM

I don't buy them as I think they're a bit of a rip off and you don't get much choice. Also, after you've done it a couple of times, it's not really hard to sow seeds. However, if you've not grown before then they might be worth it for carrots or something as you won't need to thin and therefore don't need to worry about carrot fly as much.

**mamas-inc** · 18-01-2010, 09:23 PM

Hi I used them last year and found them a great success i used parsnip, beetroot and radish. yes a bit more expensive but i had better crop from them then hand sowen and where much quicker and easier will use again this year

**esrikandan** · 18-01-2010, 10:43 PM

Try both and see how you get on? I haven't bothered with seed tapes yet but maybe give it a try. I've grown carrots, beetroot (and everything else I've tried) quite happily from loose seed.

**Two_Sheds** · 19-01-2010, 09:15 AM

Seed tape works out the spacing for you. That's helpful if you can't measure, and also if you can't handle small seeds (eg if you have arthritis in your hands).

otherwise: unnecessary, and a waste of money. You don't have to thin out, either. Just sow thinly

**Flummery** · 19-01-2010, 10:12 AM

Seed tapes have been the only complete failure of my growing life! I've had zero germination from a spring onion one. I never buy them. (The spring onion one was given to me!)

**Dane End Dolly** · 19-01-2010, 12:13 PM

one of the people on my allotment has quite bad hands and finds the seed tape much easier to use than fine seed. i personally have never used it as it is quite an expense when compared to normal seed

**jaykay** · 19-01-2010, 06:17 PM

Is it worth mixing seeds with sand when sowing to help sow more thinly? Has anyone tried this and does it work?

I've been tempted by seed tapes for carrots but have decided to try 'flyaway' instead and will mix seed with sand in the palm of my hand before sowing direct.

**COMPOST CORNER** · 19-01-2010, 06:37 PM

I was tempted by seed tapes last year, for carrots to eliminate thinnig, but, and it's a big but, when you read the nstructions (or more accurately when your wife reads the instructions) you still have to thin them out. So I didn't bother.

**Ian White** · 19-01-2010, 09:11 PM

Thanks all,i dont think i'll get any sounds like a flash waste of money to me,I know i am new to all this but i think i can manage to thin a few seeds out.

All the best,Ian

**maypril** · 20-01-2010, 07:47 AM

I bought a couple of packs last year, just out of curiosity. I haven't used them yet, I plan to this year.

As others have pointed out you do still have to thin them out, but I suspect there's not as much thinning involved. You just have to remove the weakest ones from each cluster.

**Florence Fennel** · 20-01-2010, 10:26 AM

I made some of my own carrot seed tapes (well, I say that loosely because the grandchildren were mainly doing it) after reading some instructions on here and they really did eliminate the need to thin, but I would say the germination wasn't as good as hand sowed. I do agree though that if sowing small seed is difficult then they're worth a go.

**Alison** · 20-01-2010, 12:49 PM

Originally posted by jaykay View Post

I've been tempted by seed tapes for carrots but have decided to try 'flyaway' instead and will mix seed with sand in the palm of my hand before sowing direct.

The instructions for flyaway tend to tell you to grow some normal carrots next to them for the carrot flies and then they'll go for those and leave your resistant ones alone.

**TPeers** · 21-01-2010, 07:43 PM

My Dad swears by seed tapes - but he can't see anything smaller that a sweetpea seed!

For those who might find sowing a major fiddle they are great, I use them with the kids - they are too heavy handed with normal seed.

For the average gardener I would say they are a gimic and there are insufficient varieties available.

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