Why pay a lot of money for seed tape when you can easily make your own? Jeff Cox, host of HGTV's Grow It!, explains how. Materials:
Black and white newspaper (colored inks may be toxic to plants)
Flour
Water
Small brush
Seeds
Powdered milk
Paper napkins
Twist tie or rubber band
Jar
- Tear the newspaper into long strips.
- Mix a thick paste of flour and water, then dot the paste along the strips of newspaper with a brush (figure A). Space the dots the same distance apart as the seeds should be spaced when planted. Place one seed on each dot of paste, and allow the paste to dry.
- To store your seed strips, place a few spoonfuls of powdered milk in a paper napkin. Wrap up the edges, and secure them with a twist-tie (figure B). The powdered milk absorbs water and prevents the seeds from rotting or sprouting prematurely.
- Put the powdered milk and seed strips in a jar, seal and label it, then store it in a closet until spring.
- Once it's planting time, place the seed tapes in prepared planting beds, and water. The newspaper strips will rot within a few days.
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