Allotments 4 All

I have done a search for an answer to this but without luck so sorry if this has been asked before.

We have bought beetroot, leek and carrot seeds on tapes and would like to know if anyone has tried them and if they have worked out ok.?

Please can you tell me where you bought your seed tapes from? - there's been quite a bit on here - on another thread- about seed tapes that you can make yourself....but to buy them already done must be a huge help!!


Thanks, H.P.

I was unaware that you could actually buy seed tapes, but I know there was a thread recently in Top Tips on making tapes ...

http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,28/topic,5605.0

I have no reason to doubt that the tapes would not work, although I have not tried myself.

Bought from Coolings Garden Centre at Knockholt. They are Suttons seeds, a bit more expensive (£1.99) but they say they need less thinning, so am giving them a go.

I don't know how big the range is as the three types we bought were all that was left on the shelf.

The website lists quite a few:
www.suttons.co.uk

Hi, our local Sainsbury Homebase has a few seed tapes on stock. I was confused as on the front of the pack it says no thinning required but on the back it gives you thinning instructions!!
Has anyone tried them before? I was going to try the parsnip and the carrots
Helen

Helloooo and welcome Helenclare :)

Bought seed tapes will probably be spaced closer than actual growing distances, or with more than one per station on the tape, because not all the seeds will germinate. Seed companies will also space seeds closely, because it would be difficult to identify widely spaced plants coming through among the weeds, especially if they take a long time to germinate. And they are in the business of selling seeds after all ::) So your seedlings will need thinning.

Once you have a row of seedlings and can see what's come up, you can thin to required spacing (and eat the thinnings!). It's much easier to thin tape-sown veg without disturbing the others in the row.

As curry suggests, do take a look at a recent thread
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,28/topic,5605.0, you will find a lot of discussion there on seed tapes and how to make your own. I use seed tape all the time for small seeds. Better spacing, neat rows, and you can plant fast in furrows, even in the pouring rain (in fact pouring rain is best).

Seed tapes have been sold for flowers and veg by 'mainstream' seed merchants for several years, and are ideal for disabled gardeners, those who forgot their specs on the lottie (again >:() and those with shaky hands ;D. It's worth making your own, or getting the kids to help ;) - cheap, easy, and you get the exact seeds, quantity and spacing you want on the tape.

A good example is the recent discussion of parsnips which developed the idea of seed tape alternating lettuce and parsnip seed on the tape. The theory is you could see the row earlier and get a crop from the (faster growing) lettuce, which could be pulled to let the (slower growing) parsnip come through later. I might try this year! At http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,57/topic,17177.0

During January with nothing better to do I began experimenting making my own seed tapes.  The 20th of February I planted small strips in seed trays I’m delighted to say I had 100% success.  Don’t know how they’ll be planting at the allotment but if this works it beats bending down sowing the seeds then thinning out.  So I’m definitely going to give this a try.

How I envy your "nothing better to do". ;)

I made some seedtapes with parsnip seed and egg white yesterday and then took them to the lotte and 'sowed' them.  Just hope they come up! :)

Good luck to your parsnips myrtle, the egg white is a brilliant idea, there are always some going spare in the fridge  ;D ;D

Mmmm Sarah mine tend to dry out in the fridge... :-[