In recent years I have found myself buying young seedlings of certain spring items rather than sowing seeds. This was initially due to my ongoing battle with flea beetles, who chew to the ground nearly all of what emerges from my spring seed sowing. I figure the bigger transplants have a bit of an edge in the battle.

There are many advantages of sowing seeds. You can start them indoors. You get more plants for your investment in a pack of seeds. And there’s sharing the entire growing process with your children. All very good reasons to get sowing.

Using Seed Tape

If you are considering seeds this spring, also consider using seed tape. Have you seen those greeting cards that have wildflower seeds embedded in the card stock and when you are done with the card you simply plant it? Seed tape is like that, except these are long strips of tissue with seeds evenly spaced within the material. There are other shapes, too—discs and mats and such—and for a linear vegetable garden, seed tape is the way to go.

If you’re like me, you never ever sow seeds evenly and you always have to thin the row. Plus, I’m always dropping a few seeds elsewhere. The tape’s even distribution allows seeds to germinate at the ideal spacing so there is no need to thin the row.

3 Reasons to Love It

Here are advantages that speak directly to my gardening situation:

1. The tape prevents birds from pecking at the soil and eating the seeds—something that frequently happens in my garden.

2. It also secures the seeds in the soil, preventing a rainstorm or an overly vigorous watering from washing away the seeds from the row.

3. This product also makes it easier to sow small seeds with accuracy. For example, lettuce seeds are notoriously small and difficult to plant. Lined up along a tape, these seeds will germinate nice and evenly.

I don’t have children, but if I did, I would see seed tapes as being a great way to get kids interested in veggie gardening. Little Annie or Alfred could easily create a smaller version of Mom’s garden. Just clip off a foot or so of each seed tape you use and have your child plant it in his/her designated section of the garden. Or, plant the seed tape in a container or window box that would be his/her own garden.

Ask your local garden center if they carry this product. You can also find seed tapes available through online gardening sources. Be sure to order the product that is biodegradable so there is nothing to fuss with and remove later on in the season.

Thank you to the National Garden Bureau for inspiring this article and for the photo!