STEP BY STEP Sow crops direct with seed tapes
Seed tapes are long rolls of tape impregnated with seeds. Carrots, beetroot, spinach and lettuce are typically available in this form. The seed is pressed between layers of absorbent tissue paper. It is already spaced, so won’t need thinning out later. It’s a more expensive option than loose seed but much less wasteful and very low-maintenance. It’s important to make sure the tape is completely covered and is evenly moist along the row for consistent germination.
1 USE the full width of the blade of a hoe to draw out a flat-bottomed drill. Water consistently along the length of the drill.
2 UNROLL the seed tape and pull it out along the row, pressing down gently along it so that the tape sticks to the moist soil in the drill.
3 PUSH the soil back over the tape, covering it completely to the depth given on the seed tape packet. Tamp it down, leaving the drill a little lower than the surrounding soil.
4 PUT a fine rose on your watering can and water along the row slowly, taking care to ensure the soil is wet along the entire row.